Volvo 142 RAC Rally by Editions Atlas

The number fifty-one in the Volvo Collection by Editions Atlas is a Volvo 142 in the livery of the 1974 RAC rally car with the number 6. This specific car was driven by Per-Inge Walfridsson (S) and John Jensen (GB). The model is equipped with all the details like the extra headlights as well with all the original stickers once found on the real rally car.

Please read more background info's regarding this and other Volvo's in motorsport under "Read More".

Source & copyright : Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland

VOLVO Collection :

1. 1945   Volvo PV444
2. 1957   Volvo Amazon 4-door
3. 1964   Volvo P1800
   
4. 1953   Volvo PV455 Duett
   
5. 1950   Volvo PV60
6. 1971   Volvo 144 Overdrive
   
7. 1969   Volvo 164
8. 1971   Volvo P1800ES
   
9. 1956   Volvo P1900
10. 1978   Volvo 262C Bertone
    
11. 1965   Volvo Amazon 2-door
    
12. 1970   Volvo 145 Automatic Estate
    
13. 1938   Volvo PV52
14. 1965   Volvo PV544
15. 1979   Volvo 343
16. 1985   Volvo 480 ES
    
17. 1984   Volvo 740 Turbo
18. 1938   Volvo PV800 Taxi
19. 1978   Volvo 242 GT
    
20. 1939   Volvo PV56
21. 1962   Volvo Amazon break
22. 1936   Volvo PV36 Carioca
23. 1953   Volvo PV455 Duett 'Volvo Service'
24. 1988   Volvo 780 Bertone
25. 1988   Volvo 440
26. 1927   Volvo ÖV4 Jakob
27. 1973   Volvo 142
28. 1992   Volvo 240 Polar
29. 1971   Volvo 145 Express
30. 1975   Volvo 66 GL

• 31.   1992   Volvo 440 Politie (NL)
• 32.   1971   Volvo P1800 ES 'Prince Carl Gustaf'
• 33.   2001   Volvo V40 phase II
• 34.   1988   Volvo 480 Turbo USA
• 35.   1978   Volvo 244 DL 'Blue Star'
• 36.   1994   Volvo 960 GLE
  
• 37.   1978   Volvo 264 TE
  
• 38.   1965   Volvo Amazon Polis (S)
  
• 39.   1966   Volvo P1800 S Volvoville
• 40.   1971   Volvo 145 Express Taxi
• 41.   1992   Volvo ECC
• 42.   1976   Volvo 343 Politie (NL)
• 43.   1995   Volvo 855 T5R
• 44.   1999   Volvo S80
• 45.   1990   Volvo 480 Turbo convertible
  
• 46.   1982   Volvo 265 GLE
• 47.   1967   Volvo Amazon 123 GT
• 48.   1988   Volvo 360 GLE
  
• 49.   1988   Volvo 240 SE estate Polis (S)
• 50.   1968   Volvo P210 Duett 'Tele' (S)
• 51.   1974   Volvo 142 RAC Rally
• 52.   .....
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More background info about Per Inge Walfridsson :

• walfridsson.com


• Quote from an article as it appears on the websites uniquecarsandparts.com.au and ucapusa.com : 

It was during the 1970's that there was a regular anomaly on the rally leader boards, that being the sight of a big, heavy, unwieldy Volvo 142, thanks to the incredible skills of the elfin, blond-headed Swede, Per-Inge Walfridsson. Almost inevitably sideways through the forests, undeterred by snow, ice or loose stones, Walfridsson swung the big Volvo's around from seat and pedals elevated to suit his 5 ft. frame.

Walfridsson first took the British international rallying scene by the ears in the 1972 Scottish Rally, when he had slid his way up to seventh position in his own Volvo 142 after twenty-four hours when the Volvo's sump came off worst in an altercation with a bridge. Unbelievably to many he had finished amongst the fastest five on most of the quick, dry, stony Scottish stages, before retiring.

