Enskedefältet - one of Swedish Hot roddings cradles!

Sweden goes Hot rodding

As you know, our hobby started back in the 1950s, largely thanks to car magazines from the United States as a source of inspiration for how cars could be modified to go faster or be customized. In connection with this, various gathering places were formed where you could share interest, create contacts and make friends with new ideas. The first was probably on Alvägen in Sollentuna where Erik Djurberg ran a Ford workshop and his son Lennart grew up building on a -32 Roadster back in 1955. Another was the Bellander brothers' workshop in Betsede, Gustavsberg, where the young people of Nacka/Värmdö were located. The café 'Cupido' (Cupan) on Roslagsgatan became a gathering place, in town the boys from both the northern and southern suburbs also met, as well as Bosse 'Gamen' Sandberg who had his club 'Road Devils'. The gangs did not have much contact with each other at this time.

The young guys in Enskede

However, this article will be about the Enskede field in southern Stockholm. Here, families lived in self-built single-family houses on leased plots, often moved out of the inner city. At Österbottenvägen 10, Stig Broberg lived with his wife Viola and son Hans. His classmate Kjell Gustad on Stralsundsgatan joined in and the house became more and more like a youth center with mopeds, motorcycles and cars that were fixed. The rumor spread and at the end of the 1950s the gang was large with Arne Lindstrand, Lasse 'Junken', 'Lill-Pelle' Karsson, Lill-Hasse Källberg, Bengt Wennergren from Bägerstavägen, and others.

The neighbors were actually very accommodating and no major complaints came from them, even if the rampage on the local streets was sometimes wild!
Kjelle Gustad remembers that they had a good hiding place behind a hedge where they could go to get away from chasing policemen! Father Stig supported the activities and photographed and filmed with a Super-8 camera. One of the first objects was a 1937 Ford Tudor coin-back that was taken apart and worked feverishly on the driveway. This was already in 1957 and the boys did not yet have a driver's license. What happened to the car is unclear, but reportedly the roof was cut off before it was sold on. The driver's license was taken in 1959, so now the vehicles could be driven reasonably legally.

Many cars were brought home to the site from Sweden and Denmark and the projects followed each other in a steady stream. The activity in the basement garage was high, the gas welder, angle grinder and drills were running hot, while Viola served sandwiches and refreshments! At that time, there were hardly any scrapyards, so old cars were driven out into the woods where they were left to decay. One of the first cars was a Chevrolet cab from 1938. It received a thorough renovation and was equipped with an Oldsmobile rocket engine. Bosse 'Gamen' painted in the newly moved garage on Flensvägen, and his girlfriend Karin "Morris" striped the flames. Unfortunately, the boys collided with a deer so the grill had to be redone. There were many wild long trips with the car all year round until it was sold in 1965. A DeSoto from 1957 was rebuilt to a mild custom with, among other things, a modified tube grille. The original grill was given to Bosse 'Gamen' who probably used it on one of his builds. Probably as a replacement for the paint jobs he did at DeSoton as well.

• From the Broberg collection.
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  Clip from the Super-8 film with the boys working on a 1937 Ford Tudor

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  Treasure from the woods. Maybe this is Lill-Pelles object?

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  A proud Pelle at his finished T

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  From one of the junkyards in Denmark

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  Kjelle is directing where Hasse should weld

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  Sven Sandbergs FoMoCo in Denmark

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  Arne Lindstrand and 'Snoddas' showing the rear plate for Gamens 'Purple Passion' 1961

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  'Gamen' puts on a silver base on the 1957 DeSoto. Note the comprehensive protective equipment!

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  The DeSoto parked at Ringvägen in Stockholm 1965

The Dragster

In 1961, Sweden saw a dragster for the first time. It was the "Moon" dragster built on a Dragmaster kit chassis and equipped with a CSB and Potvin compressor. Had been run at 8.97 ET on the strip but was now on tour owned and sponsored by Revell and Wentzels Hobby. The Kasby brothers were involved in the car being shown at the NK department store, and was a success. Hasse and Kjelle were deeply impressed and hurried home – now the dragster is to be built! Various pipes of varying quality (!) were procured in different places and an intensive welding and tinkering started. First, a Ford side-valve V8 was tested into the frame, but was replaced by an engine from Oldsmobile. The car was shown under construction in the Marmorhallarna "Sportvagnen & Vi" in 1963 together with some English dragsters. After this, the car was taken down and the chassis and engine painted red. The dragster was prepared and the first test drives were made on the roads within the Enskede field and around Vårflodsparken(!). Strangely enough, the neighbors didn't call the police, one must assume that they were quite hardened by now.

