Here we will try to keep you updated on what is happening in terms of Volvo car anniversaries, news items of general interest and important dates to remember.
During the weekend of June 16 – 17, the Volvo Owners Club (UK) held their 2012 National Rally and BKV (Best Kept Volvo), at the same time also celebrating the club's 50th anniversay. The venue was the park of Thoresby Hall in the heart of Nottinghamshire, a stately home from the mid-1800s.
Centrally located between France, Belgium and Germany, the small country of Luxembourg is the home of Volvofrënn Lëtzebuerg, one of the most active Volvo clubs. During the weekend of June 9-10, the club staged one of its two major get-togethers, attracting guests also from the neighbouring countries and Switzerland.
Between June 1 and 3, Volvo Cars Heritage went west to attend the first big club event of the season – to St. Louis, Missouri, and the National meet of Volvo Club of America, arranged and hosted by the VCOA Gateway Chapter.
For the third consecutive year, Volvo Cars employees with hobby vehicles were invited to show them on May 23 at the so-called Volvo Cars Vehicle Enthusiast Exhibition, in one of the big parking lots next to the VCC offices.
On Sunday May 20, the summer came to Sweden with sunshine and temperatures above 20 degrees. The traditional Tjolöholm Classic Motor Show, in the beautiful castle park 35 km south of Gothenburg, was run for the 19th consecutive year and turned out to be the biggest and best so far.
The Volvo safety vehicle VESC – Volvo Experimental Safety Car – has played a major role in creating Volvo's safety image and it is now forty years since it was first shown. VESC was Volvo's contribution to a safety debate that was going on at the time and that had been initiated by the US Department of Transportation, DOT.
Shortly after ten o'clock in the morning of April 14 1927 – 85 years ago – the first series-produced Volvo car rolled out of the Lundby factory in Gothenburg. Behind the wheel was sales manager Hilmer Johansson who now had the major responsibility of selling the planned thousand units of this first series of Volvo cars.
The 24th TechnoClassica was characterized by many sales transactions at a high price level and an excellent mood in the international specialized trade. For the over 1,200 exhibitors from 30 countries, the largest show for collectors' automobiles, old-timers, classic vehicles and young classics once more proved to be the internationally most important platform.
At the world's largest indoor show for classic vehicles – TechnoClassica – Volvo Cars Heritage will focus on the fact that the Amazon Estate celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The show is held March 21 to 25 in Essen, Germany.
"A new Volvo Estate car. An exclusive estate car, designed for European conditions enters the Swedish market. It will be shown for the first time at the Stockholm Motor Show. It is Volvo’s much longed for Amazon estate."