The Betula deserves to be a worthy successor to the Fagus, especially with its unibody construction.
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And stats very close to a Volvo Amazon, 4 years earlier…wonder if things would have looked different if it had faced that competition…
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Malva Betula 1700 (1960-1966)
A new car for the sixties. In 1960 Malva Introduced a hole new car with a body style the press called ahead of time. Underneath most things are more familiar just a little modernised and the engine is now a at 1,7l, giving 72 hp. The new car is also availeble as a stationwagon “Kombi”.
1964 Malva Betula Long Wheel Base Limousine
Malmö Automobil och Lastvagns Aktiebolag
8 Likes
Oh, that’s nice. Could also be a British car as well, but a proof that Swedish vintage cars don’t have to Look like a 96 or PV544.
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Looks great, gives off some Mercedes W108 vibes, except for the front fascia.
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Malva Betula 1750 (1967-1975)
In 1967 Malva Introduced a new car that is more or less a continuaiton of the earlier model. Featuring a more up to date styling to carry the model in to the 70s. New for this model is independent rear suspension and reworked engine, now at 1750cc giving a few more horsepowers and better tourqe.
1973 saw the intoduction of a new three door coupe/hatchback body. The new car was available with Malvas first fuel injected engine.
Malmö Automobil och Lastvagns Aktiebolag
8 Likes
That would have been a modern looking thing in the late 60s indeed. Seems like it could have filled a niche, stats reminds me a bit of a RWD SAAB 99 but it lacks the quirkiness that was too much for some people to swallow (and also has the wagon version that the former lacked), while it seems more agile, modern and sporty compared to a Volvo 140. I like it, especially in the fastback version and with the dual headlight front end…
Could maybe have given BMWs of the era a run for their money too now when I think about it.
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Malva Betula 1900 (1976-1983)
In the mid 1970s inspired by the Renault 5 and Simca 1508, Malva found out that plastic works well as protective material for the bumpers car body, and went all in using plastic panels on the entire lower half of the body on the new car for 1976.
It was not before long report of severe rust problems underneath the new plastic panels started to come in, there was also problem with miscolouration of the light gray plastic.
For the 1977 model, most of the plastic was gone and black plastic was used for the remainig plastic parts.
1980 saw a facelift with body colored bumpers and the return of some chome trim.
A more luxurious version was released with a 2.4l straight six engine.
In 1981 a stripped down utility version of the Betula was introduced for the commecial market. It has a generous and convenient cargo space and a sturdy solid rear axle on leaf springs.
Malmö Automobil och Lastvagns Aktiebolag
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Malmö Automobil och Lastvagns Aktiebolag
2 Likes
It almost begs for the same vertical seperated cubic taillights the Lancer Wagon has
True… 
Malva Salix 1,5i (1984-1994)
Also in 1984 Malva premiered a new small car, The Salix, available with 3 or 5 doors in a practicle hatch back body, the Salix is a ideal car for the small family. The engine was supposed to be a transverse muonted 1.4 litre Inline 4. but a very economical opurtunity arise to buy newly developed engines from Otari Motor company in Archana, hence the Salix is equipped with a 1.5 litre boxer 4, still driving the front wheels through 5 speed gearbox.
Malmö Automobil och Lastvagns Aktiebolag
5 Likes
I think the 1900 looks a bit too modern and rounded for the late 70s and early 80s; in real life it was around the start of the 90s when chrome trim almost died out, and around the start of the 2000s when it began making a return.
Malmö Automobil och Lastvagns Aktiebolag
5 Likes
The '93 Betula is built on an F-segment (full-size luxury) body set (specifically, the '94 Lancer) - with a 2.98m wheelbase, it’s an unusually large body for a transverse-engined, FWD passenger car. Then again, it’s not a luxury/premium car, but a mass-market one - and the large body gives plenty of room.
I’ve also noticed that the '84 Betula is also built on an oversized body set - but not to the same extent as its successor. However, it seems that you forgot to match the wing mirror color on the estate to the rest of the bodywork - which most of us would easily miss.
Thanks for the correction - the wheelbase may be unusual, but the width is not. A six-speed manual gearbox may be overkill for a car of that era and size with only 124 horsepower, though.
I am more surprised by the 2 seater layout in a sedan/wagon, but I presume it is a mistake.
Then again, before the Ellsbury update, the convertible versions of some Lancer body sets could not accommodate a rear seat at all. However, if the intent was to make a panel van version, two seats will be enough.
