Volvo's Prototypes thread: 1972 VESC Safety Car and others...

Post by **BlackBart** » 22 Jul 2021, 12:09

https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotiv ... d-royalty/

I have memories of this in the magazines. It was an ungainly, not pretty thing, but it previewed many of the safety features that are common now in nearly every kind of car. Crush zones, rollover structure, air bags, door bars....

This mentions the 240, and my memory is some of the redesign of the front of the 140 was part of this project - the 240 has a longer and safer nose.

The bumpers are atrocious and led to years of this look unfortunately. But interesting to see that in profile, the trunk lid, rear window, and C pillars have a very BMW 5-series look.

: 5847_VESC_Volvo_Experimental_Safety_Car-scaled-e1626793941272-1024x842.jpg (155.08 KiB) Viewed 1305 times

Also, look at that pic of the silver wagon at the bottom of the article! That's a preview of the 740 wagon!

.

Post by **matthew1** » 22 Jul 2021, 12:11

Extremely BMW 80s look, yes. I never noticed that.

Post by **abscate** » 11 Aug 2021, 13:05

BlackBart wrote: ↑22 Jul 2021, 12:09 https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotiv ... d-royalty/

I have memories of this in the magazines. It was an ungainly, not pretty thing, but it previewed many of the safety features that are common now in nearly every kind of car. Crush zones, rollover structure, air bags, door bars....

This mentions the 240, and my memory is some of the redesign of the front of the 140 was part of this project - the 240 has a longer and safer nose.

The bumpers are atrocious and led to years of this look unfortunately. But interesting to see that in profile, the trunk lid, rear window, and C pillars have a very BMW 5-series look.

5847_VESC_Volvo_Experimental_Safety_Car-scaled-e1626793941272-1024x842.jpg

Also, look at that pic of the silver wagon at the bottom of the article! That's a preview of the 740 wagon!

.

Come on, we all see it.

It’s had a 1960s visit to an orthodontist

Post by **matthew1** » 29 Aug 2021, 09:45

The Volvo GTZ and GTZ 3000 are Swedish concept cars built for Volvo. Both were designed by Zagato, with the GTZ debuting at the 1969 Turin Auto Show on the Zagato stand and the GTZ 3000 debuting the following year at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show.

These looks fan-tastic! They remind me of the Javelin. Lots of hints of the muscle cars from their era.

: Volvo GTZ.jpg (35.76 KiB) Viewed 990 times

: Volvo GTZ4.jpg (15 KiB) Viewed 990 times

: Volvo GTZ3.jpg (17.05 KiB) Viewed 990 times

: Volvo GTZ2.jpg (68.38 KiB) Viewed 990 times

Post by **matthew1** » 29 Aug 2021, 09:46

Topic title renamed to be a catch all for Volvo prototypes.

Post by **Sveedy** » 29 Aug 2021, 12:40

I hit the hagerty link in the first posting and get an article about a VW ?

Post by **BlackBart** » 29 Aug 2021, 15:50

hmm .... is this it?

https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotiv ... to-safety/

Matt - that side profile in your pic 3 -
From the A pillar to the C pillar, that whole greenhouse is almost a dead ringer for the Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT coupe. Do you suppose Giugiaro / Ital Desgn had something to do with that one? Introduced 1972.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Ro ... GT_and_GTV

https://www.autoevolution.com/alfa-romeo/alfetta/

Post by **matthew1** » 29 Aug 2021, 16:42

Very Alpha Romeo. Good call.

Post by **Sveedy** » 29 Aug 2021, 18:26

Now the link works and the world makes sense again.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 29 Aug 2021, 23:22

Volvo LCP ( Light Component Project ).

Rearward facing second row seat for the rug rats.