Björn Ramsten

In 1961, Björn Ramsten founded The Flintstones of Hollygroff Car Club with a group of neighborhood friends in Stockholm, Sweden, naming it after the popular animated sitcom. This photograph, taken at Fredhäll in 1961, shows the club’s 1947 Buick convertible along with members Nils-Erik Schullström, Tommy Ternström, Björn Hammar, Tore Ström, and Björn Ramsten. Driver "Kurre" is also present, while Lelle Larsson operates the camera. During this era, clubs such as The Road Devils, Car Angels, and Teddyboys were active in Stockholm, but as Björn recalled, “We were 6–7 friends with cars that started a local club called The Flintstones. The Road Devils already ravaged around a bit in folk parks and such, receiving a bit of coverage. We didn’t do that. We were just interested in cars and thought it was fun.” Photo by Lelle Larsson.

Björn Ramsten's 1957 Chevrolet of Stockholm, Sweden. Built during the golden age of Nordic custom culture, Björn was a founding member of The Flintstones of Hollygroff Car Club. Inspired by icons like Bill Cushenbery and the Alexander Brothers, Ramsten began the transformation in 1965, blending American flair with Swedish ingenuity. Powered by a 327 with performance upgrades, the Chevy saw action on both the street and dragstrip, notably competing at the historic First Go race at Anderstorp in 1968. The build was completed in 1967, and it was shown at the Hot Rod Show the same year. After changing hands several times, the car’s custom identity was gradually lost to restoration, but its legacy remains a cornerstone of Swedish custom history.

Björn and Mats Wallander running the Kustomrama stand at the 2025 Stockholm Hot Rod Kustom Show, keeping Swedish hot rod and custom car history alive.

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Björn Ramsten is a Swedish custom car builder and hot rod enthusiast, renowned for his pioneering work on a 1957 Chevrolet that became one of the best-known custom cars in Stockholm during the 1960s. His work, marked by ingenuity and passion, has left a lasting legacy in the Swedish custom car and hot rod scene.

Early Life and Background

Björn grew up in Fredhäll at Kungsholmen in Stockholm and developed a lifelong passion for American automobiles. In an interview with Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama, Björn recalled, “I got my driver’s license when I was 18, and I started driving in 1963. My first car was a Mercury 55.” Early on, he became immersed in the local automotive culture, a scene that was heavily influenced by American hot rod and custom trends. In 1961, while still too young to drive, he and several neighborhood friends pooled their weekly allowances to purchase a 1947 Buick convertible, which served as the club car for The Flintstones of Hollygroff Car Club. This early venture into car ownership and modification laid the foundation for Björn’s future projects.

Involvement in the Custom Car Scene

During the early 1960s, as the Swedish custom car scene began to take shape, Björn became a central figure among his peers. The enthusiasm for car customization spread rapidly among young enthusiasts in Stockholm—groups such as the Sollentuna Gang and various local clubs emerged as hot rodders and customizers shared ideas and built their vehicles from scratch using parts scavenged from junkyards. Björn’s early experiences with clubs like The Flintstones not only provided a creative outlet but also instilled in him a deep appreciation for the art and mechanics of vehicle modification.

The 1957 Chevrolet Custom Build

After selling his Mercury, Björn turned his focus to Chevrolets. In 1964, he purchased a red and white 1957 Chevrolet two-door hardtop 210. “After my first car, I stuck to Chevrolets,” he later explained. Initially powered by a 235 cu. in. inline-six engine, the Chevy was soon modified for greater performance and style, a trend that was common in Stockholm at the time, where street racing from traffic light to traffic light was a popular pastime. Drawing inspiration from American magazines like Hot Rod, Car Craft, and Rod & Custom, Björn quickly embarked on transforming the vehicle.

In 1964, after witnessing custom cars exhibited by local legends such as Bosse "Gamen" Sandberg and his brother Sven at the Scania building on Ringvägen, Björn became determined to build his own custom. The early modifications included testing out ideas on a Revell plastic model and experimenting with metal fabrications. Over the next few years, the Chevy evolved dramatically. In 1965, he began adding unique features such as a scooped hood, chromed teeth from an Opel Kapitan air-intake, and even a grille made of gold-painted sequins—crafted painstakingly by hand.

While serving in the army from 1965 to 1966, progress slowed, but upon returning, he dedicated himself to a full custom conversion. His modifications included shaving bumpers, emblems, moldings, and door handles, along with installing custom electrical solenoids, unique grille openings featuring perforated mesh, and an asymmetrical hood scoop that he credited as his own take on a design inspired by an Alexander Brothers’ restyled Ford.

Performance enhancements were equally impressive. In 1967, after initially replacing the inline-six with a 283 engine, Björn further upgraded to a 327 short block acquired from Bosse Kasby at BoMac Racing. The engine was fitted with Musse Pigg heads from a Corvette, an Offenhauser high-rise intake manifold, a Holley 800 cfm 4-barrel carb, and Hooker headers. He paired this with a three-speed transmission featuring a Hurst Mystery floor shifter before later upgrading to a 4-speed Muncie, with additional reinforcements like traction bars and airbags in the rear end.

Björn’s meticulous work paid off; by the spring of 1967, his custom build was complete. After driving in grey primer, the car was sent off to Älta Billack for its final Hunter Green metallic paint job, a color chosen after long contemplation, inspired by a 1956 Chrysler hue. Custom accessories such as open-wheel spinners from Cal Custom further distinguished the vehicle.

The finished Chevy not only dominated local dragstrips, racing against formidable competitors at Mantorp Park, but also earned national media attention. In 1971, Start & Speed magazine featured the car in an article titled “50-talare med sting,” highlighting its 14.0-second elapsed time and top speed of 155 km/h after four years of intensive work and an investment of 10,000 kronor.

Racing, Exhibitions, and Legacy

Björn’s custom Chevrolet became a staple at local car shows and drag races throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. One of his best memories was displaying the car at the 1967 Hot Rod Show in Marmorhallarna, where renowned custom builder Bosse "Gamen" Sandberg, known as Stockholm’s “Kustom King,” acknowledged the design’s inspiration from Bill Cushenbery’s work. The car also competed at drag events—racing against cars like Lard Flodman’s Ford Fairlane Victoria at Mantorp Park, and was later photographed alongside other custom legends.

After years of racing and cruising on Stockholm’s streets, Björn’s 1957 Chevrolet remained his only form of transportation until he sold it in April 1976 to Kent Lundqvist of Bromma. This marked the end of an era for Björn, who soon after focused on family life. Over the following years, the car passed through several hands, undergoing restorations and alterations that gradually stripped away much of its radical custom character.

Later Life and Continuing Influence

Björn Ramsten’s contributions to the Swedish custom car scene have been recognized as part of the pioneering spirit that transformed local garages into innovation hubs. His 1957 Chevrolet custom build not only showcased his technical skill and creative vision but also influenced a generation of Swedish hot rodders and customizers who grew up inspired by his work and the broader cultural movement in Sweden.

Björn Ramsten's Cars

Björn Ramsten's 1957 Chevrolet