The number ninety and very last model in the Volvo Collection by Editions Atlas is a classic brick. The final model is the 1:43 replica of the classic Volvo estate model. The 240 estate is without a doubt one of the most iconic and well recognizable Volvo models ever since Volvo has been started building cars back in 1927. It is for most Volvo enthusiast the very last proper Volvo. I'm personally not a fan of silver colored cars. I have to admit that I can't tell you f it has been a favorite among Volvo buyers.
I won't annoy you any longer with my personal thoughts. Most of you have already made up their mind regarding the mess since Editions Atlas decided to stop with their business. At least we got numerous Volvo scale models which have never been available in the past.
What do you think of the Volvo Collection?

Courtesy of Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland


VOLVO Collection :

The number eighty-nine in the Volvo Collection by Editions Atlas is the Volvo S80 in the livery of the Icelandic Police "Lögreglan". As you will know by now I'm not especially into Police cars and my knowledge is as limited as it gets. I have however tried to do some researches. The S80 was not the very first Volvo the Icelandic police services have used. They have adopted among others these Volvo models into their car fleet: V70, XC70, XC90, V90 Cross Country.
As you can see on the following photos this 1:43 scale model is a pretty exact copy of the real Police car. A very few tiny details are a little off:

• there are only seven blue stripes on the car whereas the original has eight horizontal stripes
  
• the tiny little blue lights between the front end rails are missing
• the large blue light on the roof consist in reality of white plastic
• the dot on the side mirrors are a little too small and the color is slightly paler

You will find a few photos of real cars. You will notice that the Icelandic Police had a few cars which have all slightly different details. The first photo shows however the respective current version and livery this replica has been inspired by.

Courtesy of Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland


Photo showing a couple real Police service car from Iceland. You will note that they had indeed a few versions and variations of the same car.

The number eighty-eight in the Volvo Collection by Editions Atlas is the Volvo 240 estate in the livery of the Swedish association transporting blood products. The blood transports were performed in Sweden by the security company Securitas and not by the ordinary Health Service or Red Cross as it is so common in many countries. The picture on the folder which comes with this scale model shows Lempa (the driver) next to his Volvo. Lempa has his own blog dedicated to everything on wheels where you can find a photo of the very same car next to one of his motorbikes.
The model is quite true to the original. We can assume that the sirens under the front bumper are missing. But who of you would have checked that detail? The model has however the correct roof rack with the correct blue lights. Mr Atlas has even thought of adding the correct tinted/transparent spoiler over the rear hatch. Good job.

Courtesy of Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland


VOLVO Collection :

The number eighty-seven in the Volvo Collection by Editions Atlas is the Volvo 855 estate  in the colors of the Swedish EMS (emergency service). I'm personally not a big fan of any type of emergency cars but I'm sure that this car will have a certain number of enthusiasts who will look forward to welcome this model on their shelves and in their showcases. There are however also a few issues with this scale model when compared to the real car:

• no extra lights (long distance beams) on the front-end
• no roof rails - the blue lights are fitted directly to the roof of the model
• some pictures show the wheels fitted with simple steel rims.
  • the picture on the folder shows alu rims with five "spokes"
  • however the model have six-spoke rims which really looks more like rim covers/hub caps
• the trailer hook at the rear of the model is missing

Most issues are probably due to the fact that Editions Atlas took a specific and existing documented car with a reg.number as a starting point.

Courtesy of Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland


VOLVO Collection :

The number eighty-six in the Volvo Collection by Editions Atlas is the Volvo Venus Bilo. This automobile was a concept car revealed by Volvo in 1933. It was a streamlined design with rear hinged doors and door in the side to access the engine bay. It was designed to have a great loading capacity. Nine specially designed suitcases could be fitted into spaces in the back and a compartment in the right front fender. The left fender contained a spare tyre and tools. A second spare tyre in the rear was used as a bumper. The design was done by Gustaf Ericsson (son of Lars Magnus Ericsson). The body was based on a Volvo PV655 chassis and the coachwork was done by Gustaf Nordbergs Vagnfabrik AB in 1932. This special handmade vehicle of which only one version had been produced had been commissioned by Volvo to test the market for an advanced streamlined car. The car aroused enormous interest, but opinion was divided when it came to its appearance. Series production was never considered, but the Venus Bilo paved the way for the more streamlined bodies of future models. The concept led to the production model Volvo PV 36 Carioca. The fate of the car itself is unknown. After World War II it was sold to a person in Denmark. In the mid-1950s it was owned by a Danish scrapyard owner who rebuilt it into a pickup truck. It was used as late as 1956, but then it vanished.
Editions Atlas has chosen to offer also this color beside the gray one which had been released as model number sixty in the Volvo Collection. No period color photos do exist of the original Venus Bilo and therefor many argue but the correct paint scheme of this prewar car. Only a handful of photos as well as a glimpse of the car can been seen in a private video. A few sources pretend that the car was once painted in this colors. I can say that I wouldn't have opted for this color combo. But that is another story. You will be able to see on the short film sequence that the car had indeed been repainted since the clearer stripe going over the length of the car is missing. Tell me: what is your opinion on this matter?

