Our History

Tolga Bil- & Landbruksverksted AL opened on Saturday 16 June 1962. Caltex was the fuel supplier and Jens H. Volden was hired as the operator.

After a few years in operation, the facility was sold to Jens and the shop was expanded to include new car sales. The Mazda agency was established and the premises became too small. The completed extension was in place in 1974, making room for the car venture.

In 1980, the premises were again too small and Tolga Bil- og Landbruksverksted moved to a new facility 1 km north of the town centre. Bjørn Arve Lunheim, who had started at the original fuel station in 1977, remained as manager. The company Tolga Bensin & Service, Jens H. Volden, was then established.

In the autumn of 1982, Bjørn Arve bought the facility from Jens H. Volden and started Tolga Bensin & Service. Bjørn Arve remains the owner and operator to this day.

The facility has been continuously updated and expanded. From primarily selling fuel, accessories, vehicle servicing and kiosk goods, the main focus has now shifted to coffee and food sales.

After a major shop renovation, we had the idea to use spare premises to create a nostalgia corner with items we had preserved from the Caltex era and beyond, as well as other cultural artefacts. This developed into a nostalgia café that opened on 13 February 2009, quickly earning the nickname "CaltexKaféen".

Bjørn Arve has collected cultural artefacts from the 1950s and onwards, some of which are on display in the café. Many people have also found and donated items for display — something that continues to happen, and for which we are very grateful.

The CaltexKafé is at times so busy that we are now expanding with CaltexLoftet. The loft has also been decorated in retro style with elements from the 1950s–60s and onwards. There we have more seating and a meeting room, as well as displays of various cultural artefacts from that era.

Larger items such as fuel equipment and vehicles have been placed in the Caltex Garage. It is under development but open for guided tours by arrangement.

The same oil company has supplied the station since its founding in 1962, though it has been marketed under several names and logos: Caltex from 1962, Texaco from 1967, Hydro Texaco from 1995, and YX from 2006. Throughout all these 50 years, the company has marketed Havoline motor oil — Texaco's trademark, recognisable by the star in the logo.

YX Tolga today presents itself as a modern fuel station offering fuel including 98 E0, a recently upgraded car wash facility, vehicle accessories, a large kiosk, coffee and food sales, and table service in the café. The theme of the café and the wider premises is nostalgia, reflecting the owner's passion for collecting.