Rediscovering Volvo's Uncharted 1970s SUV: A Trail Not Taken

Did you know that Volvo almost took a wild turn into the off-roading world way back in the 70s? That's right, way before their sleek XC90 hit the streets in 2003, Volvo was toying with the idea of a burly, two-door SUV that was aimed at overseas adventurers.

This would-be trailblazer, still unnamed, had the makings of what could have been known as the spiritual ancestor of the XC90. Volvo’s sketches unearthed from the past show us a rugged beast that would’ve stood apart from the crowd. Picture this: a bold front, sporting that classic upright grille with Volvo’s diagonal emblem and no-nonsense rectangular headlights. This wasn’t your average Jeep CJ lookalike – it had a character of its own, albeit more straightforward than the sophisticated XC90.

Though the sketches leave the rear to our imagination, we can spot wrap-around lights and an externally mounted spare wheel, suggesting this was a ride meant for the rough and tough trails. The details hint at a vehicle designed for serious off-roading – think short overhangs for better angles of approach, break-over, and departure, standing taller than today's Volvo SUVs. And get this – it looks like the top part at the back could be removed. Safety first, though, as Volvo likely intended to keep the B-pillar fixed.

The story behind this off-road warrior is as intriguing as its design. Back in his day, Volvo’s CEO from 1970 to 1994, Pehr Gyllenhammar, got the ball rolling. He tasked Gunnar Falck, the design manager of the time, with creating an SUV meant for Africa and developing countries. That explains the practical, no-frills design – straight, flat sheetmetal to keep costs down both in production and repair.

But here’s the million-dollar question – what powered this rugged ride and why didn't it hit the production lines? We're as curious as you are. We’ve given Volvo a shout, and if we get more details, you’ll be the first to know!