Sweden's first dragster received a lot of attention in the motor press, and Gunnar Friberg from Teknikens värld made a big report in 1965 where Gunnar himself drove the dragster at an airfield in Norrköping to establish a Swedish record in E.T. and top speed for drag racing. The dragster was sold without an engine to Bosse 'Gamen', who repainted it and put in a Buick Nailhead engine. The engine came from 'Junken's' 1932 roadster and was tuned to just over 400 horses. It was exhibited at the Hot Rod Show and was run in 1966 at an unofficial drag race outside Stockholm (on the unfinished Enköpingsvägen). According to information, the dragster was dismantled in parts in the Hot Rod barn in Huddinge in 1968 when the first race in Anderstorp was run. What happened next is unfortunately not known.

• From the Broberg collection.
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  From the display at the NK warehouse store in Stockholm

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  The frame is ready. First try with a flattie engine, however ...

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  ... it was replaced by the Olds Rocket engine

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  The guys properly dressed for the 'Sportvagnen och Vi' exhibition in Marmorhallarna

The Herrings / Sillarna

In the early 1960s, there began to be a large turnover of cars and objects that passed in the backyard of the house. On the street, it became crowded to get there as there were many visitors. After work we went around Södertörn and on weekends we visited "Henry's Café" or Talludden with dancing and looking for girls.
Bosse 'Gamen' Sandberg always had the opinion that the cars should have names and that the boys should form a club like his own "Road Devils" with cool stickers and signs. The guys in the field thought he was pretty annoying, but okay, one evening they were sitting and brainstorming and someone came up with the name "Sillarna" which was the most stupid thing you could find. To appease the 'Gamen', ugly signs were made from old wooden floor tiles. Sweaters were arranged with the text "Herring rodders" which were worn with a tanner. For some reason, however, the name "Sillarna" stuck with everyone, and even today there are stories about them and their adventures, (really just Hasse and Kjelle)!

• From the Broberg collection.
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  The ugly plates for the 'Club' Sillarna - just to tease 'Gamen'.

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  All dressed up looking for girls?

Everyone helps everyone, and the gang is growing

A lot of time was spent visiting other people's garages for inspiration and being able to assist with a helping hand. Palle built his fine Cheva bucket with a large Chrysler engine, and Göran a 1936 Ford Tudor that got an advanced flame paint in several colors. Because of his surname, Göran was nicknamed "Lill-Sillen" The Sandberg family had a summer house in Gudö, Vendelsö, where they worked in an uninsulated barn. There, Sven Sandberg built his "Glowing coupe" and Bosse his "Purple Passion", with a lot of help from Arne Lindstrand. The car was later completed in Bosse's own garage on Flensvägen, and both were shown at the first Hot Rod Show in Marmorhallarna in the spring of 1965. Most of the gang did not have such good opportunities for garage space with mechanic possibilities so in 1964 the Hot Rod barn in Högmora could be inaugurated (see previous article in SRB). In addition to the Cheva-38, Hasse and Kjelle built more cars, including a DeSoto in 1957 that was customized and painted dark red pearl by 'Gamen'.

"Lill-Pelle" Karlsson was 8 years younger but one of the biggest admirers. He became aware of an old T-Ford abandoned in the woods. So with a flatbed moped, parts were picked up piece by piece and collected to Broberg's plot. The roof was cut away and the body was welded together into an open roadster. A Chevrolet engine ended up in the car and without money, but with a lot of help, Pelle finally got together what was probably Sweden's first T-threat! However, Pelle had a long way to go to get his driver's license so Sillarna had to take over the car and drove a little on the Skarpnäck field. What happened to the car later is unclear. Pelle also built one of Sweden's first Trikes and started the Trike factory in the barn together with Anders Lake.

