Pedal to the floor, hear my engine roar!
I’m back on the streets.
The Power Big Meet. The Power Big Meet!
.....
People stop and they stare at the ride I’ve got.
..........I’m the King of the City
The Power Big Meet, yeah, The Power Big Meet!
(from the Power Big Meet CD)
Coming from the motorway to Västerås – a city about 100 km west of Stockholm - to join the Power Big Meet you find yourself in a seemingly endless line of Chevy BelAirs, Caddies, Ford Customlines and Fairlanes, Desoto Firelites, Buick Electras, Mustangs, the occasional Edsel and Hotrod. Along with literally thousands of other US cars mainly from the ‘50s and ‘60s, they gradually fill their allotted places in vastness of the Johannisberg airfield some. By the end of the day there are perhaps 13,000 or more (some say close to 15,000) cars of all states of styling and condition in the what is probably the largest assembly of US designed and built cars anywhere.
This is the Power Big Meet: at three-day festival of Americana in a small Swedish industrial town of all places. The owners of these entire cars make their way from all over Sweden as from more than 40 countries are here to celebrate first and foremost the glory of the muscle cars that rolled off the assembly lines in Detroit the post-war years. They are joined by thousands of onlookers. And they all come to thrill at the throbbing roar of an accelerating 400+ cu. inch V8 and melt at the sight of those extravagant fins and aggressively chromed grille. They celebrate to the accompaniment of time-typical music and many are geared out in the togs of that not yet completely forgotten era. Cowboy boots and hats are a common sight as are the stars & stripes as well as a few Confederate flags – just to show where their sympathy lies.
For many of the native Swedes, however, it’s truly a trip down memory lane in another way. For it was back to the late 1950s and ’60, when young working-class Swedes took to these gas-guzzling Jänkare (lit. Yankee Cars) that had turned up in Sweden and were now filling the used car lots. They patched them up and cruised the streets looking for female company and perhaps a little rumble. And they started a sub-culture that earned the name Raggare: literally pick-up artist. (See further separate article: The Raggare – a Swedish sub-culture).
30 years from 80 cars to Power Big Meet 2007
It all began at Anderstorp back in 1978 – home of Sweden’s onetime F1 circuit - when the owners of some 80 US-made cars, mainly from the early ‘fifties, met up with about 400 like-minded enthusiasts. Their aim was to recapture the days when they cruised down the main drag of their home towns and were proud to be known as Raggare. Equal to their love for making themselves heard and seen was their passion for these US monster cars which in more recent times have become the object of loving care and restoration – a passion which has steadily grown to include thousands for who the cruising days of the ‘50s is something they only hear about or see in films.
Now 30 years later, close on 15,000 Jänkare from all over the world - although mostly from Sweden - assemble on an airfield outside the city of Västerås, about 90 km west of the Swedish capital of Stockholm to celebrate the glorious days of chrome and big fins. They call it the Power Big Meet – and man that stated it all, Kjell Gustavsson, a highly regarded restorer of such cars, is still the key man behind it all. It was Kjell that brought the Meet to Västerås in 1984 and it has been here ever since with on e exception, 1986 when it was held at Kinnekulle, site of the rally-cross circuit.
Cruising – Swap meets – Rockabilly Party - and a theme tune
During this amazing and unique three-day festival of chrome and roaring V-8s, an expected 100,000 fans and onlookers will have come to the Power Big Meet or followed the cruising parade through the town. In the carnival atmosphere at the airfield there are some 600 vendors and swap meets, countless food stands, and the obligatory car-judging of the 200 best-in-show cars. The chosen 200 are graded in 13 classes and have a special place in the cruising parade.
At the nearby jam-packed camping ground the visitor can enjoy the appropriate music from the era at an all-night rockabilly party and American BBQ. This year there is even a Power Big Meet tune written and produced by Thomas Thörnholm, one of Sweden’s established songwriter-producers. Some 4000 CDs with the Power Big Meet rock will be handed out to visitors. The plug for the CD tells us that it’s a classic ZZ top sound which starts off with the roar from a 1970 Hemi Cuda and a guitar. Another popular souvenir was the Power Big Meet T-shirt (see photo) – but the organisers were all too cautious: they were sold out by mid-afternoon on Day One!
Best in Show...
Kjell Gustavsson now publishes a magazine, aptly named Power, and is President of the American Car Club in Sweden. He is a colourful sight with his knee-high rubber boots whatever the weather: “It rained so much a few years ago; I ruined a pair of good shoes before wearing these boots for all three days. Now I don’t take a chance – you never can tell with the Swedish weather.”
This year the committee behind the Power Big meet awarded the founder and prime mover a special trophy to commemorate the 30th anniversary (see photo). Kjell is also part of the judging team that picks the cars for the various awards.
The Best-In-Show Award went to Henrik Björklund for his 1959 DeSoto Fireflite Convertible. He spent 13 years and 7000 hours restoring it from a complete wreck. “It was just like climbing Everest“. It is just one of only 186 that were produced and only 10 still exist. At the Meet one could spot a great many beautifully kept and restored DeSotos mainly from their greatest period in the latter 1950s. In 1957, they, along with all Chrysler models, were redesigned with Virgil Exner's "Forward Look".
Exner gave the DeSoto soaring tailfins fitted with characteristic triple taillights, and consumers responded by buying record numbers of the car. Björklund’s winning car is a fine exponent of this great period in DeSotos history which lasted until 1961 when the nameplate was dropped in favour of the entry level Imperial. In 1955 Chrysler had launched the Imperial as a separate marque in a vain attempt to compete with Lincoln and Cadillac at the highest prestige level in USA. One of the 200 cars chosen for the special cruising parade was a smart-looking, two-tone1959 Imperial that also exemplified Exner’s Forward Look
...and Jay Leno Award
The newest award carries the name Jay Leno, talk host of the Tonight Show in USA and owner of the Big Dog Garage with its 101 cars and 84 motorcycles. As owner of one of the largest private collections of US cars, Jay Leno had intended to come over for the Meet. Other commitments prevented this and instead he sent one of his full-time mechanics, a Swede named Per Blixt, along with the trophy. It was to go to the car that had been best restored and fitted the spirit of the Big Dog Garage.
The winning cars was a 1950 Series 62 Cadillac Coupe owned by Olof Grankvist from a
Åkarp, a small village outside Malmö in southern Sweden. “I’m in tears and so tremendously proud to receive this award. I already have 200 trophies at home but this is the finest one and I will have to build a special stand to do it justice – and of course get more insurance!” said a jubilant award winner on receiving the prize. “Olof’s Cadillac is a unique example and as without a doubt the car that would have best fitted in Jay’s collection,” commented Per Blixt when handing over the trophy.
From Mexico to Sweden
The award for the car coming the longest distances went to Marko Fleming, an Italian-born Scot who lives in Guadalajara in Mexico. A graphic designer, arrived at the Meet in a bright red 1972 Mustang, built at the Ford plant in Guadalajara. Drove first to Veracruz via Mexico City, from where the car was shipped to Southampton. From there he drove it to Edinburgh to visit family and then took the ferry from Newcastle to Stavanger in Norway and drove it then to Västerås. He hopes to sell it at the meet or to someone in Europe.
American buyers looking for long lost cars One of the writer’s favourite cars that could well have won a prize was Stefan Lindström’s 1958 yellow Edsel. The Ford Motor Company’s new line launched in 1961 and named after found Henry Ford’s son and business companion became a famous as the flop of the ‘1950s. Today Edsels are collectors’ items. Today less than 6000 Edsels survive, and each one is a cherished classic. The 1958 Edsel advertising said it best - "Once you've seen it, you'll never forget it. Once you've owned it, you'll never want to change."
Lindström’s 1958 Citation would easily fit this bill and be a gem in any collection car, so beautifully restored as it was by none other than meet organiser Kjell Gustavsson. Lindström says he handed over 300,000 kronor (about $45,000) a few years ago to get possession and has already had offers from across the Atlantic for close to double!
This is typical example of the state of affairs today. A great many of the classic US cars of the 1950s and 1950s worthy of being in a collection are to be found in Sweden and even hard to find in their country of origin. In fact some models hardly or never even sold as new in Sweden are rare back home.
One example is the 1958 DeSoto Fireflite convertible of which only two were sold as new in Sweden. Today there are said to be over 200 in Sweden while they are a rare object back in the States. According to Kjell Gustavsson, in one year in ‘50s, GM made just 800 Buick Electra Convertibles. None were sold in Sweden and today 80 of the still existing examples are in Swedish hands.
Can I take you back home?”
As a result American collectors looking for certain models are now attending events such as the Power Big Meet – but they won’t find many bargains. At the meet your writer met a couple of such buyers but both wished to remain unnamed but both said that prices for really good cars are getting a bit high partly because of the week US dollar. The Swedish owners that have long nights and weekends restoring their treasures or hade them from way back are not likely to part with them for small money.
Swedes seem to have a knack of finding the most sought after and restorable cars and even resort to extreme methods to get what they are looking for . One such person was Mikael Larsson. He regularly went over to the West Coast and flew over backyards in California to see what hidden gems might be lying around. He died in an air crash doing just that but his family inherited four fine olds cars of considerable value!
Power Big Meet – big boost for the community.
For the city of Västerås, it is the biggest event of the year and a central attraction in their month-long summer festival. Other events include a golf tournament, an international youth soccer cup, fun fairs and various concerts.
The Power Big Meet is by far the event that makes the biggest impact on the city. The camping grounds are filled to capacity and extra camping facilities are made available for the event. At first the locals were sceptical when the Big Power Meet came to Västerås –not least when all the petrol stations ran out of fuel during the weekend. Now they are better prepared. And the cruising once considered a nuisance is now the highlight and the citizens come out in tens of thousands to line the roadside. Hoteliers get a windfall as do all the eating places, bars and supermarkets as well as the ubiquitous hot-dog and hamburger kiosks that a typical of Swedish towns.
Now the city officials and local police do all they can to support the event and make sure it runs smoothly. They are prepared for an even larger event in the future which is what Kjell Gustavsson and his colleagues hope for – an thanks to its the growing international renown this is more than likely to be the case.
Vasteras is Sweden's sixth largest city – pop about 150,000.
It's situated in the heart of the Lake Mälar region and is just a one-hour drive
from Stockholm. In 2006, Vasteras was the fastest growing city in Sweden.
Vasteras is renowned for its business enterprises and
entrepreneurs - it's the birthplace of the H&M retail chain and home of ABB (Once ASEA)
(ABB is a global leader in power and automation technologies).
Local artist Mikael Genberg' surreal art installations
and hotels have attracted worldwide attention.
Peter Salzer, Stockholm- Spånga, Sweden. August 2007
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