Every automotive manufacturing nation has its vehicle hallmark. If you want muscle cars you turn to America. No one else does big displacement better. For packaged sophistication, it’s the Germans. Their cars set industry benchmarks. Yet, for anyone seeking a safe, over-engineered vehicle you look towards Sweden.
Renowned for producing vehicles that can withstand a sudden moose attack, or have an engine that will run millions of miles, Swedish car manufacturers built up a sterling reputation. Not for stuffing their products full of life-saving features, but also for producing mechanicals that would survive more than the passing of time.
It’s these qualities that elevate Swedish cars. Characteristics that set them apart from their competition. Swedish vehicles make for superb classic purchases. Generally reasonably priced buys, there has been a surge of interest in some models. Which means decent investment potential. So, here are 10 Swedish cars that’ll soon be worth a fortune.
10 Volvo P1800
Quite simply the best-looking car Volvo has ever produced. The Volvo P1800 Coupe is drop-dead gorgeous, even today. Early versions were equipped with a 100hp 1.8-liter carburetor-fed engine, while later P1800E models with fuel injection gained a bump to 130hp.
Performance is modest. The Volvo P1800E will hit 60mph from rest in 9.5 seconds. A timeless classic, a resurgence in interest for the model has been sparked by modern restomod versions, combining period Volvo looks with modern mechanicals to get the best rest.
9 Caresto C70
The Volvo C70 was an okay car. It did everything a hardtop convertible should, but with little excitement. The Caresto C70 version, however, is a different beast altogether. Debuting at the SEMA car show, Caresto transformed the C70 into something quite special.
Power was increased over its stock from 218hp to 278hp, with torque bumped from 236lb/ft to 325lb/ft, all from a 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine. A hand-stitched leather interior was added along with bespoke body styling. It’s a very rare car and a collector’s dream.
8 Volvo 480 Turbo
One of Volvo’s bolder designs, the 480 Turbo hatchback was an awesomely stylish oddity. The wedge shape became instantly recognizable. Not the fastest hot hatch ever made, the Volvo 480 Turbo offered a more mature approach to small car motoring.
Reliant on an aging 1.7-liter engine. Adding a Garrett turbo saw horsepower increase to 118hp with 129lb/ft of torque. From a standstill, the Volvo 480 Turbo could hit 60mph in 8.9 seconds. Decent-used examples are getting harder to find. So it’s one to stash away.
7 SAAB Sonett III
The third outing for SAABs curious Sonett saw it gain pop-up headlights. Along with this came several changes to allow SAABs Sonett III to be exported to America. None of the improvements benefited the car, which meant it was discontinued due to poor sales.
It’s quite a rare car, with over 8,000 Sonett III models having been sold in a four-year window. Underpowered, its Ford-supplied V4 engine only generates 65hp, offering lackluster performance. But, despite this, the smart looking coupe has a cult following and is a collectible.
6 Volvo 242 GT
Big, old Volvos seem to drop in and out of fashion. Especially the station wagons. But the Volvo 242 GT is a little different. It’s a sporting coupe like no other. An angular beast that has a handsome quality plus acres of interior space. Demand is rising, and so are prices.
Volvos early take on a coupe was amusing. They retained the straight line approach to design, and created something unique. Under the hood lies a 2.3-liter turbocharged engine with 138hp. It was very quick for the time, hitting 60mph in 9.5 seconds. It’s still entertaining.
5 SAAB 99 Turbo
The SAAB 99 Turbo serves as the manufacturer’s genesis model. It was the first time they had strapped a turbo to one of their production cars, and the results were awesome. It’s 2.0-liter turbocharged unit made 145hp and 174lb/ft of torque, hitting 60mph in 8.7 seconds.
A very fast, fun car to drive. The power delivery was rife with turbo lag, but this just added to the appeal. Marked as something of a design icon, the SAAB 99 Turbo is a stylish vehicle. It’s also a car that marks a defining moment in car history. A turbocharged Swedish pioneer.
4 Jose Car Indigo 3000
Some of the most interesting cars ever made come from small bespoke workshops. Start-up companies that are bold enough to dip their toe into the car manufacturing world. Some take off. Some don’t. The JC Indigo 3000 is a car that showed promise, but was short-lived.
Built using Volvo mechanicals, the JC Indigo 3000 had a very distinct TVR look. It’s 3.0-liter straight-six engine gave it decent performance, propelling it to 60mph in 6.5 seconds. Only 44 examples were built before the company folded, so they are a rare find.
3 Volvo S60 R
It may not look like it. But the Volvo S60 R was devised as competition for the BMW M3. A sporting sedan that delivered phenomenal performance, yet could play the part of sophisticated executive machine. It had all the hallmarks of a fine car, but was a little boring.
That said, as standard, the S60 R came with AWD, a turbocharged 5-cylinder engine spitting out 300hp, Brembo brakes, and the ability to hit 60mph in 5.4 seconds. It’s a perfect sleeper, and a car that is fast becoming reborn thanks to low prices, and its high performance.
2 SAAB 9-3 Turbo X
On its deathbed, SAAB released some great cars. One of those being the 9-3 Turbo X, a leather lined sedan that thought it was a rally car. Packing a turbocharged V6 engine and AWD. One of the finest performance cars the company had ever created, hardly anyone bought it.
Making use of a 2.8-turbocharged V6 from GM. The Turbo X made 276hp and 295lb/ft of torque. All this power got fed straight to the road and resulted in a 0-60mph time of 5.5 seconds. Grip levels were exceptional. An underrated sports sedan, the Turbo X is a superb car.
1 Volvo 850 T5-R Sedan
Given the choice, most Volvo fans would no doubt opt for a wagon. Especially those seeking to buy an iconic Volvo 850, as the 850 wagon has become a legend within its own lifetime. But, the often ignored sedan also delivers the same thrills, just with less trunk space.
A 20-valve 2.3-liter turbocharged engine provides the power. It makes 240hp and pushes the large sedan to 60mph in 6.3 seconds. On the move, the engine is very responsive. It dishes out power in every gear. Not the prettiest classic sedan out there, but it’s still a great drive