Håkan Lindell had lived with his mother in Ventura, California, but moved back to Sweden in 1964, next door to the Broberg family! Håkan quickly joined the gang and helped with all sorts of things. He bought a 1953 Studebaker which was rebuilt. Together with his wife Eva, cars were brought home from the United States and various companies were started with car brokerage between Sweden and the United States. Later, Håkan ('Swede') and Eva moved back to the United States, ran a limousine company and have collected lots of nice cars.

• From the Broberg collection.
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  Bengt W, Lill-Hasse and Kjelle G under the hood.

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  Two of the cars brought home. The 3-win coupe was chopped and later sold to Jan Serrander.

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  Two of the cars brought home. The 3-win coupe was chopped and later sold to Jan Serrander.

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  Lasse 'Junken' visiting with his -32 Roadster in an early version before paint.

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  Gathering place for all youngsters.

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  Bosse 'Gamen' impresses kids with bicycling circus skills!

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  The Simca owned by Hasse Brobergs father, Stig, was often used as towing car.

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  The 1953 Studebaker of Håkan Lindell.

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  VW based Trike by Pelle Karlsson.

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  The 'Glowing coupe' by Sven Sandberg in the barn in Vendelsö.

Tougher times

Over time, the authorities and the police became more difficult. Mandatory vehicle inspections and flying checks on the condition and progress of the cars were introduced. Many were given the "Spanish flag" (Driving ban), and for all rebuilds from the original, a certificate was required. It was important to have the right papers and registration certificates. The raggars were messing around and fighting on Kungsgatan. Here it is important to mention that our pioneers firmly distanced themselves from the drunkenness and mischief in the city. Even Bosse 'Gamen' (who had been the leader of Road Devils) believed that it was works of art and culture that were being dealt with.

Pride of the Ocean

The situation made several people get bored of cars and instead started looking at boats. On the sea there were no rules! Some brought home flat-bottomed Ski-boats from the USA which with a V8 rear became a rocket in the water! Lasse 'Junken' Ljungqvist was one of the first and several followed. Around 1965, Sillarna, together with Arne Lindstrand, became co-owners of an old fishing cutter. The boat was at Söder Mälarstrand and now a great deal of work began to make it seaworthy. The hull in the bow was raised, new masts were made and a completely new deck was built. There was no money as usual so the project took time, but the boys were able to go away in 1969.
From the web:

1962 sold to Sven Ulrik Lindberg in Stockholm with Visby as his home port. The 65 hp 1-cyl Skandia engine was still in place at the time, but was replaced on 25 October 1965 with a 135 hp engine. In 1967 it was converted into a leisure vessel with owners in Stockholm, a part-shipping company with Sven Arne Lindstrand as main owner and with Arne Valdemar Saxin, Hans Erik Broberg and Kjell Sigvard Gustad as other partners. Then he also regained the name Pride of the Ocean. After a long period of equipment, Pride of the Ocean sailed in July 1969 to the Mediterranean Sea and from there continued its journey to the Caribbean and the Bahamas a few months later. Thereafter, sailed in the waters of the Bahamas from the beginning of 1970. On June 25, 1970, the cutter in Florida was sold through American Sailboat brokers in Fort Lauderdale to Mrs. Martine Dupas and others in Guadeloupe. Kept the Swedish flag and Stockholm as his hometown. Ran aground on January 28, 1971 at Samana Cay in the Bahamas, All on board saved themselves ashore but the ship sank. After a week on the deserted island, the crew and passengers were rescued.

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  Kjelle G, Arne L and Hasse B onboard 'Pride of the Oceans'.

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  The boat.

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  Kjelle and Hasse, clip from the film 'Pionjärerna' by Dan Nilsson.

1970s and later

After some time in Florida, the boys came home again, but by then they had already received so many contacts and impressions from the United States that the trips became frequent.
Cars were shipped home to Sweden and they occasionally worked at the boxing champion "Ingo" Johansson's hotel in Florida as a base in the 1970s.

As for most people, it was now time to start a family and prioritize other things in life. However, the interest in motoring has always remained and meant that the contacts have never been broken despite being dispersed geographically. Thanks to meetings and activities over the years, people meet and talk about old memories.

The next generation of talented Hot Rod and Custom builders takes over. Thanks to better regulations and access to parts, the hobby has exploded from the 1980s onwards.

But we owe a lot to the early pioneers who left behind a priceless legacy of inspiration and myth-making!