Hot Rod Show April 1965

Cover of the official souvenir program for the 1965 Hot Rod Show in Stockholm, featuring four standout custom rods exhibited at Ostermans Marmorhallar. The bold pink header and vibrant car photography reflect the show’s celebration of hot rod artistry and innovation.

A view of the 1965 Hot Rod Show at Ostermans Marmorhallar in Stockholm, where hot rods and custom cars were prominently displayed for thousands of visitors, reflecting the emerging popularity and artistic flair of the Scandinavian hot rod and custom scene. Photo from The Christer Wistam Collection.

Order from: Sweden - Norway - Rest of the world

The first Hot Rod Show, held in April of 1965, was an influential indoor hot rod and custom car exhibition held at Ostermans Marmorhallar in Stockholm, Sweden. The event played a significant role in popularizing hot rod culture in the region during the mid-1960s.

History

The first edition of the Hot Rod Show was hosted by Bosse "Gamen" Sandberg, Acke Nordström, and Jonas Qvarnström. The idea for the show came to Gamen after witnessing the success of an indoor car show hosted by Roffe Skoghag at Scania’s facilities in Tanto, Södermalm. Due to exclusive rights held by Picko Troberg for hosting auto shows at Marmorhallarna, Roffe Skoghag was unable to secure the venue for his own event. However, Gamen successfully persuaded the superintendent of Marmorhallarna that hot rods represented a form of art rather than mere automobiles, thus paving the way for the Hot Rod Show to be held at the location.

Event Details

The inaugural event took place from April 21 to 26, 1965, spanning from Wednesday to Sunday. The show was noted for its impressive attendance, drawing over 20,000 visitors. Its success led to a follow-up exhibition later the same year. The second edition was held from November 10 to 15, 1965, and it is believed that many of the same vehicles that appeared in the first event were featured again.

During the initial shows, the exhibition area was likely confined to the base floor of the venue. As the event grew in popularity in subsequent years, organizers expanded the exhibition space to include the second floor, which featured an outdoor ramp facilitating vehicle entry.

Legacy

The 1965 Hot Rod Show is remembered as a milestone in the evolution of car shows in Sweden. It not only showcased the artistic and cultural aspects of hot rod and custom car design but also set a precedent for future exhibitions in the country. The creative approach of positioning hot rods as works of art helped elevate the status of these vehicles and influenced subsequent automotive events in the region.

Cars Attending

Bo Sandberg's 1923 Ford Model T Roadster - Purple Passion
Palle Eriksson's 1924 Chevrolet Roadster
Christer Lundberg's 1931 Chevrolet Roadster
Jonas Qvarnström's 1931 Ford Model A Roadster
Gunnar Johansson's 1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe
Göran Silfors' 1932 Ford Roadster - Early Bird
Jan Wahlström's 1932 Ford Coupe
Lars Erik Ljungkvist's 1932 Ford Roadster
Sven Sandberg's 1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe - The Glowing Coupe
Göran Silfors' 1936 Ford Sedan
Christer Lundberg 1937 Ford Coupe
Hans Broberg and Kjelle Gustad's 1938 Chevrolet Convertible
Bengt Heurlin's 1939 Chevrolet SS De Luxe Coupe
Bengt Wennergren's 1949 Ford
Inge Ellburg's 1955 Ford Sunliner "Goldfinger"
Örjan Lindberg, Staffan Lindberg and Leif Weidel's 1955 Ford Sunliner
Torbjörn Tollebäck's 1956 Chevrolet Convertible
Matti Johansson's 1956 Ford Crown Victoria
Leif Carlsson and Peter Kjellberg's 1957 Ford Fairlane 500
Matti Johanson's 1957 Ford Ranchero
Bo Sandberg's 1959 Ford Thunderbird - Surfin Bird
Pelle Ericsson's Model T
Bo Sandberg's Dragster
Arne Lindstrand's 1955 Chevrolet
A Jeep with Chevrolet smallblock V8 - owner unknown

Several MC, Mopeds and Model cars