Nordberg’s Speedster: a Daimler on ice

Judging by that radiator, you might not believe this to be a Daimler, but Swedish motoring historians are quite certain: this is the Daimler of arch enthusiast Erik Åkerlund from Stockholm, who supposedly owned more than one. The photograph was taken in 1913, when Åkerlund entered the car in the winter competitions of the Royal Swedish Automobile Club.

The speedster-style body seems remarkably modern for the era and was reportedly made by the coachbuilder Nordberg of Stockholm. Is that a dickey-style seat at the back? What a way to travel as a trio — over ice! The club records note: “The chassis is from 1912. The car was registered on 31 May 1912 and received identification mark ‘A1635’. The characteristic Daimler radiator was replaced with another, probably based on a German model. The body has several details typical of Nordberg bodies at this time.”

We imagine Åkerlund and his companions had great fun with it, though one wonders how well it would have survived.

Words: Jeroen Booij
Picture: Automobilhistoriska Klubben Mässing & Nickel

Published:

Monday February 9th, 2026

grobmotorix

26 February, 22:16

Another photo of the car with the ridiculous pointed cooler mask, taken 1916 at Motala, where the Swedish crown prince has visited volunteering soldiers.

Mässing & Nickel

18 February, 11:16

A small correction here. The quoted text about the registration number A1635 belongs to another Daimler. Erik Åkerlund was a connoisseur when it came to automobiles, and had two Daimlers. The one mentioned, A1635, was registered 31st of May 1912 and used by Erik during the summer. It was sold later in 1912 to a Mr Blomberg.

The car in the photograph in the article had a different registration number, A1957, and was registered 7th of February 1913. This was just a few weeks before the Swedish Royal Automobile Club's winter trial. The photo is taken in Stockholm at the start of said winter trial. The car was equipped with a custom body by Nordberg's in Stockholm, and it indeed has a dickey-style rear seat.
It is possible that this car was built on the same chassis taken from A1635, but there are no records that support this. And the fact that it was already sold to Blomberg in 1912 contradicts this theory.

The text also mentions uncertainty about it being a Daimler, but that is without a doubt. Records from the winter trial is clear on this point, and enclosed is also a photo from another angle where Daimler is clearly visible on the radiator (at least in the original image resolution).

Interestingly, Erik Åkerlund was a repeat customer at Nordberg's coachworks and had them rebuild this Daimler in 1914. It then received an even more extravagant body with one of the most pointed radiators I've come across, in true German fashion of the day.

(Both of the attached images comes from the Swedish Motor History Archives.)

Mark Roberts

10 February, 12:04

The description of the is entirely believable judging from the period chassis photo of an un-modified example.

Nordberg’s Speedster: a Daimler on ice

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