Scott of Snowdance Towing is the man behind Volvo Island, home to a lonely S80 he doesn’t know the year of. Scott isn’t even that interested in Volvos. When he selected a car to put on an island he created in his pond near Morris, Illinois, he said he chose it because it was simply a cute car, and “had nothing to do with it being a Volvo. I’m not a Volvo guy.”
Now there’s a 1st generation XC90 “swimming” out to the island. Scott says he’s telling a story, and he put the XC90 there because it’s going to rescue its dad (the S80) from jail (the island).
The XC90 was spotted six weeks ago by my intrepid local enthusiast Lauren. (If you have a Volvo tip about a story, please contact me.) The XC90 is near the pond’s shore, facing the island. Many wondered if it was the result of a very coincidental wreck.
But Are The Fluids Leaking?
Before you ask, yes Scott did drain all fluids: the towing company owner says he drained fuel, drained bevel gear oil, drained transmission fluid, and flushed the gas tank. This work was performed on both Volvos. He added he’s done this with every car he’s used like this on his property, in water or out. He was in contact with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources about the S80 after it was installed on its island, in fact. “We know them,” he tells me, “they were involved with [Volvo Island].”
Scott says he improved the pond from when he bought the property about 15 years ago, adding, “you couldn’t even see the water.” I got the sense he wanted to address environmental concerns, and that he felt the need to stress the work he’s done to make these cars environmentally safe.
In wintertime 10 years ago Scott did an experiment to see how long it took a Camaro or Firebird – he forgets – to fall through the pond ice, and he recalls he caught all kinds of flak from locals. That car likewise had its fluids removed and he cleared it with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and the car was actually used to practice car diving/rescue while it was underwater.
Scott is careful to emphasize that everything he does with cars in his outdoor art projects is environmentally friendly and legal. “I met with all kinds of BS from other people who stick their nose in other people’s business,” he mentions.
Scott said everybody worries about his pond, however “it’s an art piece,” he said of the cars displayed there. I asked if he draws inspiration from Cadillac Ranch, a 1974 art installation of ten Cadillacs (tail fin era) half buried at the same angle as the pyramids of Giza, and he said no. His inspiration instead comes from Pixar’s fantastic Cars movie.
It doesn’t end here. Scott has plans: in the future Illinois drivers passing the pond will be treated to three VW Beetles in the trees nearby and a Mazda RX8 with Pikachu painted on its sides, buried up to its windshield.
