Good Friday this year is especially good for Volvo.
That's because Volvo celebrates its 90th birthday.
I want to show you guys something; what those Swedes actually did for the automotive industry.
That's why I'll be going through nine Volvo-icons,
and we'll start with this PV4. Actually, we'll start with the ÖV4,
the Öppen Vagn 4 cylindrar from 1927. That's the car that started it all for Volvo.
So that's not this PV4, because that stands for 'personvagn 4'.
The OV4, which was an open four-seater car,
got the nickname 'Jacob'. That's an incorrect name however,
because there was only one prototype built on the saint's day of Jacob, but that's why it was called Volvo Jacob.
The ÖV4 wasn't a great success really, because an open car isn't really suited to the cold Sweden.
That's why only 996 cars left the factory. A year later however, in 1928,
the closed version was introduced. The PV4.
The PV4 was a quite expensive, but luxury car for its time.
If you're in here, you can see everything is aimed at comfort,
especially for the rear passengers.
Just look at the legroom!
It's got a very soft suspension as well.
There's something funny to this car as well. It's worth about €75.000 now,
and you need a 10-step program to start the car.
Near the end of the twenties, Volvo made cars which were more like carriages with engines.
Ten years later however, everything changed.
Welcome to 1938 everyone, this is the PV51.
What you see here, is Volvo looking at the appearance,
and the luxurious feeling of American cars at the time. Big, round shapes,
big running boards, and a straight six-engine in the big, elegant front.
These cars were very luxurious, again quite expensive for their time.
That meant Volvo only sold 2000 cars a year.
This is just so cool...
I always love the details you find in cars like these. Take this for example:
people in the thirties who thought; 'I'd like some more fresh air flowing through this car',
Just like that... Open the vent, and drive...
Awesome.
In the 40's, this car showed Volvo's innovative performance to the public.
While the entire rest of the world in the grasp of the Second World War,
they were making plans in Sweden for building a cheaper and smaller Volvo, something the world needed according to them.
The result? The PV444, known to us as the first generation 'Kattenrug'.
They eventually presented the PV444 near the end of the war, but they didn't build the car until 1947.
That's because they lacked the base materials to actually build the car.
And yes, it's a lot simpler than what Volvo used to make.
It's got a 4-cylinder engine, instead of a 6-cylinder,
a manual 3-speed transmission as well. Also, it was a car that caught on in the USA.
This was the first Volvo model ever to be offered there. Next to that, it was a massive sales success.
Volvo first hoped they would sell about 8000 of these, but it turned a little bit more.
In total, they've sold 196.000 units.
That's bizarre!
Of course, that's partly because half of its lifetime,
it was a very evolved version. From that moment on, it was called the PV544.
In essence, it was a thoroughly facelifted version of the PV444.
The split front window got replaced with a solid one, it also received a better gearbox.
Eventually, this car made sure Volvo had a strong and solid base position in the 40's and 50's.
The reason the 'Kattenrug' was available for such a long time, is because of its successor:
the Volvo 121. Or Amazone... They couldn't call it Amazone officially,
because moped-maker Kreidler already registered that name.
But why did the 'Kattenrug' remain in the dealerships? That's because this Amazone was more expensive.
As a result, Volvo was afraid they we're going to lose customers in the lower price region.
And that's why the 'Kattenrug' has stayed for such a long time.
Right, this Amazone... We're not going to drive it today,
we've already done it numerous times before. But it's an essential car in Volvo's history though.
That's because of two things...
For starters, this thing here.
The three-point seat belt. Before this car,
cars would usually have a belt of some sorts around your hips, but that was it.
This invention however, made by Swedish inventor Nils Bohlin,
really counts as a safety revolution.
Bohlin made sure he got hold of the patent, which he then applied to the Amazone.
That meant, the Amazone was the first production car to have a three point seat belt as standard.
This is what established Volvo as one of the safest brands around.
Do you know what they did with that patent?
They shared it with every other brand in the world, that way the safe three point seat belt would reach everyone.
That's a good thing.
Second, the Amazone was the first Volvo to be available as a whole family.
Sure, the PV544 was available as a 3-door, and as a sort of truck; the Duett,
but the Amazone was available as a 2-door saloon, or a coupé, if you like,
a 4-door saloon, or even as a station wagon, called Kombi.
The first real Volvo Estate.
If you ask me, the Amazone is the pinnacle of the most elegant period in Volvo's history,
next to the P1800 of course.
After the Amazone-era, this was the Volvo which paved the brand into the seventies.
The 140-series.
Personally, I think it's a Volvo which falls between two stools.
I find it hard to explain why this car hasn't reached the same iconic status like its predecessor has done.
One of the reasons might be it was only sold until 1974.
That means it hasn't been around as long as the Volvo's before this.
But still, it's quite an iconic and recognizable Volvo.
