From Bengt E in Sweden – Do you need a hood for a Volvo 444, perhaps a 121 trunk lid, some rubber parts to freshen up your cherished 140 – or maybe even a whole car? Look no further, this factory find located in rural Sweden has it all! The vast facility, a disused iron mill with 18th-century ancestry is literally packed with Volvo cars and parts!
This amazing collection, or “inventory” if you ask the owner, is a long time build up made by a former professional used cars from a salesman/dealer who recently spent the better part of two years transporting this impressive stock to the old iron mill (which he bought for the sole purpose of housing it all) from an outgrown location 130 miles away. The owner is now in his mid-sixties and considers himself retired, but still stays active in buying and selling to keep the collection at a stable number of about 60 sufficiently interesting cars (most of them, though, in need of some serious TLC).
When asked, the owner appears to remember the story of every single object: why, when and from whom, how the deal came about and the anecdotes surrounding it. And he is happy to convey the tales. The collection is restricted to 444-, 445-, 210-, 121- and 140-series specimens. These cars once made up the bulk of the Swedish vehicle fleet. Nowadays they are collector’s items here as well. And therefore this “find” would be considered a treasure even for Swedish owners of classic Volvos.
If they only knew about it, that is. Most of them, however, don’t. Not that the owner is overly secretive about his collection-slash-inventory – he just doesn’t really need to expose it for any practical or economical reason. He and his family also reside on the premises, and these days go about their businesses comfortably and regardless of any turnover from the iron mill’s semi-hidden automotive jewels.
According to the owner, the plan is to secure at least part of the collection for the future, perhaps in the shape of a museum featuring the owner’s favorites. What would you yourself do with such a collection?
Holy cow this place is packed with old Volvos! You don’t even have to be a Volvo fan to want to spend a day just looking around. Special thanks to the Swedish Tin Hunters for sharing this amazing find with us! And if you happen to know of a massive cache of classic cars like this, we sure would love to hear about it!
I can’t believe my eyes…the words “professional used car salesman” were used in the same sentence!
Imagine! Swedish stash of Volvos found in Sweden?
so interesting I have a 1971 145s that has unfortunately come time to part with and now I see this post! This is incredible and makes me ever that much more sad to have to sell it now. Wish there were more people preserving them.
Great!!
There is a somewhat similar yet smaller collection in Carlisle, Pa.,, “Susquehanna Spares”
Not much newer than 1967 though and that’s a good thing.
Do they have any Saab 99’s. I once bought a 75 Saab EMS Combi from a Saab junk yard/ garage near Gettysburg. I think it was called Lincolnway Saabs.
Check out that overhead crane! This could be the grown man’s version of the claw machine at the arcade!
Ha, that’s pretty clever. I never did well with those. Too shaky.
“collection” -no “inventory”-no “hoarder”-ding ding we have a winner !!
This blows me away. No wonder I can’t find a decent 122S wagon ( I know, Jesse, I missed out big time on yours) I’d have to think shipping costs would be astronomical, but it certainly looks like all vintage models are covered here. As with any massive collection, I just don’t understand how someone can collect all this stuff. Seriously, what do you think will happen to collections like this when this guy is gone? Is there really a market for a dozen 444 hoods?
Does anybody know about the yellow car, that looks like a 122 UTE?
Looks like a chop job on that yeller one
The “UTE” is a regular 121-122 Sedan that the owner of the collection converted to a pick up and used in his business.
Is it Sweden or Norway that hack older cars up & make them a 2 seater to allow younger drivers to get on the road, pretty sure they are restricted to about 30mph/50kph too but I suppose that it does give Teens a vehicle to learn the basics in.
Possibly a Swedish A-Traktor style vehicle as I said in my previous reply, here’s a wee bitty more information on this Localized vehicle type, http://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/regional-car-culture-explained-the-history-of-the-swedish-a-traktor/
Want a wagon? Try Susquehanna Spares
Hey Sam. You feel good busting on someone profession. I guess you would rather buy a car from someone who is just flipping a car but just because they are doing it as a hobby it all of a sudden becomes o.k. Funny thing is I hear more B.S. stories how they are selling it for a uncle or some family member and that is why it is not titled in their name etc etc etc but I guess you think that’s just O.K. There are some really good people in the automotive industry that deserve a break from comments like yours. What do you do? I bet there are sales consultants that merchandise your business to get clients….hmmmm. Let me think about that.
I think there’s enough parts there to build one good one :D
Locally in Ravenna Ohio, a Volvo mechanic has a graveyard of a hundred or so 544s through 1800s. The thing about a yard full of parts is the parts that are still good are usually parts you don’t need because they are still good on your car.
His shop is the best though for Volvos.
For example, he adjusted the clutch for 50 bucks on the AC compressor rather than buying a new one which the rest wanted to do.
This yard and others should know the most called for parts and spend their time digging them out and making them available.