To prove that this was no flash in the pan he re-appeared in a works-backed Group 2 Volvo 142 for the 1973 International Welsh Rally and finished second overall behind the maestro of the British forests, Roger Clark, in a works Group 5 Escort. There were many who said that only the delays caused by a spasm of six punctures prevented the cumbersome Volvo leading the Escort home on its home ground.

A broken axle ended his run in the 1973 Scottish, but he returned with a vengeance for the 1973 RAC Rally to finish fourth overall despite gearbox trouble. A seized engine put him out of the 1974 Welsh, but his luck was better on the last RAC Rally. Walfridsson's ability was such that in the 1974 Lombard RAC Rally he put the works-prepared Volvo into sixth place overall behind such illustrious drivers as Miikinen, Blomqvist, Munari, Waldegard and Rohrl mounted in some of the cream of suitable rally cars.

When Volvo acquired control of Dutch manufacturer DAF, the Volvo-contracted driver was able to compete in both Dafs as well as Volvos, although in the 1975 International Swedish Rally he was forced to retire when driving a DAF 66. Walfridsson once admitted that Scandinavian rally drivers had a distinct advantage over their opponents because of the opportunities to practise on the prevalent rough forest roads in summer and on the snow and ice in winter. His own career followed classic Scandinavian lines in which practice from an early age had led to perfection.

The area around his home at Torsby, in Vlirmland, 300 km. north of Gothenberg, was a rally driver's paradise and at the age of 12, and in subsequent winters, young Walfridsson started his development by borrowing a tractor from his father, a haulage and plant hire contractor who, more significantly, was also the local Volvo dealer, clearing a circuit on a nearby frozen lake and practising to his heart's content with his parents Volvo.

When he wasn't sliding four wheels around the ice, he was learning the rudiments of mechanical skill and the secrets of different types of slippery surfaces on a series of motorcycles (he had his first when he was 10)

__including OES, Harley-Davidson, Munaric, Husqvarna and Royal Enfield. The local motor club was the womb for this embryo rally driver; as soon as he was allowed to, at the age of fifteen, he marshaled and timed on rally special stages

Patiently he waited for his eighteenth birthday, then the legal driving age in Sweden, and soon afterwards, in January 1969, he competed in his first local rally with his mother's shopping (and absolutely standard) Volvo 142. The continuation of the elf's fairy tale would have been a win in this first event: he didn't win, as it happens, but he didn't disgrace himself either and immediately prepared the car properly for rallying.

Walfridsson's mother must have had a very generous nature, at least until the inevitable happened and the 142 landed on its roof - a complete write-off! She had to buy a new car, without the help of insurance because the accident had happened on a rally, and so too did Per, a 122S. When he wasn't driving or preparing cars Per was studying civil engineering at college. But the call of rallying was stronger than the art of road-building, so once his final exams were behind him he became a semi-professional rally driver with his own 122 -"semi" because he spent the time between rallies driving huge trucks for his father.

Walfridsson proclaimed "I have to drive it more or less flat out on the steering and the brakes and keep the throttle right down." after competing in the 1973 RAC Rally.

Walfridsson's early forays in Swedish Championship events included one seventh place overall, but finishing rallies was not one of Per's stronger points at this time. His first notable success was third overall in a Southern Norway rally in 1971 behind Stig Blomqvist (Per proclaimed Stig "The best rally driver in the World on snow and ice,") and Per Eklund. At the end of that year the young Walfridsson turned the tables, winning the East Rally in Norway ahead of Per Eklund, a result he repeated in the 1972 Autumn Rally in Norway.

In 1971 too he had one of his few non-Volvo drives, winning a local rally in mid-Sweden with a Swedish Dealer Team Opel Ascona. Another foray with a "foreign" car was less successful: his Toyota broke before the first special stage in the 1973 Total Rally in South Africa. Volvo-mounted in last years Total, he was challenging for the lead on the last leg when the engine overheated.

But results alone do not reflect the true ability of Per-Inge Walfridsson: his achievements in putting an outclassed, under-powered, overweight rally car into the top placings were at least the equal of driving a competitive car into first place. Experts often wonder how quick he could have been if driving a far more competitive rally prepared Escort, Alpine or Stratos.

