VIDEO: Volvo's 81-year history in 9 minutes
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Volvo has been making automobiles since April 14, 1927, and while most of us know Volvo for its safe and sometimes fun-to-drive vehicles, the Swedish automaker's history is of course more complicated than that. For instance, Volvo earned its reputation as a safe automaker before it sold a single car by getting in a head-to-head accident with an American car, which totaled the domestic while only scratching the Volvo. Volvo also featured the first standard three-point safety belt and was the first automaker to have a catalytic converter. Hit the jump to catch up on Volvology. It's a very solid nine-minute Volvo history course, even if it fails to mention current owner Ford all-together.
[Source: YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ramon Rivera 10:51AM (4/11/2008)
Very interesting. Good video!
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MTU 5.0 11:03AM (4/11/2008)
I bet most people don't know that Volvo was originally part of Swedish ball bearing maker SKF until it was spun off in 1927.
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Mike 11:15AM (4/11/2008)
I bet most people don't know that Volvo would have gone the way of Oldsmobile if it wasn't for Ira Magaziner...
David 11:22AM (4/11/2008)
It's interesting how some people think crumple zones in modern cars are a design weakness. Old cars may have been 'iron tanks' but the occupants were worse off in a major crash because their bodies are exposed to so much more impact energy.
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Yang Nan 11:43AM (4/11/2008)
pretty good video
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Will N. 12:45PM (4/11/2008)
I've owned 3 Volvos (740, S70 and currently S60R) Love them all.
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ambientFLIER 1:18PM (4/11/2008)
Volvo's history in one sentence: Boring, ugly, and joyless to drive.
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Andrew 2:10PM (4/11/2008)
Volvo has produced some nice cars during the last decade.
But I have to agree that the older Volvos were rather ugly. And boring? Well, they did market them to *soccer moms* and others seeking *safety*. It's supposed to be "boring".
R1R 2:40PM (4/11/2008)
ambientFLIER can be summed up in one word, "ignorant".
ambientFLIER 10:33PM (4/11/2008)
I don't see how I'm being ignorant because I am not afraid to admit that everything that Volvo makes lacks any kind of a soul. They are a more expensive Toyota.
Rene Curry 1:20PM (4/11/2008)
Where are all the P1800s ????
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ambientFLIER 10:31PM (4/11/2008)
Ok, you're right, that WAS a bit ignorant. Volvo did make one good car, the P1800. Everything else, especially the current models, are ugly and as much fun to drive as a camry.
SPG 7:30PM (4/11/2008)
Great video, loved it.
I have always loved Volvo's from the day my mom bought a new (one of the 2.8 million ever sold) 240 in 84.
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Michael 11:12PM (4/11/2008)
@ambientFLIER: yeah, their design hasn't always been that exciting, but they're still great cars.
I drove an '84 240 GLT in high school and now drive a '95 850 GLT wagon. I've got my eye on a '98 S70 T5, but I might save up my money (a lot) longer for a 2006 S60 T5 AWD.
From the gorgeous P1800 to the new C30, I think it's been fascinating to see progress throughout the years.
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ambientFLIER 3:52PM (4/12/2008)
The C30 is kinda interesting, but the back is horrible on it.
volvoracer 1:13PM (4/27/2008)
Volvo's rock. PV544, 122, 1800, 740 turbo, v70 all awesome
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