Courtesy of Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland

Source & copyright: media.volvocars.com


Short appearance on a film from 1949 when leaving a ferry coming from Denmark:

Source & copyright: youtube.com

VOLVO Collection :

The number eighty-five in the Volvo Collection by Editions Atlas is the the Volvo 122S Amazon for the US market. Volvo introduced the Amazon in the USA as the 122S at the New York International Auto Show in April 1959.
What could I probably write about this new release by Editions Atlas? Most will anyway complain that it is am easy spinoff of previous models. The most obvious differences compared to European versions are anyway the horns on the bumpers as well as the white wall tyres.

Courtesy of Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland


VOLVO Collection :

Courtesy of Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland


VOLVO Collection :

The number eighty-three in the Volvo Collection by Editions Atlas is the the Volvo PV544 Sista. Volvo's PV range (PV 444; PV544)was a huge commercial success. The very last Volvo PV544 model had been built after an eighteen year production run which saw regular improvements, updated features as well as engine upgrades. The very last production car wore chassis number 440000. It drove on October 20, 1965 from the assembly plant in Lundby (SE) directly to Volvo's own car museum. At the wheel was the test driver Nils Wickström. That very last PV544 was a "Sport" version equipped with the 95 hp engine. It had been painted black even if that color was no longer offered in the official program. "Sista" is Swedish and translates into "last".
Editions Atlas is offering this Volvo now as a 1:43 scale replica. It is of course another spinoff of already known and previously released models. The main difference being that it comes as the original car with the text on both sides. My bet is that we all would have preferred another newly engineered scale model. But the already announced end of the Editions Atlas car collections make it hard to add any new development. This livery is at least a replica of an important moment in Volvo's long history.

Courtesy of Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland


VOLVO Collection :

The number eighty-two in the Volvo Collection by Editions Atlas is the the Volvo S80 in its top of the line version. Volvo equipped the second generation (2006–2016) of their top of the range limousine with a V8 engine. This engine had been produced by Yamaha in Japan for Volvo. The engine had to fit into the rather small place of the engine bays of the Volvo S80 as well as the Volvo XC90. Volvo began offering the 4.4 L V8 engine in its large P2 platform automobiles in 2005. It was initially offered only for the Volvo XC90 but later found its way in the second generation Volvo S80 and mated to a six speed Aisin Seiki transmission of Japan also with a Swedish Haldex all wheel drive system AWD.
This i:43 scale model comes in a nice, pleasant and classic combo of a nice green metallic paint featuring a biscuit colored leather interior.

Courtesy of Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland


VOLVO Collection :

The number eighty-one in the Volvo Collection by Editions Atlas is an ex Volvo 265 Ambulance from 1981/82 which has been transformed into a Volvo Serve car. This model is based on the Volvo 264 Ambulance which has been offered as model N° 56. This Volvo is not a fantasy model. It does exist in the Netherlands. The first owner was the red cross in Aalten in the east of the Netherlands. This car was one of the few cars originally sold in the Netherlands. The red cross had the car in use till the mid nineties. The Dutch Volvo dealerSchmidt-Gemert had an earlier Volvo 265 ambulance model in use as a service wagon which they used for about ten years. This specific model was completely painted Volvo blue. But that car needed a replacement. At the very same time the 265 Ambulance from the Dutch red cross came up for sale and Carlo Schmidt bought it as replacement for their other 265 ambulance. The ambulance from the red cross had at that time a moderate 112.000 Km on the clock. After having bought it Carlo Schmidt had no time and did not want to hurry preparing his new acquired 265. At this time the car was still painted white. Mr Schmidt put it for several years in his storage  since he had no immediate use for it. About ten years ago a good friend of Carlo Schmidt and a Volvo 200 series adept asked him if he would sell the car to him so that he could prepare. it as it is now. He wanted to use it for club purposes. That was the moment where the car received his actual livery. The new owner lost interest after several years of use and he sold it last year. We don't know where the car is situated at the moment. Carlo Schmidt had intended to buy the car back but missed the new sale due to a lack of time as well as other commitments. Please let us know when you should know where the car is today.

Courtesy of Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland