On April 14, 2017, 85 years have passed since the launch of Volvo's first Swedish automaker. Below we will try to present the most important moments in Volvo's 85-year history of the Scandinavian manufacturer Volvo Cars.
Producatorul suedez Volvo este considerat ca unul foarte bine cotat, ale carui automobile pun accentul pe siguranta si fiabilitate. Pentru a-ti creea o astfel de imagine de marca in perceptia oamenilor nu a fost usor si nici nu s-a realizat intr-un timp scurt. Ceea ce exista astazi s-a creeat de-a lungul unei istorii de 85 de ani a marcii Volvo.
Proiectul unei marci producatoare de automobile ale carei autoturisme sa fie asamblate cu componente produse in Suedia a fost demarat in 25 iulie 1924 de catre inginerul Gustav Larson (1887-1968) si comerciantul Assar Gabrielsson (1891-1962). Unul dintre finantatorii proiectului celor doi a fost si producatorul de rulmenti SKF. Numele marcii cu sediul la Goteborg a fost ales VOLVO si provine de la traducerea din latina a verbului “a rula”. Inca de la inceput carecteristicile pe care cei doi fondatori au mizat au fost: pretul abordabil si fiabilitatea.
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After testing 10 prototypes in 1926, Volvo's first car left the assembly line at the factory on April 14, 1927. It was called OV4 (Oppen Vagon 4) with a 4-seater torpedo body and four-cylinder engine with a capacity of 1.9L and developing 28CP. The transmission was provided by a 3-speed manual gearbox while the maximum speed was 60km / h. Volvo OV4 was the first Swedish car and was produced in 302 copies. At the end of 1928 a new model called PV4 (PV - private car) derived from the OV4 model was launched. If about 996 cars were produced in the first two years of production in 1927-1929, the production of commercial vehicles and trucks was faster.
In 1929, the first 6-cylinder engine was introduced into production. It has capacities ranging between 3 and 3.7L and supplies between 60 and 85CP. The new engineers teamed up with the new PV650 series that were available in various body options and had an American inspirational design. The gearboxes were 3 or 4-speed manual, the braking system was mechanical, or hydraulic. The production was stopped in 1937.
In February 1930, a new series of TR670 models was launched from the PV650 series but with a more luxurious finish, additional equipment, a wheelbase increased and 7 seats in the interior. The production was stopped in 1937.
In 1935, a luxurious PV36 model called Carioca was launched. The model had a four-door berlin with an avant-garde and aerodynamic design for that time, a spacious interior, a 6-cylinder 3.7L (86CP) engine, a 3-speed manual gearbox and an independent front suspension - a Volvo premiere . Due to the high price of 8500 Swedish kronor, the model did not enjoy a great commercial success, being manufactured in only 500 copies until 1938.
In December 1936, the PV51 model was derived from the PV36 model. It was fitted with a 4-door berlin bodywork and was equipped with 6-cylinder engine with 3.7L (86CP). The gearbox was a 3-speed manual, optional overdrive. This model has brought significant sales growth in the interwar period. Thanks to the success of this model, Volvo has also produced other models and body variants derived from it, with production running until 1945.
In 1938 a new series of models called PV800 was launched as the successor of the TR670 series. They featured a 4-door chassis, a brand new six-cylinder chassis and a 3.6L (90CP) 6-cylinder engine. Until 1958 various body variants including military and armored variants were manufactured.
In September 1944 was presented the PV444 model that was to become the model of large distribution of the brand being built in over 200,000 copies. In 1955, it was the first Volvo model sold in the US. The model featured a two-door body with a length of 4.43 m and whose design was American inspiration. In 1953, the break-in version of the PV444 series called Duett was launched. PV444 was available with 4-cylinder engines with capacities of 1.4 and 1.6L. The model was marked by the introduction of innovations such as: laminated glass windscreen, deformable bodywork and in 1959 (PV544 - an evolution of the PV444), the premise with a 3-point seat belt. The PV444 was also the first Volvo model with self-supporting chassis. In 1958 a face-lift was made, the model being now called PV544, which remained in production until 1966
In 1947, the PV60 model was launched, with a 4-door and 5-seater berlin body fitted with a 3.7L (90CP) 6-cylinder engine. The transmission was provided with a 3-speed manual gearbox, optional with overdrive. Due to the low demand on the market it occurred until 1950.
In 1954, the Swedish manufacturer presented the roadster P1900. It had a two-seater body made of synthetic fibers and was designed especially for the American market. Due to the high price (costing two P444 sports models) and a less efficient engine (4-cylinder engine of 1.4L and 70CP) it had no commercial success, being produced in only 67 copies between 1956-1957.
In 1956, the P120 series, also known as the Amazon, was introduced, and it entered production in the series a year later. The Volvo P120 was equipped with four-cylinder engines of 1.6; 1.8 and 2L and the transmission was provided with 3 or 4-speed manual gearboxes, optional overdrive or 3-speed automatic gearboxes. The model was remarkable for its high reliability and the Italian-inspired design that contributed to its commercial success was produced in 1971 in 667,791 copies. Throughout the career, the P120 was available in 2 and 4 door versions as well as break