Anybody that knows specifically where this Swedish Volvo storage site is located, please post it. I’ll visit relatives in Goteborg, Stockholm, Uppsala in June and my ’64 1800S could use some correct parts. Tak!
Its pretty vague about him actually selling anything, no website, or business info. But there is a market for everything. I bet a booth at a big swap meet (AutoJumble in Europe) could get the word out quickly in the volvo community. The largest swap meet in Europe is called Vetterama and one in spring and one in the fall. I know some guys who have booths there every year and I would love to go, but slightly afraid of what would happen if I did. (you catch my drift). Here in Oregon I know some obsessive Volvo nuts,, This would have them very excited. Jack them up on Espresso and a few shots of Stoli,, and they would be handing over their credit cards in no time. KaChing!
See: http://www.veterama.de/en/info/general-information
” Since our first steps in 1975, VETERAMA has become Europe’s biggest marketplace for vintage, veteran and classic cars. Nowadays, more than 4,000 exhibitors from all over Europe travel to Mannheim on the 2nd weekend in October where they meet more than 50,000 enthusiasts looking for coveted parts and vehicles.
For many years now, the VETERAMA has been held in the spring as well so that collectors of classic vehicles don’t have to wait too long for coveted parts. The VETERAMA was a guest in Ludwigshafen for 30 years with a kick-off event, although this was accepted more on a regional level. Since 1992, the event on the Friedrich-Ebert-Gelände has been split up into an “car and motorcycle weekend“ and a “motorcycles only” weekend.
For years the calls of exhibitors and visitors had been growing louder for a large-scale international VETERAMA weekend to be held at the start of the season in the spirit of the Mannheim event, and so the organisers set out to look for a suitable new venue.With the Hockenheim Ring in Baden-Wurttemberg, the VETERAMA has now found an appropriate home where it can become “Europe’s biggest classic vehicle market” in the spring as well. Opened in 1932, the Hockenheim Ring is one of the world’s leading and most famous racing circuits. Around 700,000 spectators visit every year to experience prime quality motorsport such as Formula 1 and DTM races, classic vehicle events, as well as dragster and motorcycle racing. Open air concerts, popular sport events, driving experiences and much more besides also belong to the multifunctional arena’s portfolio.
Thanks for the info Doug. I have watched many a race at Hockenheim, from local Minis to GT40s. But what a risk, having an open swap meet on the first of April–it can still be snowing on the first of April.
Mike I wouldnt care, I just would love to attend some shows and swap meets overseas., I travelled Europe in the 1980s and want to go back, Ver 2.0
But weather is always an issue everywhere. One of my favorite events was 2 weeks ago near the Canadian Border in Washington. Followed by another event the next day in BC. One year headed north I called my wife as I was hitting snow on I-5 approaching Seattle.. She checked weather online and OH CRAP! I was headed right into it. Made it thru but next day it was the weirdest thing ever trolling outside swap meet booths in the snow as it was coming down, Canopies collapsing under the snow… The April swap meet in Portland a few weeks ago so a epic windstorm hit the PNW and massive damage all over. A tree came down up at our vacation property and it was massive, ALMOST hit the bar on the grounds of the property (Save the RUM!) Damaged the laundry and bathrooms, But at the swap meet there was 50-60 mph winds and canopies were blowing like leaves in the fall, People hanging off them to keep from going airborne.. It was quite exciting. Despite that,, Most vendors reported Brisk sales (Pun intended) But business went on and lots of cash changed hands when they were not holding stuff down.
I can’t help but see the back of a red Willy’s L6 226 pick-up cab in the top photo.
Great eye Randy! The Dude Has taste! Not a pickup but my L head 226.
Holy Smokes that is Volvo Heaven, I would love to be able to talk that guy out of enough parts to make a nice 122S.
Was looking for the 164 Models – my family had three of them in the past.
All manual transmissions.
I prefer 1969 to 1971 years…very nice Model.
Bengt- I hope you see this – I am looking for some parts for my PV444 and would greatly appreciate it if you could forward my info to the gentleman or anyone else who would have these parts! My email is uncaduck50 “at” aol.com
Substitute symbol for “at” and remove spaces – just tryin’ to make it harder for spammers…. What I’m looking for is the horizontal bar grille as used on the
approx 1954-56 PV444, and the tail lights from the same era – the ones that sit on the side of the body above the rear fenders.
Thanks for any hep you or others can provide !
Doug
Bengt-likewise hope you or others see this who can help, i own a 1966 amazon 220 currently being restored. Am in need of a decent set of doors as well as various other parts. is there any way of knowing where this volvo collection is or a name for me to try try and contact.
hope someone can help.
my email is
s.long41@aol.co.uk
Regards
Simon
IN the top picture ,there is a Volvo Pickup. Could that have been factory built ? Cool looking project !
Anyone interested in getting contact with the owner of the stash use this link: http://qvarnshammars.webber.se/contact/