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Collection of Pbv 501 - "prototyp" (BMP-1)
The short history about Pbv 501 is that Sweden bought a number of vehicles from (ex) DDR (East Germany, for you who are too young to remember). They were then modified to Swedish standard. After completion of the modification they were used sparingly before they were taken out of service.

Our "new" East German comrade

When the Tank Museum in Axvall received one of the APC Pbv 501 in the standard Swedish configuration this vehicle was classified as "surplus", since it is by and large unmodified (one of ten vehicles imported to Sweden for trials). This individual has more likeness to a BMP-1 than it has to the Pbv 501. Our plans for this vehicle is to make it be as true to its East German origins as possible.
There has been some discussion back and forth about the transportation of this vehicle and not everyone has understood exactly why we were so keen to have it, but no one can argue that it isn't a beauty!
bmp-1
Loading with the aid of a hooklift truck, Axvall
The first BMP-1's saw the light of day in the beginning of the 60's and were observed by the West for the first time in 1967, which means that this type is contemporary with the Swedish APC Pbv 302.
ekipage
Ready to roll...

After quite a few hours on the road it arrives at last to its new garage and is offloaded.

Avlastning Lagnö
Unloading at the new home
Bv 202
Bandvagn 202
BMP-1 fr vänster
A left view and... 		BMP-1 fr vänster
...a right view

But the story doesn't end here; we wil begin to give the vehicle som TLC and the ambition is of course that in the future (hopefully the near future!) it will be a runner. Through contacts with people who have been involved with NVA (the East German Army) we get help with tracking the history of the vehicle and information about how they were used on the other side of the Iron Curtain.

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