I have owned one or another Volvo automobile since 1983 and logged a combined 500,000 miles behind the wheel of them. I can attest that they are fine little tractors cars.

Volvo started in 1924 or 5 as an offshoot of the Swedish ball bearing manufacturer SKF. (The word "volvo" is from latin and means "I roll" - a fun fact that forever links them to SKF.) The founders of Volvo wanted a homegrown Swedish car that would be tough enough to stand up to the environmental hardships of their nation. The Volvo PV4 Jacob was up to the task and set the tone of all their automobiles for the next 70 years.

The joke among true Volvo lovers is that each new model introduced is only 1/2 the car of the previous model. I have driven all their cars from the PV-544 series up to the 850/V70 series and feel that some advancements have been made. I have owned/driven cars from 5 Volvo series; 1800, 145, 245 and 740 and our current V-70. I even spent a few years moonlighting as a Volvo mechanic to earn some extra money when times were tight. With the exception of the heaters in the late 140's and 240's, and the current V-70, (I don't trust any car with 3 fuse boxes), they are wonderful cars to work on and will run forever. (The exception is the VPR V-6 that ranks with the Vega engine as one of the worst motors ever made!)

I was very sad a few years ago when Volvo was sold to Ford. I'm sure Ford is helping them sell a lot more vehicles, but with the loss of their signature "B" 4 cylinder engine, rear wheel drive and utilitarian boxy style, I can't help but feel that their soul is gone too. It is reported that Ford, due to their ongoing financial problems, may be selling Volvo. (Showing typical Ford logic, selling the most profitable part of their Premiere Auto Group...) Rumors are flying of BMW and GM being interested - win/win as far as I'm concerned!

 
                                          1972 Volvo 1800E             1970 Volvo 145 & 1963 VW 1200 Sedan            1980 Volvo 245   

I bought my first Volvo, a 1970 145, while working at my summer job in Maine during the summer of 1983. It replaced a 1971 Jeep Wagoneer that was one of the worst cars ever to ply the roads of America. The Volvo offered almost the same interior space as the Wagoneer and THREE TIMES the gas mileage! I had to give up the 4 wheel drive, air conditioning and automatic transmission - what I got in return was a car not built by AMC from leftover parts they gleaned from the big 3, better road manners and did I mention THREE TIMES THE GAS MILEAGE! It was also much easier to work on since it had 1/2 the # of cylinders and was very well and honestly engineered.

On another part of this web site I mentioned my dad and his favorite vehicle. My dad was an old time American and would never entertain the thought of owning a foreign car, (I think he only condescended to ride in my VW once or twice!) Even in the horrible 1970's and early 1980's he stuck with his full sized Fords, some were truly awful and had serious quality issues. When I arrived home from my summer job in the Volvo 145 (to do laundry and get some of mom's cooking before heading down to school) dad took one look at it and said; "humpf, another friggin' foreign car".

Next day I caught him checking out the Volvo, eyeing approvingly the cars manual choke. (He never trusted automatic chokes) On closer inspection he also liked the 4 cylinder engine - like Henry Ford he felt 4 cylinders was all that were needed; one of the reasons he loved that poor IH Scout. I finally got to him when we went to move a large console TV, it wouldn't fit in the full size Ford but fit perfectly in the boxy Volvo. Had he not passes away in 1987 I am almost sure the replacement for his Crown Vic would have been a Volvo.