Quotes from three articles who have been published on the website retroturbo.com :

September 10, 2012

Volvo´s part in the Motorsport history

A cold February morning in 1928 in Gothenburg, Sweden. 28 cars was preparing for the Kungliga Automobil Klubbens (Royal Automobil Club) Winter Rally. Three of this cars was from the new Swedish car manufacturer Volvo.

The rally was 1050 kilometers long, And the equipment in this early rally cars was not helmets, or seatbelts. They had snowchains and shuffles. Georg Holmqvist finished sixth in class A, and Per Welin finished third in Class C.

In late 1928 at the Moscow-Leningrad-Moscow Rally, Mr Zarsjetzkij and Gösta Hellman entered a Volvo ÖV 4, or Jacob as they were called. And they won their class. The first win for a Volvo, ever. The roads of this time, well… Don’t think they would be called roads today. Was nothing more than paths for horses and men. And try to rally with snowchains on. In a convertible during winter in Russia, and they did not have any heat for the driver or the passenger. You can imagen the test for man and machine this rallys wear. The Moscow Rally was 1360 kilometers long.

In 1929 two of this Volvo used some of the first six-cylinder engines that Volvo made. And also a new invention, a nostle that gave the occupants warm air in the car.

In the 1949 Monte Carlo Rally, a black Volvo 444 from Sweden, with skis on the roof. Came in at place 100 overall. With 66 cars behind them. It was Hilding Olsson, a Volvo dealer from Lycksele. Martin Carstedt from Örnsköldsvik and Stig Söderholm. They started in Umeå, Sweden. And took the little Volvo 400 km down to the finish in Monte Carlo.

This little car started an era in the Volvo Motorsport history. In the early 1950′s privaters started to use the Volvo 444 in rallies, hillclimb races, and also racing. The racing in Scandinavia in this time was held on dirt and gras tracks.

1957. The Swedish Rally to the Midnight Sun and the first win for a Volvo in a ‘modern’ rally. Thure Jansson and his brother Lennart Jansson rallied their Volvo 444 LS to victory. And in the same year a man was convinced to use a Volvo 444 in rally. This was Volvo legend Gunnar Andersson. The 444 had an Export engine, for the American market. The engine was fitted by Volvo and tuned to 85 bhp. And in 1958 he entered the European Rally Championship for the first time. And after the season, Gunnar was crowned champion with his Volvo.

After this, Volvo started a motorsport division with Arthur Wessblad as boss in 1959. And Gunnar Andersson was the first factory driver for Volvo. In 1962 Gunnar became boss of the motorsport division, and they renamed it to Volvo Competition Service. The name was changed again in 1978, to Volvo R-Sport. That was when Volvo started the Volvo R-Team in rallycross. And in 1983, for the Group A years, the name Volvo Motorsport was used. And is still used today.

During the 1960´s the Volvo Factory Team was winning around the world, both in Rally and Racing with Volvo 544 and the Volvo122. And also many private cars was winning with support from Volvo, and also all by them selves.

Here are some examples of the Volvo 544 triumphs:

• 1957 – first, Rally of Sweden, Ture.Jansson, PV444
• 1957 – first, Midnight Sun Rally, Ture.Jansson, PV444
• 1957 – first and second, Viking Rally, Norway, Gröndal / Bernsten, PV544
• 1957 – first 5 places in Little Le Mans at Lime Rock, Connecticut, Art Riley / Bill Rutan, PV444
• 1958 – first, Rally of Sweden, Gunnar Andersson, PV444
• 1958 – class win, Daily Express Silverstone, Jo Bonnier, PV544
• 1958 – first, Little Le Mans at Lime Rock, Connecticut, Art Riley / Bill Rutan, PV444
• 1958 – first, Midnight Sun Rally, Gunnar Andersson, PV444
• 1958 – third, Acropolis Rally, Gunnar Andersson, PV444
• 1958 – second, 1000 Lakes Finland, Nils Carlsson / Gunnar Carlsson PV444
• 1958 – third, 1000 Lakes Finland, Hans Ingier / Björn Gundersen PV444
• 1958 – first, European Rally Championship, Gunnar Andersson, PV444
• 1959 – first and second, 1000 Lakes Finland, Gunnar Calbo / V.Nurminaa, PV544
• 1959 – first, Rally of Norway, Hans Ingier, PV444
• 1959 – first, European Ladies Rally Championship, Ewy Rosqvist, PV544
• 1960 – first, Rally of Sweden, Gunnar Andersson /Charles Lohmander, PV544
• 1960 – first, Argentine Road Race, Gunnar Andersson, PV544
• 1960 – first, German Rally, Gunnar Andersson, PV544
• 1960 – first, Rally of Norway, Hans Ingier, PV444
• 1961 – second, Acropolis Rally, Gunnar Andersson /Charles Lohmander, PV544
• 1961 – first, Little Le Mans at Lime Rock, Connecticut, Art Riley / Bill Rutan, PV444
• 1963 – second, 1000 Lakes Finland, Tom Trana / Gunnar Andersson, PV544
• 1963 – first, RAC Rally, Tom Trana / Sune Lindstrom, PV544
• 1963 – second class, Nurburging, Eng. Herrrmuth / D.Wilhelm PV544
• 1964 – first, RAC Rally, Tom Trana / Gunnar Themenius, PV544
• 1964 – second, 1000 Lakes Finland, T.Trana / Gunnar Thermenius, PV544
• 1964 – first, Acropolis Rally, Tom Trana / Gunnar Themenius, PV544
• 1964 – first, Rally of Sweden, Tom Trana / Gunnar Themenius, PV544
• 1964 – first, European Rally Championship, Tom Trana, PV544
• 1965 – first, Rally of Sweden, Tom Trana / Gunnar Themenius, PV544
• 1965 – first, East African Safari Rally, Joginder Singh / Jaswant Singh, PV544

And some examples of the Volvo 122:

• 1959 – second in Swedish Saloon Car Championship, Tom Trana (S)
• 1960 – first, 1600cc class in Swedish Saloon Car Championship, Tom Trana (S)
• 1961 – first, 1600cc class in Swedish Saloon Car Championship, Tom Trana (S)
• 1961 – first, Swedish Ice Championship, Tom Trana (S)
• 1961 – first, German Touring Car Champion, Josef Maassen (D)
• 1962 – second, Tulip Rally, Gunnar Andersson (S)
• 1962 – second,Shell 4000 Rally , Canada
• 1962 – second, Argentine Gran Premio Rally
• 1963 – third, Tulip Rally, Gunnar Andersson (S)
• 1963 – class wins, 6-hour and 12-hour races at Nürburgring, Jochen Neerpasch (D)
• 1963 – equal on points, European Touring Car Championship, Tom Trana (S)
• 1963 – class win, 6-hours Brands Hatch, Tom Trana / Skogh (S)
• 1963 – class win, Grote Prijs Limburg, Zolder, Belgium, Tom Trana (S)
• 1963 – class win, Zandvoort Trophy, Netherlands, Tom Trana (S)
• 1963 – first, European Rally Championship, Gunnar Andersson (S)
• 1963 – first, European Ladies Championship, Sylvia Österberg (S)
• 1963 – second, Acropolis Rally, Gunnar Andersson (S)
• 1963 – third, Acropolis Rally, Skogh / Berggren (S)
• 1964 – first, Shell 400 Rally , Canada, Klaus Ross and John Bird (CND)
• 1964 – class win, Sandown 4 hours, Gerry Lister (AUS)
• 1964 – second, 1000 Lakes Rally, Finland, Tom Trana (S)
• 1965 – first, Shell 400 Rally , Canada, Klaus Ross and John Bird (CND)
• 1965 – first, RAC European Touring Car Championship
• 1965 – first, World Championship for Manufacturers
• 1965 – first, Acropolis Rally, Carl-Magnus Skogh (S)
• 1965 – first, Syd Rallyt Sweden, Tom Trana (S)
• 1965 – second, Swedish Rally Championship, Tom Trana (S)
• 1966 – third, African Safari Rally, Joginder Singh / Bharat Bhardwaj (Kenya)
• 1966 – second, 1000 Lakes Rally, Finland, Tom Trana (S)
• 1966 – third, RAC Rally, Tom Trana / Sölve Andreasson (S)
• 1966 – third, Monte Carlo Rally, Tom Trana / Sölve Andreasson (S)
• 1967 – fourth, African Safari Rally, Joginder Singh (Kenya)
• 1967 – second, Finnish Rally Championship, Hannu Mikkola (FIN)
• 1967 – third, 1000 Lakes Rally, Finland, Hannu Mikkola (FIN)
• 1967 – first, New Caledonia Safari Rally, John Keran and Max Stahl (AUS)

