What are Volvos doing at SEMA?
The SEMA Show is a lot of things, but a haven for Swedish cars is not one of those. Not even V-8 swapped 240s, somewhat surprisingly, are not a big presence at the Las Vegas Convention Center. So when we see a Volvo at SEMA, it stands out. Some of them stand out a lot. Take a closer look at these four Swedish delights.
Volvo Amazon V07
Jeff Allen, host of CNBC’s The Car Chasers and owner of the Flat 12 Gallery, turned this Volvo 122S Amazon into a small-block monster. The engine is a 7.0L LS7 massaged by Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. The rest of the driveline comes from a 2013 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport. Sound interesting? You could own it—the V07 will be auctioned off to benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund next year. Says Allen, “Usually charity vehicle builds are just for looks. I wanted to build a car that was obnoxious, that I could whip around the track, and would turn heads everywhere it went.”
Heritage Driven Volvo Amazon 122
Heritage Driven typically builds custom-specification Land Rover Defenders from the frame up. This Volvo, shown at the Cummins booth, is a little different. Under the hood is a 2.8-liter four-cylinder Cummins RePower Diesel, paired with a Tremec six-speed manual.
Volvo Amazon Wagon
Perched atop the Thule booth, this Amazon references the rack and accessory company’s Swedish heritage. Our only wish is that we could have looked it up closer. Skol!
Volvo TP21 Sugga
This Swedish Military Radio Command vehicle is only the 10th of its kind to cross into the United States, according builder Eddie’s Rods & Customs. It was transformed from an oddball bike-and gear hauler to a tailgate machine. The first thing you notice, however, is not the flat screen TV in the rear but the monster 572-cubic-inch big-block under the hood sports a warthog decoration atop the valve covers. Yes, really.