This is the first Volvo, this 140, which has the familiar 'brick'-shape...
...we know from the 240.
So when it comes to styling, it absolutely is an iconic car.
But does it drive differently than the Amazon then? Amazingly; it sure does.
It basically uses the same techniques, it's got a petrol 4-cylinder in the front with a 4-speed gearbox.
The controls however, are completely different.
In the Amazone, you've got a very big gear lever,
coming out of the floor, which you have to move quite a bit.
In here however, you've got a little gear lever in the middle.
You just go, click, click...
The controls seem to have become easier in those ten years.
What also stands out, is the usage of English words instead of Swedish.
This is also something I haven't ever seen before, it's a sort of speed limiter avant la lettre.
It's a sort of pin with which you can dictate your top speed, that way you won't exceed the speed limit.
That's pretty unique.
Also, the appearance on the inside. It's typical seventies.
I mean the outside color combined with the blue interior...
But what makes it 'so' seventies, is the use of rubber.
The Amazone had beautiful lacquered panels in the interior, but this car has the most honest pieces of trim.
It's tight, it's rubber, it's honest, it's rectangular.
And that's exactly what defines the successor of this car, in the eighties.
There's a reason the 100-series has had quite a short run, and that's the fact its successor already arrived in 1974.
The 200-series, and this 240 is without a doubt the most familiar car of the bunch.
Also, this is probably the most iconic Volvo ever.
This car has been a massive sales success. Let's put in perspective shall we?
They've sold about 200.000 PV544's, the Amazone has sold somewhere between 600.000 or 700.000 units,
but this car sold about 2,8 million times, between 1974 and 1993. That mean it has been sold for almost 20 years!
That's a success which they haven't been able to reach again.
Of course, this car was very popular because it wasn't just invincible, but also because of its capabilities.
It even was available with seven seats.
When you're talking about appearance, let's be honest.
It's one of the most timeless cars ever, and that's what it is.
If you're a student or a doctor, you can always drive a 240.
Even though the 240 has also seen the nineties, it's the 850 which truly was the groundbreaking Volvo.
Even if you only look at the technical aspect, it was revolutionary.
This car has a fully independent suspension.
Also, the 5-cylinder engine was introduced. It really was a next level Volvo.
But maybe even bigger was the effect on the Volvo-image.
That's because of this yellow T-5R. It was a car which you would find in boys rooms.
This was a car you wanted as a boy, but also as a BMW-driver.
Just like that, Volvo became sexy.
Maybe you're onto me, but I'm getting quite excited myself by just standing next to it.
We're not discussing it however, because there's something else from the nineties I want to share with you.
This one. Born in the eighties, but ended in a climax in 1995.
Why I chose this 480 to represent the nineties? Well, there are three reasons.
Firstly, this is proof that Volvo dared to make crazy cars back then.
It's a small little coupé based on the Volvo 440/460, and it's got all sorts of crazy little gimmicks.
Not only those pop-up headlamps, which were meant for the American market which it never reached,
it's got digital instruments, which was pretty special in the eighties.
And if you look at the design, it's an hommage to the history of Volvo,
because of the glass boot, which honors the P1800ES from the sixties.
That brings us to the second reason, because this is a car we Dutchies can be proud of.
That's because this car has been designed by the Dutchman Rob Koch. It's also been assembled in Born, so it's a truly Dutch product which I think is awesome.
The third reason is that I tip the 480 to be a future classic.
You can already tell by the prices this car sells for, they're around €5000-€6000 right now.
That's a world of difference compared to the 440 and 460, because you could get those for two boxes of eggs, almost.
This truly is a enthusiasts car, and it is starting to get loved as well.
I don't think that's gonna change very soon, because its peculiarness will pay off.
A friendly tip then, if you want one: get one built in 1995, like this one.
This has been properly developed, everything works, the bootlid doesn't leak anymore...
If you find a nice 480 from 1995, like this 2.0-litre ES, go for it!
Then. The 00's. I don't know if it's just me, or if cars have to be around for some years to become iconic.
I find it hard to name a Volvo from this century which is turning into an icon.
Volvo has taken this second-gen C70, a coupe-cabriolet like we've seen before.
But we've had a thought, and if we had to choose an icon for the 00's,
we say the first-gen XC90 is more of an icon.
Of course, that was Volvo's first attempt of building a SUV.
It's been around for 12 years, and it was a direct hit in the market.
Nowadays they're building stuff like this, every single car is a very good product...
...which show Volvo knows exactly what they're doing under Geely.
But what's their course for the future? Some things are already clear.
Volvo is moving on electrification, driving electric.
But also on autonomy, self driving cars if you will.
Volvo has set a milestone for themselves, and that's that no-one will die or get hurt very badly...
...aboard a Volvo from 2020 on. And if you're talking future perspectives...
...that's a very good start.