The Spirit of Volvo

50 Reasons Why We Love Them

Vaughan Grylls

$34.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Batsford
12 August 2025

Automotive technology & trades; Antiques & collectables; Motor cars: general interest

Series: The Spirit of Classic Cars

A lively exploration of Volvo, one of the world's best-loved car brands, with evocative vintage photography and entertaining text that explains why you should want to own one.

This iconic Swedish marque is highly regarded across the world for safety, longevity and precision in the design and manufacture of their cars. Originally evolving from the Swedish Ball Bearing Factory, established in 1907, the company went from strength to strength through the twentieth century and beyond, becoming a much-admired manufacturer of reliable family cars as well as exciting sports models and today's innovative electric vehicles, including through its sister brand, Polestar.

The Spirit of Volvo outlines all the most popular and enduring Volvo models, including the early OV 4, made to stand up to the challenging Swedish climate, the sporty P1800, famous in the 1960s for appearing in the TV series The Saint, suavely driven by Roger Moore, and the quintessential large family car through several decades, the 240. The insightful text, from an author who is a Volvo owner and superfan as well as an expert in design, is accompanied by glorious photography showing the Volvo brand at its very best.

The perfect gift for every car enthusiast, whether they are a Volvo driver or not, this beautifully illustrated book, the fourth title in the 'Spirit of Classic Cars' series, delivers a captivating insight into this classic brand.

By: Vaughan Grylls
Imprint: Batsford
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 220mm, Width: 210mm,
ISBN: 9781849949880
ISBN 10: 1849949883
Series: The Spirit of Classic Cars
Pages: 144
Publication Date: 12 August 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Vaughan Grylls is a photographer, author and artist. His photography has been shown in the Photographers' Gallery, Whitechapel Art Gallery and the Arnolfini. He is represented in several public collections, including the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, the Contemporary Art Society, Pfizer, Unilever and the Arts Council of Wales. From 1996 to 2005 Grylls was Chief Executive of the Kent Institute of Art and Design. In 2005 he founded the University for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham and Rochester, and serves as Emeritus Professor. He is the author and photographer of Oxford Then and Now, Cambridge Then and Now, Hong Kong Then and Now and Singapore Then and Now.