Kent Olof Olsson's 1955 Chevrolet

Kent Olof's Chevrolet parked outside a garage in Vendelsö circa 1962. The custom featured a home-applied flame paint job, and Bengt Wennergren recalled that the owner proudly told friends, “we’ve painted flames ourselves!” In the driveway sits a Fordson, and standing in front of the car is Arne Lindstrand, a well-known custom builder from the Stockholm area. Photo from The Broberg Family Collection, courtesy of Lisa Broberg.

Arne Lindstrand checking out the flame job on Kent Olof's Chevrolet. Photo from The Broberg Family Collection, courtesy of Lisa Broberg.

A front view of the Chevrolet. Bengt Wennergren's 1951 Ford can be spotted behind the car. After Bengt found out that it was built from three different cars, he later sold the Ford to a fellow known as Lasse Bråttom. The 1955 Chevrolet’s bold flame job and shaved trim reflected the growing influence of American custom trends among young Swedish builders in the early 1960s. Photo from The Broberg Family Collection, courtesy of Lisa Broberg.

Order from: Sweden - Norway - Rest of the world

Kent Olof Olsson's 1955 Chevrolet was a mildly customized and flame-painted sedan from Johanneshov, Stockholm, Sweden. The car was a familiar sight around Vendelsö in the early 1960s and stands as a good example of how young Swedish enthusiasts interpreted the growing American hot rod and custom trend at the time.

According to Bengt Wennergren, Kent Olof customized the Chevy with a set of hand-painted flames in red and yellow. Bengt recalled that Kent Olof proudly told friends, “We’ve painted flames ourselves!”

Vendelsö Scene

Several photos from The Broberg Family Collection show Kent’s Chevrolet parked outside a garage in Vendelsö circa 1962. The area was a local hub for the early Stockholm hot rod and custom scene, where Hans "Hasse" Broberg, Kjell "Kjelle" Gustad, and their friends often gathered and worked on cars.

In one photo, the 1955 Chevrolet is seen parked on the street with Arne Lindstrand, a well-known Stockholm custom builder, standing nearby. A Fordson is visible in the driveway next to Bengt Wennergren's 1951 Ford Coupe, which was later sold to a man known as “Lasse Bråttom.”

Appearance and Modifications

Kent’s Chevrolet featured a flat black base color with red and yellow flames extending along the sides, front fenders, hood, and roof. The car retained much of its stock bodywork, but at the time, he ran it without a front bumper. It was nosed and shaved for most of its trim, and the rear door handles were removed, giving it a clean two-door look. Red wheels, a red interior, and the bold paint gave the car a personal touch. The look captured the spirit of the times, when builders experimented freely with style rather than following strict show-car conventions.

Legacy

While little is known about the later fate of Kent’s 1955 Chevrolet, the photos preserved in The Broberg Family Collection offer a rare glimpse into everyday Swedish custom culture of the early 1960s. These snapshots, showing the car parked outside modest garages, surrounded by friends and neighbors, represent the grassroots beginnings of hot rodding and customizing in Stockholm.