Six years after the launch of its first vehicle, Volvo built its first concept car, and quite possibly the first concept from any company.
Volvo was, ahem, on a roll by the 1940s, with the PV444 helping to lay the foundations for international growth. This was followed in 1953 by the Duett.
A production run of 67 cars would suggest that the Volvo P1900 Sport Prototype progressed beyond the concept stage.
Volvo saw the potential of a sports car, and its dealers were desperate for just such a car.
In 1968, Volvo commissioned Pietro Frua to come up with the design for an extended roof version of the P1800.
Volvo’s Italian importer commissioned Zagato to work on a replacement for the P1800 sports car.
The 1800 ESC of 1969 was yet another attempt at rejuvenating the 1800 series.
Is this the most Volvo of Volvo concept cars? Unveiled at the 1972 Geneva motor show, the VESC previewed the forthcoming Volvo 240 of 1974.
It’s not hard to see the Volvo 263 GL concept as a production vehicle. The fastback version of the Volvo 200 was powered by a 2.7-liter V6 engine, but it never made it beyond the concept stage.