Volvo UK Press Cars
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 11:21 am
Just thought I'd document my research here as I can't find a single trace on Google about it.
This only started by me trying to find some original main dealer number plates for my 480. However, some new cars don't need a main dealer. Be it press cars for Volvo's own use, or big supply contracts like rental cars, company car fleets, Police cars etc. These cars are registered by the manufacturer themselves, usually at the import compound.
This therefore concerns the "regional identifier" in the registration mark and Volvo Cars UK over the years.
History
Volvo UK, the importer, or "concessionaires" as it was called, started in Ipswich, Sandy Hill...
This dates back to the sixties, with Google Images having Amazons and P1800's rolling in the gate...
Regional identifiers for Ipswich included "PV" and "DX", both used by Volvo UK (Concessionaires) for all their brochure and promotional material...
"CPV" used of course for the 480 launch (and James' car)...
Ipswich registered 440 brochure...
In about 1993 Volvo left Ipswich, and all the promotional material had a change of address to Bucks...
Not only did their HQ address change, but their press cars changed to Oxford.
You'll note in 1993 the GT Brochure had already jumped to BW (Oxford).
Then, their cream yellow T5 press car was FC (Oxford)...
Dealership?
It all started when I wanted original, period correct dealership number plates for my FC car (SFC). I didn't know all the above at the time. Looking at the history, my PDI was performed by Volvo Cars UK, Wheatley, Oxon:
I wanted to know what "dealership" that was. I checked the town of Wheatley and couldn't find it anywhere. Normally with Google / Google maps, even if the dealership has long since gone out of business, you can normally find the remains of a dealership.
There was only a big used car dealership, called the Wheatley Car Centre. Maybe this was the Volvo dealer back in the day?
I gave them a call. Sadly it wasn't, but the guy told me a story of one of their previous mechanics who used to work for Volvo Cars in Wheatley. "Really" I asked; but where !?!
"an old quarry up the road!"
To the best of my research that was Lyehill Quarry, Wheatley Road, Forest Hill, Oxford OX331EP.
It is now occupied by a coach company.
There are only a handful of references on the web about this place being used for new car import and distribution. I believe the site was used in the 60's and 70's for British Leyland, Mazda and Reliant by "Mainland Car Deliveries".
Traces on the internet are few and far between. They include the taxman hounding MCD and its subsequent insolvency registered to this address. Also, a sad story of an industrial fatal accident of a poor guy unloading a car transporter.
So my 480 (SFC) plus all the press cars, Volvo company cars, and no doubt thousands of other Volvo's for big fleets, rental cars and Police rolled out these very quarry gates...
The volume of cars is huge, because when you reg-check combinations of say SFC or TFC then huge blocks are Volvo's.
The Original Plate
So what did the original registration plate look like from that quarry?
Here's a lovely period photo of an 850 Estate Police Car which I have no doubt came from the same Volvo PDI facility...
Well, two things are clear...
1) It just has a small blue Volvo logo at the bottom, nothing more.
2) The font isn't Charles Wright.
To the best of my searching, the closest I can find is "Lutz Headline". It isn't quite correct as the 0 is too slab sided, but its the best I could find if you wanted plates made.
It was a really popular font 1990-1996 or so. Many Volkswagen dealerships also used it.
A typical recreation would be :
Then, what you do, is get all that research and throw it all in the bin because DVLA won't give me my original SFC plate back
The Last Remaining
I did notice "Martin63" had his 480 for sale here
Again, another "FC" car that rolled in and out of those quarry gates in '94/'95. Martin was kind enough to confirm his PDI stamp...
Feel free to add any more UK brochure pictures. I'm pretty sure they will conform to Ipswich (1960-1993) then Oxford (1993-2000).
"JO"..... an Oxford regional identifier.... the same plate design & font.... and undoubtedly another Lyehill Quarry car.
