GOTHENBURG, Sweden—As part of its 80-year anniversary celebration, Volvo organized a parade of antique and modern vehicles that rolled through Gothenburg city, the marque's hometown. Veteran Swedish rally legend Mr. Carl-Magnus Skogh, 82, drove a 1927 convertible, the first car that Volvo mass-produced.
In 1999 the Swedish premium cars and trucks manufacturer was split into two companies, Ford Motor Company bought the automobile division.
Mr. Skogh was one of those who have helped to put the brand on the world map. In the 1960s, along with racing legends like Tom Trana and Joginder "Flying Sikh" Singh, he earned Volvo headlines around the world with his achievements on the international rally circuit from the Saharan Africa to Greek Acropolis.
Carl-Magnus Skogh joined Volvo in 1963 after a successful stint as a rally driver for Swedish competitor Saab. He won the Swedish championship in 1960 and 1961, driving a SAAB 96. In 1965, he won the Acropolis Rally in a Volvo Amazon.
Mr. Skogh´s automotive know-how was useful to Volvo not only on race courses around the world, but also in product research and development. In 1978, Mr. Skogh set the world speed record for diesel cars by reaching 209 kph in a Volvo 340 that he had modified. He has also contributed to improving driveability and stability features of the cars.
"I designed the chassis features of the [Volvo model] 850, said Carl-Magnus Skogh.
Mr. Skogh was happy about driving the most important car in the parade. The CEO of Volvo Trucks, Leif Johansson and the CEO of Volvo Cars, Fredrik Arp, were his passengers.
About thirty vehicles, including the first Volvo model, the Volvo 445 with its two-part windscreen, the Volvo 1800 made famous in the TV series "The Saint," milk delivery trucks from the '30s and '40s, veteran busses and even a boat, took part in the parade.
Eighty years of history rolled from the Volvo museum in outskirts of city to downtown Gothenburg where the public was invited to look at the products of Swedish engineering and vehicle know-how.
"I feel good today. It's an experience to have Leif Johansson and Fredrik Arp in the backseat," said the rally champion Carl-Magnus Skogh.
During the weekend the Volvo museum, with all the veteran vehicles, was open to the public, free of charge.
Volvo was founded in 1926 by Mr. Assar Gabrielsson, an economist, and Mr. Gustaf Larson, a technician.
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