A Picture History of the Motor Car [1957]

[I.K.Brunel]

OK, so I found this little book at a jumble or somesuch.
(When I say little I mean like 3in square).
The spine was about knackered so I have just got down to scanning it which seemed the sensible thing to so.
Some rarities here. I think some we have not seen before, even in the 'Panorama'...

[I.K.Brunel]

[I.K.Brunel]

[I.K.Brunel]

[I.K.Brunel]

[I.K.Brunel]

Hope you liked...

[garethj]

Awesome! But their 1957 Lotus looks a lot like a Jaguar XKSS

[Seth]

I can imagine piloting a Tourette at the claimed top speed of 56mph would probably have you swearing uncontrollably.

I had to go and find a better picture of the Chevy.



Some really oddball choices in there which makes it even more interesting.

[Manatee]

Nice brick - love the illustrations.

I suspect everyone here knows why Volvo had to drop the 'Amazon' moniker after only a few hundred models.

The very early [1956] Amazons were badged as such, and even had name plate on the wings. You can buy reproductions from Brookhouse and PV should you feel the need. The original mazak jobs are very hard to get hold of now, even in Sweden.

Anyway, I digress. A German moped manufacturer called Kriedler had trademarked the Amazon nameplate a few months before Volvo launched its car - and with the threat of a high powered lawsuit, the Swedes backed down. Ironically the moped was a massive flop and the car went on to sell well right up to its cut off date of 1970. By then the 140 series was in full swing, having been announced two years earlier. Volvo went back to designating its models by number rather than by nameplate.

A few earlier cars had gone by unofficial names.
After the Kriedler debacle, it was officially referred to as the 120 or 220 series (the second and third numbers being reserved for specific engine and body combinations). The 1927 OV 4 was known as Jakob, and there was a concept car in the Thirties referred to as the 'Venus Bilo'. There was a PV 444 based coupe in the fifties known in the factory as the 'Margaret Rose' and towards the end of this decade, the 'Philip' concept car that served as the first company assignment for Jan Wilsgaard who later went on to style the 120 series.

The Philip was the only official use of Volvo's B36 V8 in a car. It was normally reserved for military, commercial or marine applications, formerly the TP21 'Sugga' and latterly the LV 420 'Snabbe' truck and AQ180 Penta unit.

Volvos tended to acquire names out of affection rather than by factory remit. The Amazon was the first and last time Volvo tried to trademark nomenclature - and it didn't end well.