I wish I could say this is all extremely helpful information for those wanting to restore their Volvo UK registered car, circa 1993->1999, to period correct original, but I suspect that number is zero, so this is all a massive waste of time. Apologies
This only started by me trying to find some original main dealer number plates for my 480. However, some new cars don't need a main dealer. Be it press cars for Volvo's own use, or big supply contracts like rental cars, company car fleets, Police cars etc. These cars are registered by the manufacturer themselves, usually at the import compound.
This therefore concerns the "regional identifier" in the registration mark and Volvo Cars UK over the years.
History
Volvo UK, the importer, or "concessionaires" as it was called, started in Ipswich, Sandy Hill...
This dates back to the sixties, with Google Images having Amazons and P1800's rolling in the gate...
Regional identifiers for Ipswich included "PV" and "DX", both used by Volvo UK (Concessionaires) for all their brochure and promotional material...
"CPV" used of course for the 480 launch (and James' car)...
Ipswich registered 440 brochure...
In about 1993 Volvo left Ipswich, and all the promotional material had a change of address to Bucks...
Not only did their HQ address change, but their press cars changed to Oxford.
You'll note in 1993 the GT Brochure had already jumped to BW (Oxford).
Then, their cream yellow T5 press car was FC (Oxford)...
Dealership?
It all started when I wanted original, period correct dealership number plates for my FC car (SFC). I didn't know all the above at the time. Looking at the history, my PDI was performed by Volvo Cars UK, Wheatley, Oxon:
I wanted to know what "dealership" that was. I checked the town of Wheatley and couldn't find it anywhere. Normally with Google / Google maps, even if the dealership has long since gone out of business, you can normally find the remains of a dealership.
There was only a big used car dealership, called the Wheatley Car Centre. Maybe this was the Volvo dealer back in the day?
I gave them a call. Sadly it wasn't, but the guy told me a story of one of their previous mechanics who used to work for Volvo Cars in Wheatley. "Really" I asked; but where !?!
"an old quarry up the road!"
To the best of my research that was Lyehill Quarry, Wheatley Road, Forest Hill, Oxford OX331EP.
It is now occupied by a coach company.
There are only a handful of references on the web about this place being used for new car import and distribution. I believe the site was used in the 60's and 70's for British Leyland, Mazda and Reliant by "Mainland Car Deliveries".
Traces on the internet are few and far between. They include the taxman hounding MCD and its subsequent insolvency registered to this address. Also, a sad story of an industrial fatal accident of a poor guy unloading a car transporter.
So my 480 (SFC) plus all the press cars, Volvo company cars, and no doubt thousands of other Volvo's for big fleets, rental cars and Police rolled out these very quarry gates...
The volume of cars is huge, because when you reg-check combinations of say SFC or TFC then huge blocks are Volvo's.
The Original Plate
So what did the original registration plate look like from that quarry?
Here's a lovely period photo of an 850 Estate Police Car which I have no doubt came from the same Volvo PDI facility...
Well, two things are clear...
1) It just has a small blue Volvo logo at the bottom, nothing more.
2) The font isn't Charles Wright.
To the best of my searching, the closest I can find is "Lutz Headline". It isn't quite correct as the 0 is too slab sided, but its the best I could find if you wanted plates made.
It was a really popular font 1990-1996 or so. Many Volkswagen dealerships also used it.
A typical recreation would be :
Then, what you do, is get all that research and throw it all in the bin because DVLA won't give me my original SFC plate back
The Last Remaining
I did notice "Martin63" had his 480 for sale here
Again, another "FC" car that rolled in and out of those quarry gates in '94/'95. Martin was kind enough to confirm his PDI stamp...
Feel free to add any more UK brochure pictures. I'm pretty sure they will conform to Ipswich (1960-1993) then Oxford (1993-2000).
"JO"..... an Oxford regional identifier.... the same plate design & font.... and undoubtedly another Lyehill Quarry car.
I wish I could say this is all extremely helpful information for those wanting to restore their Volvo UK registered car, circa 1993->1999, to period correct original, but I suspect that number is zero, so this is all a massive waste of time. Apologies