Volvo, currently the largest industrial corporation in Scandinavia was founded in 1924 by Assar Gabrielson and Gustaf Larson.  The two friends decided to manufacture cars.  The designs for a first prototype were finished in 1925.

The bodywork was designed by the artist Helmer Mas-Olle.  When the well-known ball-bearing company SKF expressed its interest in financially supporting the project, the Volvo (I roll') company was founded.  The first car left the factory on 14 April 1927.

This model the OV 4 or Jakob was to be manufactured until 1929.  Initially 205 convertibles were sold, but because in this version the car was not really suitable for the harsh Swedish climate it was decided to manufacture a closed version the PV.  791 were produced.  To be able to realise this number, 200 convertible bodies were destroyed and replaced by a closed body.  The first cars of this type were powered by a four-cylinder engine, but as early as 1929 a six-cylinder engine was presented, which was particularly favoured by taxi drivers.  The PV 653 weighed approximately 1500 kg (3300lb).  Because the 3.0 litre engine delivered well over 55 bhp, the car still had a top speed and cruising speed of 69 mph (110 kph).  The model, and its successor the PV 658, looked like sized-down American cars.  When Chrysler presented the Air-flow, Volvo launched a similar model in 1935, the Carioca.  In total 501 were sold.

Incidentally, the Carioca was the first Volvo with an entirely steel body.  3,005 were sold of its successor the PV51 between 1936 and 1938.  In 1938, the PV 801 was launched.  This model was to be manufactured until 1947, primarily as a taxi.  The car seated eight.

The 3670cc, six cylinder engine delivered enough bhp to give the car a top speed of 81 mph (130 kph).  The last pre-war model with a six-cylinder engine was the PV 60.  The car was manufactured between 1942 and 1950.  The PV 60 was also the spitting image of a pre-war American car.  In 1950, the model was very outdated.

The complete encyclopedia of Vintage Cars - Rob de la Rive Box