Master Craftsman

Svempa is to customising trucks what Michelangelo was to decorating churches. We head over to Stockholm to catch up with every truck enthusiast’s favourite artist.

- Will Shiers

I’m not a fan of art. On several occasions I’ve been dragged, kicking and screaming, to poncy galleries and museums where I’ve tried my hardest to ‘get it’ but failed miserably every time [philistine – Ed].

Whether it’s a watercolour, oil painting, abstract or impressionist, I simply fail to appreciate the appeal and there’s certainly no artwork gracing my office wall. It’s the same with classical music, ballet, opera, sculpture, poetry; indeed, just about any form of art you can name.

But there is one exception – truck customising. That I get, that I understand, and that’s why I was excited to meet the man who is widely credited with creating this entire art movement – Svempa.

In good spirits

I had been warned that 78-year-old Sven-Erik ‘Svempa’ Bergendahl can be a bit cantankerous but my contact must have met him on a bad day, because the Svempa who proudly showed me around his workshop on an industrial estate on the outskirts of Stockholm was in perfectly good spirits.

Having given me an unofficial sneak preview of his latest top-secret project – a Scania coach that he’s in the process of transforming into the ultimate VIP mover – he invited me into his office. I say ‘office’ but in truth it’s more like a museum, packed full of the artefacts he’s collected during his 50-plus years as arguably the world’s greatest truck customiser.

First he points out some faded framed pictures, including a mid1960s bonneted LS75 tow truck, his first-ever Scania and the start of a lifelong love affair with the marque. Having been refused a loan from the bank, he borrowed money from his mother-in-law to buy it and set up the successful towing firm that his son still runs today.