Troll

Troll was a Norwegian automobile project and brand operated by Troll Plastik & Bilindustri in Lunde, Norway. It was one of the few serious attempts to establish domestic passenger-car production in Norway during the 1950s. The company pursued a lightweight, modern sports car using a fibreglass body rather than conventional steel. At the time, fibreglass was still an emerging automotive material, valued for its resistance to corrosion and its lower weight. The project aimed to make the Troll one of Europe's earliest non-American cars to use a fibreglass body in a planned production program. The car was developed by businessman Per Kohl-Larsen together with engineers Bruno Falck and Erling Fjugstad. Its exterior design was created by Hans Trippel. The result was a compact 2+2 sports car with a body approximately 150 millimetres longer than the chassis of the Gutbrod Superior from which its underpinnings were derived. The powertrain was also supplied by Gutbrod: a 700 cc two-stroke, two-cylinder engine with Bosch fuel injection, coupled to a three-speed Hurth transmission. Output was approximately 26 horsepower, with a reported top speed of about 130 km/h. The lightweight construction contributed to a claimed fuel consumption of roughly five litres per 100 kilometres. The first prototype was shown to the press in October 1956. Although its chassis and general form were complete, the car was not yet road-ready at the unveiling. Subsequent testing led to modifications, and Norwegian and foreign coverage treated the project as an ambitious addition to the European small-car field. Reports compared its concept with established manufacturers including Porsche, Citroën, and Saab. The company also considered replacing the technically demanding fuel-injection engine with a three-cylinder Saab power unit, but that alternative was never implemented. The first completed Troll was sold on 1 May 1957. Commercial expansion, however, was constrained by both regulation and finance. Kohl-Larsen had difficulty obtaining permission to sell the cars in Norway. The government permitted the sale of only 15 vehicles, reportedly because Norway's trading arrangements with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe involved exchanging Norwegian fish products for imported automobiles. Officials feared that domestic production could disturb that balance. In response, Troll Plastik & Bilindustri explored exports to Germany and Denmark and received interest from other countries, including Finland and Belgium. The company considered ambitious production targets, at one stage discussing as many as 2,000 cars annually, before adopting the more modest idea of completing one car per day. The company could not secure the investment capital needed to establish larger-scale production. Once the Norwegian government's lack of support became clear, prospective investors withdrew from negotiations. Troll Plastik & Bilindustri entered bankruptcy in early 1958, ending the project after only five cars had been built. Troll therefore remained a notable engineering experiment and historical footnote in Norwegian automotive manufacturing rather than a sustainable mass-market brand.

Troll emerged in mid-1950s Norway as an attempt to create a domestic automobile industry. The project was organized by businessman Per Kohl-Larsen with engineers Bruno Falck and Erling Fjugstad, while Hans Trippel was responsible for the design. The company, Troll Plastik & Bilindustri, operated from Lunde and chose a compact 2+2 sports car as its principal product. The car's most distinctive feature was its fibreglass body. This material offered two advantages over steel: it would not rust and it substantially reduced weight. The Troll's chassis was based on the Gutbrod Superior, but it was lengthened to accommodate the new body. Gutbrod also supplied the engine, a 700 cc two-stroke straight-twin with Bosch fuel injection, connected to a three-speed Hurth gearbox. The engine produced about 26 horsepower and was claimed to propel the car to approximately 130 km/h. Fuel consumption was reported at around five litres per 100 kilometres. Because the injection system was complex, the company considered a three-cylinder Saab engine as a possible replacement, though the change never took place. The first prototype was shown to journalists in October 1956. It was not completely finished and could not be driven at the unveiling, but later development work produced a testable car and led to several modifications. The concept received favorable attention from Norwegian and foreign commentators, who compared its ambitions with those of Porsche, Citroën, and Saab. The first Troll was sold on 1 May 1957. Production was constrained almost immediately. Kohl-Larsen had difficulty obtaining authorization to sell the vehicle in Norway, and the government allowed only 15 cars to be sold domestically. The restriction was linked to Norway's barter arrangements with the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries, under which Norway imported automobiles while exporting fish products. Authorities were concerned that a domestic manufacturer might interfere with that trading relationship. The company therefore investigated exports to Germany and Denmark and received inquiries from Finland and Belgium. It discussed a long-term capacity of 2,000 cars per year, later scaling its practical plan back to one completed vehicle per day. Those plans depended on external investment, which never materialized. When government opposition became evident, potential investors ended their negotiations. Troll Plastik & Bilindustri went bankrupt in early 1958. Only five cars were built, making Troll a very small but historically significant experiment in Norwegian automotive production. Its importance rests on its early adoption of fibreglass construction, its attempt to combine imported mechanical components with Norwegian manufacturing, and its demonstration of the regulatory and capital barriers facing new automobile producers.

