When Volvo launched the T5 variant of their 850, the Swedish automaker needed to spice up its profile so as to achieve market share. As a substitute of a conventional advertising and marketing marketing campaign, Volvo took the 850 racing within the British Touring Automobile Championship.

How the choice to make use of the 850 property took place wasn’t intentional although. Volvo commissioned Steffansson Automotive to develop a BTCC prototype, however after they went to gather a physique shell solely property variants had been left. This information shortly reached the Volvo board, who noticed it as a golden alternative to interrupt the stereotype of solely promoting estates to middle-aged geography lecturers.

Because it turned although, the 850 property’s lengthy roofline truly proved advantageous, with the race automotive producing extra downforce over the sedan equal. An extended wheelbase and extra glass did equate to elevated weight, however being under the minimal meant there was nonetheless alternative to maneuver ballast round.

Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), who at this level had been extra generally recognized for his or her Group C racing efforts, had been enlisted by Volvo to run the works program with a three-year contract.

From when the 850 property first lined up on the BTCC grid at Thruxton Circuit in April 1994, rivals noticed it as extra of a advertising and marketing train than the rest. The Volvo staff was undeterred, and as a tongue in cheek measure stuffed a toy Border Collie within the again for a parade lap.

The Volvo’s distinctive sound got here courtesy of its TWR-developed naturally aspirated 2.0L five-cylinder engine, which made round 290 horsepower and put in on par power-wise with the remainder of the BTCC area.

Sadly, the 850 property solely noticed competitors for the one season, the place Volvo positioned sixth within the constructors championship. For the 1995 BTCC championship, TOCA altered the principles to allow further spoilers, however these couldn’t prolong previous the bumpers or the roofline. Sadly, any benefit the property had was now gone, so the T5 850 sedan took its place for the following two seasons, the place Volvo drivers frequented the rostrum extra usually.

This explicit automotive, which was on show on the current Manufacturers Hatch Tremendous Touring Energy occasion, has an fascinating historical past. It began life as a BTCC 850 property, however was transformed right into a sedan by changing physique panels, after which used for aero testing forward of the ’95 season.

Since its buy from a vendor in Holland a couple of years in the past, its present proprietor has returned the Volvo to its unique property kind. Proper now it’s nonetheless present process some gentle restoration work, however the plan is to have it again on monitor once more at traditional motorsport occasions sooner or later.

Success might be measured in some ways and whereas the Volvo 850 property by no means took dwelling any British Touring Automobile Championship silverware, I’d argue that all of the publicity it acquired outweighed any trophy. In any case, is there something higher than a quick property?

Chaydon Ford
Instagram: chaycore

BTCC Racing Pictures by Volvo Automobiles