This Rugged Vintage Off-Roader Is Actually a Volvo, and It’s for Sale
- A 1957 Volvo TP51, originally used as a vehicle for the Swedish military, is coming up for sale in January.
- The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction will list this four-wheel-drive lifted and restomodded Volvo at no reserve; it was last seen in the western U.S. at the 2018 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
- Among the features are a 620-hp 572-cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 engine, replacing the original 90-hp engine, and onboard mobile satellite, a Playstation 4 console, and a built-in beverage cooler.
When it comes to lifted, knobby-tired, four-wheel-drive, vintage SUVs, Volvo is hardly the first name that comes to mind. And yet, that’s exactly what we have here. Specifically, this is a 1957 Volvo TP21, restomodded and fully kitted out, and it can be yours if you raise your paddle at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale in January.
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Built for the Swedish military from 1953 to 1958, the TP21 was based on the civilian PV830/PV831. The standard bodywork from the cowl rearward was retained, but the frame was shortened to make the TP21 more capable off-road. Its rounded profile and large snout earned the TP21 the nickname “Sugga” (or sow).
Barrett-Jackson
Originally, this TP21 would have been motivated by a flathead 3.7-liter inline-six and a four-speed manual transmission. Four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case and vacuum-actuated front and rear differential locks provided a key component of its capability, and these vehicles were used for troop transport or, as is the case here, as a radio command car.
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
This restomodded example has an upgrade from the original 90-hp mill to a 572-cubic-inch Chevy V-8 good for 620 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with a TH475 three-speed automatic transmission. It has also been fitted with air conditioning, and other enhancements include navigation, a rear-seat LCD TV with a Playstation 4, and a trunk-mounted LCD TV. The latter is just the thing for tailgating, where this Volvo would be sure to upstage any nearby XC90 SUV or Cross Country wagon.