SCANIA

Sven Erik "Svempa" does his last customization job on the S 770 V8 mechanical horse

Sven Erik "Svempa" Bergendahl(image above), the world's top Scania preparer, has announced that he will retire. At 82, the Swede is ending his career in style. That is, with the customization of a Scania S 770 with a V8 engine, the largest model of the brand's new generation. Over nearly 50 years, he has customized over 600 Scania trucks.

By the way, the hardcore fan only works with Scania trucks. Asked why he doesn't prepare trucks from other brands, Svempa replied: "Because Scania produces a good-performing V8 engine."

The most desired Scania V8 of all time... Anyway, the projects signed by Svempa's team cover 100% of the truck. That is, cabin, body and engine. The model was named Frostfire. Something like "frozen fire" in free translation. The mechanical horse celebrates the 50th anniversary of the launch of Scania's V8 engine, in 2019. However, its launch has only taken place now. The pandemic of the new coronavirus caused this postponement.

According to Svempas, the name of the Swedish company, it took almost two years of development. This includes designing and building new slurries and air deflectors on the sides and rear.

However, the most difficult phase was to develop the shade of blue idealized by Svempa for Frostfire. In addition to the exclusive color, the most powerful Scania in history has other unique details. This is the case of the orange and black stripes, which give a beautiful contrast to the painting. In the same sense, there are stickers in gray, alluding to the image of fragmented ice.

According to the preparer, the painting took 1,200 hours of work. As well as 150 liters of paint in seven different shades, plus 18 layers of clear lacquer. The painting was commissioned from Billackeringen. The company has been a partner of Svempa for 33 years.

Svempa is Europe's most highly regarded truck artist...Svempa began his career in truck customization in 1967. That year, the Swede turned a Chevrolet pickup truck into a tow truck. Thus, he founded his company in the south of Stockholm. "I listened to the police radio and always expected to be the first to arrive at the scene of the accident. After all, in addition to helping, I wanted to show the truck", says Svempa.

However, his interest in trucks began in 1965, when he bought a 1965 LS to work in the towing service. Then Svempa bought a Scania L140, his first V8-engined model. The mechanical horse was equivalent to the LK sold in Brazil.

According to the Scandinavian workshop, this was the most difficult work to be carried out in more than three decades of working together. Be that as it may, Svempa says he is not retiring for good. "But it's my last big show truck. In other words, where all the customization is designed by me."

Recognition and fame... However, Svempa only started transforming Scania trucks in the early 1980s. The first model of the brand customized by him was a Scania R 142H 6x2. And already in this first work, the artist received, in Holland, an award for making the most beautiful truck in Europe.

Over the years, his fame grew. With that, Svempa opened a dealership of accessories for trucks. In addition, he launched a brand with items such as t-shirts and caps. The success was so great that the preparer caught Scania's attention.

The brand went on to supply trucks customized by Svempa for various markets. Especially in Europe. It is worth mentioning that these models signed by him are worth up to 20% more than those without preparation. Finally, Scania acquired the rights to the Svempa Customização brand.

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