Although he was not very well known in Belgium itself, a true truck legend has just passed away: the Swede Sven Erik Bergendahl, better known by the nickname ‘Svempa’ in the small world of tuned Scania trucks.
Sven Erik Bergendahl started his career as a roadside assistance technician, but his passion for the Scania brand led him to focus on truck decoration in the 1970s. His creations have fascinated generations of fans of personalized trucks and stole the show at all events where they were exhibited. One of his most striking creations is the Red Pearl, based on a T-tractor that was converted in 2008 into… a convertible (with a V8 engine, of course). In total, Sven Erik Bergendahl has modified more than 500 trucks. In 2021, Scania bought the rights to the Svempas brand and has been using it for special series ever since.
Christian Levin, the CEO of Scania, wanted to pay a nice tribute to him: “It is with great sadness – for all of us at Scania, and for me personally – that I have learned that Sven Erik ‘Svempa’ Bergendahl is no longer with us. For more than 50 years, Svempa helped shape Scania’s brand image thanks to his unique, tailor-made trucks, which were admired worldwide. He enjoyed worldwide fame and was among the most followed personalities in the truck enthusiast community.
Svempa’s energy and passion have always inspired me, and I have truly enjoyed all our meetings over the years. Recently it was a particular pleasure to see him drop by Scania’s headquarters to chat, exchange ideas and discuss what the future could bring. I am happy to have been able to celebrate his 85th birthday in 2024, both in Södertälje and on Elmia, paying tribute to Svempa’s contributions and his legendary creations, such as the incredible Frostfire. Svempa was a true icon, and we will continue to honor him and his legacy for many years to come. For now, I would like to express my sincere condolences to his family, his friends and the Svempas team.”
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