Alexander Hernesten's 1957 Buick

Alexander Hernesten’s 1957 Buick of Stockholm, Sweden, is a rolling tribute to one of the most legendary flame jobs ever laid down, Jack James' 1957 Buick which was flamed by Larry Watson in 1957, when the car was brand new. Ten years in the making, Alexander’s recreation pays homage to the original with a full-body flame layout and authentic copper details. The paint job, applied by Mickes Garage Art in Mora, turns heads just like Watson’s did back in 1957. A faithful nod to SoCal style reimagined in Scandinavia. Photo couretsy of Micke Eksrud.

In 1957, Jack James pulled into Larry Watson's driveway with a bold request. He wanted his brand new Buick fully flamed, nose to tail. The result? One of Watson’s most radical creations. Laid out in red, orange, and yellow enamel, the flame job took just one day and 20 rolls of masking tape. Copper-plated trim, Skylark wires, and a nosed and decked body rounded out the look. Shown here with Jack himself, this Norwalk cruiser became an instant icon, and a benchmark for custom paint jobs for decades to come.

Up close, Alexander’s Buick reveals just how much care went into honoring the Watson original. Note the copper-plated grille, Skylark wire wheels, and perfectly blended flames that stretch across the fenders and all the way down to the rocker panels, just like Jack James wanted in 1957. The red inner fender wells mirror the original’s unique asymmetry, where one side was red and the other yellow. A bold build with a painter’s precision. Photo couretsy of Micke Eksrud.

From the twin fins to the copper accents and yellow inner fender wells, Alexander’s Buick nails the details, front to back. A tribute built with reverence and restraint. Photo couretsy of Micke Eksrud.

Photo couretsy of Micke Eksrud.

Blended flames, wide whites, copper grille, and yellow fender wells, every element channels Watson’s original vision with Swedish precision. Photo couretsy of Micke Eksrud.

From above, the scale of the flame job truly shines, Watson-inspired layout, roof to rocker. A bold canvas finally brought back to life in Sweden. Photo couretsy of Micke Eksrud.

Photo couretsy of Micke Eksrud.

Alexander’s Watson-inspired Buick meets Jonas Nyberg’s freshly flamed Mercury in a fiery showdown of Scandinavian style. Two modern builds, one timeless tradition. Photo couretsy of Micke Eksrud.

Alexander Hernesten’s 1957 Buick Century of Stockholm, Sweden, is a full custom inspired by one of the most iconic flame paint jobs in custom car history; Jack James' 1957 Buick, painted by none other than Larry Watson of Watson's House of Style.

A Tribute to a Legend

Ever since he was 13, Alexander had dreamt of owning a 1957 Buick. That dream took shape in 2015, when he finally acquired the car that would become a tribute to Watson's masterpiece. He first saw Jack James' Buick around the age of 19, through Rik Hoving's website, and was immediately captivated: “I always thought it was the coolest version when you compared it to others like Kermit Hanson's or Bailon's Candy Wagon,” Alexander told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in May of 2025.

While many customs over the years have taken inspiration from the James Buick, Alexander noticed that none had done it justice. “None had captured all the aspects of the original,'” he reflected. The bold, copper-plated details, the radical flame layout, and the almost abstract art-like approach to fire and flow made the Watson-paint job a true standout, and a hard act to follow.

The Build

Alexander's Buick isn’t a clone, but it’s a faithful 95% replica of the original. In 2025, the car received a full flame job by Mickes Garage Art in Mora, Dalarna. Staying true to Watson’s approach, the flames stretch across the entire car in red, orange, and yellow tones, faded and blended to give the flames a soft transition. One quirky but authentic detail: the wheel wells are different colors, just like on the original—yellow on one side, red on the other.

The car also features Skylark wire wheels, chrome window moldings, and copper-plated trim, in homage to the Norwalk original. Appleton spotlights are next on the to-do list, with installation planned shortly after the car made its public debut in Sweden.

A Swedish Custom with a Global Footprint

While the Buick resides in Stockholm, Alexander himself is based in London, England. Over the last ten years, he’s spent countless holidays traveling back and forth to work on the build: “Way too much time and money, but now it’s finally coming together.” Along the way, many friends and helpers have contributed to getting the car roadworthy and show-ready.

With one foot in Swedish custom tradition and another in American show car history, Alexander Hernesten's 1957 Buick is more than a tribute, it’s a transatlantic love letter to one of the most radical flame jobs ever laid down.