After an accident during the Gulf London Rally in 1965, where Tom Tranas Co driver Gunnar Thermenius sadly died. And another one in Acropolis in 1966, were two Volvo mechanics crashed with a truck and also were killed. Volvo gave up rallying for them selves and the factory team was cancelled. But Volvo still sold parts and cars to people that wanted to use a Volvo in rally or racing.

Volvo Competition Service developed tuning kit´s for Volvo engines that you could buy at your local Volvo Dealer. They also built cars for drivers that was used in different events. Also cars that was backed up by Volvo dealers around the world, and some was backed up by Volvo them selves.

When the Volvo 140 series was introduced in 1966 for the public, the new safe family car for the people. Some Swedes was wondering how fast that car would be in rally, and perhaps racing and hillclimb. And the need for tuning parts was high. Of course Volvo Competition Service with Gunnar Andersson at the helm, was developing engines and other tuning parts for the new car. The car started to appear in rallys in 1967. One early user of the Volvo 140 in rallies was Henryk Rucinski in Poland!! Henryk and his Co driver Adam Wedrychowski finished 4th in the Polish Rally Championship this year, with a Volvo 144.

In Australia the Volvo 140 series won several rallies in 1968. John Keran, Bob Holden, Max Winkles and more used the Volvo 142 and 144. In the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon, Elsie Gadd won the ladies class. In a Volvo 145, the station wagon!!

Volvo CS also built a Volvo 142 S for the Swedish Rally in 1969, and it was driven by Hannu Mikkola. It had the new Volvo B20 engine with twin Solex carbs. And the car, with Mikkola in it. Ended up in a very cold swamp on SS 3. Another 142 that Volvo CS built was driven by Joginder Singh in the Safari Rally in 1969. He and his Co driver Bharat Bardwaj finished 2nd overall. And privaters rallied and raced the Volvo 140 series around the world, and also winnig with the car using tuning parts developed by Volvo, and also private companies.

Per-Inge Walfridsson was a very successful 142 driver, He finished 2nd in the International Welsh Rally 1972 and –73. 4th in the 1973 R.A.C. Rally. But the most impressive result is the 1975 Roof of Africa Rally. He and his Co driver Kuun Kasselman won their class and finished 3rd overall in a Volvo 142. It was the only ordinary car that finished the rally. Most drivers used a 4 wheel drive car.

Other famous Volvo 140 drivers are: Hannu Mikkkola, Markku Alen, Timo Salonen, Leopold Meyer, Bert Gustavsson, Lorenzo Merlone and many, many more….
Eeva Heinonen won the Finish Ladies Championship three times in a Volvo 142.

In 1972 Volvo started the Volvo 140 Cup in Sweden. A racing class only open to the Volvo 140 series, with tuning parts from Volvo.

Source & copyright : www.retroturbo.com

October 1, 2012

Volvo 240 Turbo in Group A

AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation and Volvo Car importers have for many years been involved, to varying degrees, in different sport promotion activities such as TENNIS, GOLF, SKIING, HORSEJUMPlNG. During -84 Volvo Car Corporation opened a door to Motor Racing by homologating an evolution of the Volvo 240 Turbo in Group A.

Run under FISH authority, the European Car Championship (ETC) is a series of races open to Series-Production cars.

