Volvo Cars 1927-2025

In this absorbing and informative book, Volvo Owners’ Club director Andrew Anderson draws together a selection of articles describing all the Volvo models produced since the 1920s to create a complete history of this famous marque. Each article is written by an acknowledged model expert, ensuring the highest levels of research and expertise. Inspired by a desire to produce a car that could withstand the rigours of Swedish weather and terrain, Volvo founders Assar Gabrielsson and Gustav Larson produced their first car, the OV4, in 1927. Building on this success, they went on to design several other large cars until the landmark PV444 in 1946, their first affordable family car. Over the years, other iconic Volvos such as the Amazon were produced as they continued to consolidate their reputation for sturdy family saloons and estates. The 1970s and 1980s saw the production of cars that were a byword for spaciousness, reliability and safety. The front-wheel-drive Volvo 850 of the 1990s showed that Volvos could also be fast and agile. Volvo entered the millennium with the XC90, a 4x4 that appealed to both male and female drivers. The developing range of 4x4s of all sizes continues to be a success story. Covering the years of independence through the merger with Ford and now ownership by Geely Holdings, this book is a true story of Volvo told through their remarkable cars.