- 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.
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).
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.
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.