Introduction
Designed by Jan Wilsgaard, the Volvo 850 was introduced as a saloon for the 1992 model year, with the estate arriving in 1993.
Shown for the first time in June 1991, the car marked a departure for Volvo, featuring multiple unprecedented features for the company; these included a transverse 5-cylinder engine driving the front wheels, a Delta-link rear axle, a side impact protection system and a self-adjusting front seat belt mechanism.
Beginning in 1994, a facelift for all models was introduced; this facelift subtly altered the visual appearance of the car, featuring new front and rear bumpers, new headlights and indicators on the outside, and a new switchgear on the inside.
The same year, the 850 estate was awarded the Japanese “Good Design Grand Prize”. In August 1994, the 850 T-5 was introduced for the 1995 model year, producing 222 BHP from its turbo charged 2.3 Litre 5 Cylinder engine.
The 850 T-5 is able to accelerate from 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 7.1 seconds.
In terms of technical features, Volvo switched from 4-bolt to 5-bolt hubs, made ABS standard on all markets and introduced a new A/C system. Other options during the model run included features such as traction control, leather interior, electric glass sunroof, electric seats, heated seats, remote keyless entry, and automatic climate control.
Beginning with the 1995 model year, Volvo introduced the SIPS-Bag on the 850; these airbags were included as standard equipment on the 1995 T-5 models, and were optional on other 850 models. This made the Volvo 850 the first mass-produced car in the world to feature side-impact airbags. The SIPS became standard equipment for all new Volvo cars beginning with the 1996 model year.
In 1995, the Volvo 850 was ranked the fourth-safest vehicle on the market by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Volvo joined forces with TWR in 1994 to build an 850 Estate Super Touring Car to compete in the British Touring Car Championships (BTCC), much to the surprise of the public and fellow competitors alike !
Despite much criticism, the 850 Estate performed well, with a best qualifying placing of third and a best race finish of fifth. The 850 Estates were driven by Rikard Rydell and Jan Lammers and Volvo finished eighth in the Manufacturers’ standings for the 1994 Championship. Being an estate certainly made it stand out and people took notice, no doubt boosting 850 sales in the UK at a time when the BTCC was a huge and well supported event by both fans and major manufacturers.
For 1995, TWR built a Saloon version, with the switch from Estate to Saloon being made mainly due to changes in BTCC regulations regarding aerodynamic aids which effectively ended any chance of the Estate being competitive.
With Rickard Rydell and Tim Harvey driving, the 850 Saloons qualified on pole position 12 times and won six races, with Volvo placing third in the Manufacturers Championship.
In 1996, an improved 850 Saloon competed in the championship with Rickard Rydell and Kelvin Burt driving, achieving five race wins. Volvo again finishing third.
Volvo also competed in the Super Touring category with the 850 across Europe and in Australia in this era.
Description
A car I know very well, as I’ve owned it personally for over 7 years !
Registered new on 16 December 1996 and originally a Volvo UK Management car, but it’s story actually starts before that !
I was informed when I bought it from the second owner that it was the 1996 Birmingham Motorshow car, that year Volvo presented all their cars in the same colour combination, Coral Red with Beige Interior, although the ‘big news’ was the UK Launch of the C70 Coupe so all the photographs and You Tube Videos are of that – sadly I have never been able to find a photograph of it at the show.
Once registered, Volvo Management ran the car for 6 Months and just over 7,000 Miles upon which time it was sold through Kingsworthy Volvo, Winchester to the second owner. He kept the car for 21 years until I purchased it directly from him in June 2018.
Examples of this quality and originality are few and far between now, this car is presented with original factory panels, paint and glass and whilst it is now 29 years old, remains in outstanding condition, albeit with some marks and chips as you’d expect for its age and mileage – they are only original once as they say, and it really shows !
Whist it was his only car, the previous owner of 21 years didn’t generally travel far and always garaged the car and left it largely unused in winter months due to being abroad, so its condition has no doubt been helped seeing very little, if any road salt and not being exposed to the weather in general unless it was actually in use.
Throughout his and my ownership, maintenance has been kept on top of with both general service work over the years and more major works recorded in the history file, in my ownership it has had a new clutch, suspension bushes and shock absorbers to name but a few in addition to general maintenance.
The Air Conditioning, heated electric memory seats, cruise control and electric sunroof all work correctly as does everything else.
The CD version was the highest specification available, but more importantly these days, it has a 5-Speed Manual gearbox, many, if not most T-5’s were Automatic, especially the higher spec examples, so being a manual made it rare in its day, and significantly rarer now.
I have averaged around 1,000 Miles per year in my ownership adding 7,000 miles to the odometer – incidentally, if you are familiar with 850’s, you’ll be aware that the odometer’s do fail due to worn or broken gears in the speedo drive, theses were changed during my ownership as a preventative maintenance item and the mileage read from the vehicles ECU, verifying that the mileage displayed is 100% correct.
Perhaps a unique opportunity in such original condition and low mileage (for a Volvo !) and with a manual gearbox, I have loved every moment of ownership, but a distinct lack of use (it covered 184 Miles between MOT’s last year) means it is time to move it on.
It’s original wallet, handbooks, service book, 2 sets of keys plus the original Valet Key and two complete and working remote controls along with a Brochure and Price List all remain with the car.
Specification
Coral Red Metallic
Beige Leather
Climate Control Air Conditioning
Electric Glass Sunroof
Heated, Electric Front Seats with Driver Memory
Cruise Control
Service History
Supplied new by Volvo Car (UK) Ltd on 12 December 1996
10,000 Service by Kingsworthy Volvo Winchester on 21 May 1997 @ 7,152 Miles
20,000 Service by Lancaster Guildford on 1 June 1998 @ 15,263 Miles
30,000 Service by Lancaster Guildford on 20 May 1999 @ 23,518 Miles
40,000 Service by Cambridge Garage (Volvo) on 11 July 2000 @ 31,960 Miles
50,000 Service by Lancaster Guildford on 19 July 2002 @ 34,312 Miles
MOT, 28 December 2007 @ 38,889 Miles
Interim Service by Camberley Volvo Centre on 10 November 2008 @ 43,406 Miles
MOT, 23 December 2008 @ 44,980 Miles
Interim Service by Camberley Volvo Centre on 26 October 2009 @ 53,410 Miles
MOT, 27 October 2009 @ 53,417 Miles
MOT, 14 September 2010 @ 55,651 Miles
Annual Service by ACC UK Volvo Specialists on 16 February 2011 @ 56,943 Miles
MOT, 22 September 2011 @ 58,035 Miles
MOT, 22 October 2012 @ 65,590 Miles
MOT, 4 December 2013 @ 68,756 Miles
MOT, 28 November 2014 @ 70,992 Miles
Interim Service by Invincible MOT & Repair Centre on 24 November 2015 @ 72,722 Miles
MOT, 24 November 2015 @ 72,722 Miles
MOT, 16 November 2016 @ 75,592 Miles
MOT, 27 November 2017 @ 78,004 Miles
Full Service, Cambelt & Water Pump by East Midlands Service Centre on 12 July 2018 @ 80,174 Miles
MOT, 14 November 2018 @ 81,930 Miles
Oil Service, Clutch & O2 Sensor by Sheffield & Meredith Volvo Specialists on 23 January 2019 @ 82,457 Miles
13 November 2019 @ 83,418 Miles
Annual Service, Front & Rear Discs & Pads & Rear Shoes by East Midlands Service Centre on 13 November 2019 @ 83,418 Miles
MOT, 26 November 2020 @ 84,224 Miles
Annual Service, Pollen Filter & CV Boots by East Midlands Service Centre on 13 July 2021 @ 84,628 Miles
MOT, 12 November 2021 @ 84,927 Miles
MOT, 10 November 2022 @ 86,361 Miles
Annual Service by East Midlands Service Centre on 29 June 2023 @ 86,662 Miles
MOT, 18 November 2023 @ 86,951 Miles
Suspension Refresh by East Midlands Service Centre on 19 October 2023 @ 86,951 Miles
MOT, 27 September 2024 @ 87,197 Miles
MOT, 18 September 2025 @ 87,381 Miles
Annual Service by East Midlands Service Centre on 4 October 2025 @ 87,381 Miles