To be eligible for homologation in Group A at least 5.000 identical examples of a specified model must have been manufactured in 12 consecutive months. Having sold 19.905 Turbo cars in 1983 Volvo was qualified for making the evolution homologation.

Due to the fact that the Group A cars have to be of standard specification and the race distance is minimum 500 km it is an excellent test of our product and to win a race is a proof of endurance, quality and reliability. It shows that the Volvo cars also have extremely good roadholding

says Carleric Häggström, Senior Vice President, Volvo Car Corporation.

In 1984 Volvo 240 Turbo scored a number 1 at Zolder in Belgium (2nd was BMW 635, 3rd Jaguar XJS) and a number 2 and 3 at Mugello in Italy (1st was BMW 635).

1985 two private teams are supported by Volvo.

Sponsored by Pirelli and Volvo Dealer Team Europe the German-Swiss Rudi Eggenberger which for many years have worked with BMW has now prepared two Volvo 240 Turbos. His team has totally dominated the ETC Series, scoring a hatrick of European titles in 1980, -81 and -82.

Drivers are:

• - Gianfranco Brancatelli (I)
• - Thomas Lindström (S)
• - Pierre Dieudonné (B)
• - Sigi Muller (D)

Sponsored by Luna, Svenskt Stål AB and Pirelli, Magnum Racing in Stockholm, Sweden, have prepared one car for Ulf Granberg. The second driver will be shared between Anders Olofsson and Ingvar Carlsson. The whole team is Swedish.

Source & copyright : www.retroturbo.com

October 15, 2012

Volvo R-Team, Rallycross

Volvo was trying to find a way to advertise and sell more of the new Volvo 343. The car was developed by DAF to become the new car after the DAF 66. When Volvo bought DAF they did some more developing on the car, and then released it as Volvo 343.

A more and more popular motorsport in Sweden was rallycross, so Gunnar Andersson at Volvo Competition Service was given the task to enter the 343 at the rallycross scen. He said that they would make the 343 a winner in three years.

They built a turbocharged car, gave it to Per-Inge Walfridsson in 1977. He was already competing in the Swedish Championship with the Volvo/DAF 66, also built by Volvo CS. In the two final rounds of the championship Walfridsson used the turbocharged 343, with the stock CVT system. And became Swedish Champion in 1977.

1978 Walfridsson and Per Engseth from Norway, was the Volvo R-Team drivers in the 343. The cars had a 1628 cc Volvo/Renault B14 engine  with Garett turbocharger. And put out aprox 245 bhp at 6000 rpm. Walfridsson finished 4th in the championship, and Engseth 19th.

Towards the of the 1978 season, Börje Carlsson entered the Volvo R-Team. And he won the Race of Champion in Sweden, that also was broadcast on Swedish tv. Perfect advertisement for the Volvo.

In 1979 Börje Carlsson and Per-Inge Walfridsson raced the Volvo R-Sport 343 in the European, Nordic and Swedish championship. Walfridsson won the Swedish, finished 4th in the European and 6th in the Nordic. Carlsson won the Nordic, became 5th in the Swedish and 7th in the European.

In the Nordic Championship Per Engseth was back in the Volvo. And finished 2nd overall.

1980. Four drivers was driving for the Volvo R-Team. Per-Inge Walfridsson, Per Engseth, Börje Carlsson and Anders Hultqvist. Now the cars had manual gearboxes, from Alfa. And this year the Volvo team won almost everything. Walfridsson won the European Championship, Engseth finished 3rd, Hultqvist 4th and Carlsson 5th. Per Engseth also won the Swedish Championship this year.

After the season the Volvo R-Team was cancelled. Gunnar Andersson and Volvo had done what they set out to do. Now it was the private drivers turn to take on the flag, and they did. Anders Hultqvist won the Swedish Championship in 1981 and 1982. Walfridsson finished 2nd in –82.

Source & copyright : www.retroturbo.com


Other interesting sources : __

• www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/race drivers per-inge walfridsson
  
• www.rallye-info.com
• m.facebook.com/Volvo.in.motorsport