Gärdesloppet 2025

As I approached the venue for this year’s edition of Gärdesloppet, I have to admit — I was a bit underwhelmed at first. A few booths, some trucks and trailers… Really? Was that it?

Thankfully, just a few steps later, it all started to make sense. What I was seeing were just the leftovers from an horse racing that had taken place two days earlier. A quick walk past a couple of electric car dealer stands, and finally — there it was! Just over the hill, the scene opened up to reveal what we’d all been waiting for: a display of classic cars.

The first car that really caught my eye was a grey Mercedes-AMG GT, parked right up on the hill. A familiar face at car events around Stockholm. Right next to it stood the owner's newest addition — a McLaren P1, in that unmistakable papaya orange that just feels right for the brand. Both cars were part of a Hero cars exhibition prepaired by Motikon, slightly off to the side from the main event.

As striking as the Mercedes and McLaren were, they actually weren’t the biggest stars of that part of the show. I’ve always thought red isn’t exactly the most suitable color for a Lamborghini — but somehow, this red Diablo looked absolutely stunning, and I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I usually struggle with questions like “What’s your favorite…?” But slowly, certain opinions are starting to form in my head. And one thing I’m sure of now: the front bumper on the Diablo is definitely high on my list of the most beautiful shapes in the automotive world.

But the true star of this stand was unmistakable: the McLaren Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss. It might seem strange that you won’t find a single full-body photo of this car in my coverage— but there’s a good reason for that. From the moment I arrived until the end of the event, it was completely surrounded by the viewers. Getting a clean shot was simply impossible. Just look at the patch of trampled yellow grass around it — no other car had that kind of foot traffic. That says it all. Lesson learned for next time: if you really want to get a closer look at the cars brought in by Motikon, it’s definitely worth showing up right at the opening of the event.

Motikon’s contribution to the event didn’t end with the Hero Cars display. They also hosted a Cars and Coffee meet-up that brought together all kinds of enthusiast cars — from rare classics to modern supercars.

There was no shortage of head-turners from brands like Porsche and BMW M, and of course, plenty of unique vintage machines scattered throughout the area. One car that really stood out to me was the Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint. I’ve always had a soft spot for this model. And to be fair, it probably helped that its owner parked it in a spot that couldn’t have been more front and center.

This was supposed to be a report from Gärdesloppet, and so far I’ve only been talking about what Motikon brought to the table. Did their part of the event completely overshadow the main show? I wouldn’t go that far, but there is something to it. The thing is, if you were coming from the city side, you had to walk just a bit further to get to where most of the true classics were gathered. So naturally, Motikon’s area was the first one to grab your attention. But once you made it over that little hill, a vide panorama od classics were there to please your eyes.

Static displays are great but let’s be honest: the real excitement kicks in when you get to see these machines in motion and actually hear their engines come to life. That’s exactly what the Prins Bertil Memorial has to offer. It’s a short regularity trial held on narrow park paths, and it has a charm of its own. On one hand, you’re watching character-filled sports cars tackling a driving challenge. On the other, the target speed is so low that most of the cars cruise through the course looking more like they’re out for a relaxed Sunday drive. It’s a quirky mix of motorsport and mellow vibes — very relaxing to watch.

Another highlight of Gärdesloppet is the Concours de Charme — the local take on a traditional concours d’elegance. The cars competing in this part of the event might not have been the rarest or most exotic in the world, but they certainly had charm. Personally, the BMW 2002 Touring easily ranks near the top of my list of cars to park in my dream garage.

But here, it wasn’t really about the machines themselves — it was the crews that stole the show. The level of attention to detail was seriously impressive. I respect that the crew of the before-mentioned BMW, instead of just standing idle next to their machine, were sitting at a vintage-style picnic table, casually playing cards — surrounded by a full spread of period-correct accessories.

Speaking of accessories, one of the most impressively prepared crews had to be the team of the Volkswagen Bulli. They clearly went all in, filling the camper with a perfectly curated set of vintage camping gear — everything from classic enamel mugs to old-school folding chairs, all arranged with style and care. I also couldn’t help but smile at the cheerful crew of the Fiat Topolino, who brought a real dose of lighthearted energy to the scene. On the other end of the spectrum, the team with the big, imposing Cadillac took a much more serious approach. Dressed in sharp period outfits, they looked like they’d just stepped out of a Prohibition-era film — better to avoid coming to close as any moment they could pull out tommy guns and start a gangster shootout.

I’ve mentioned a few of the attractions organised by the event team — but in the end, the real heart of Gärdesloppet is the big meadow where the true spirit of the event is really visible. Surrounded by an uncountable number of classic cars, people set up spontaneous picnics, admire each other’s machines, and simply enjoy being part of a community brought together by a shared passion.

It looks to me that Swedish classic car scene has grown and matured in the last two years. And what we saw at Gardesloppet this year was a perfect reflection of that.