• 1958

  Bankruptcy and end of production

  [1]Troll (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Troll Plastik & Bilindustri entered bankruptcy in early 1958 after failing to secure investment and facing restrictions on domestic sales. Total production reached five cars.

• 1957

  First customer sale

  [1]Troll (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  The first completed Troll was sold on 1 May 1957, marking the beginning of the brand's brief commercial production period.

• 1956

  Prototype unveiled

  [1]Troll (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Troll presented its first prototype to the press in October 1956. The car was not yet fully operational, but its fibreglass body and compact sports-car format established the project's identity.

An experimental Norwegian sports-car brand positioned around lightweight fibreglass construction, compact European design, and domestic automobile production.

• Compact sports car · 1956

  Troll

  The Troll was a 2+2 sports car with a lightweight fibreglass body mounted on a chassis derived from the Gutbrod Superior. Its 700 cc two-stroke two-cylinder engine used Bosch fuel injection and produced approximately 26 horsepower. A three-speed Hurth transmission sent power to the wheels. The car was reported to reach about 130 km/h and consume approximately five litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. The manufacturer built only five examples between 1956 and 1958.

• 1958

  Cessation of production following bankruptcyOther

  Background

  The manufacturer was unable to obtain investment for larger-scale production, and potential investors withdrew after the Norwegian government's lack of support became clear.

  Action taken

  Troll Plastik & Bilindustri entered bankruptcy and ended its automobile project.

  Aftermath

  Only five Troll cars were completed, leaving the marque as a short-lived episode in Norwegian automotive history.

  Source

• 1957

  Export-oriented production planningStrategy

  Background

  Norwegian authorities limited the number of Troll cars that could be sold domestically, creating a major constraint for a new manufacturer.

  Action taken

  The company explored exports to Germany and Denmark and considered interest from Finland and Belgium. It discussed ambitious output targets before settling on a less aggressive production concept.

  Aftermath

  The export strategy did not generate the capital needed to sustain the company, which went bankrupt in early 1958.

  Source

• 1956

  Launch of the fibreglass Troll sports carProduct launch

  Background

  Troll Plastik & Bilindustri sought to establish a Norwegian automobile manufacturer using a lightweight, rust-resistant fibreglass body and imported Gutbrod mechanical components.

  Action taken

  The company unveiled a prototype in October 1956 and proceeded toward limited customer production.

  Aftermath

  The design attracted press interest, but technical development, regulatory restrictions, and inadequate capital prevented the project from reaching mass production.

  Source

• 1958

  Troll Plastik & Bilindustri enters bankruptcy[1]Troll (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  The manufacturer failed to obtain the investment required for larger-scale production after regulatory obstacles and the withdrawal of prospective investors. The company went bankrupt in early 1958, after five cars had been built.

• 1957

  First Troll sold to a customer[1]Troll (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The first completed Troll was sold on 1 May 1957 as the company began its limited production effort.

• 1956

  Troll prototype presented to the press[1]Troll (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The first Troll was publicly revealed in October 1956. The prototype was not yet fully operational, but its fibreglass construction and compact sports-car design attracted attention in Norwegian and international motoring coverage.

1. 1Troll (automobile)en.wikipedia.org