On the bench today is a 1:64 scale Hot Wheels Volvo 850 Estate wagon. This build is my entry in a Diecast Mafia invitational. The theme is simply station wagons! Believe it or not, this is the only one I’ve got in my whole collection. I really like this BTCC livery and to tell you the truth, I’d rather start with another look and turn it into this as my final result, but such is life. You gotta play with the hand you’ve been dealt. This project will essentially be a strip down, repainting and wheel swap with a few details like the lights and interior being freshened up and one add-on exhaust tip.

It has now been 27 years since Volvo marked its return to the racetrack, when two liveried Volvo 850 Estates rolled up to the start line on the Thruxton track in southern England. It was the start of the season of the most prestigious standard car series, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). The venture would lead to many successful years in the BTCC for Volvo, including an overall victory in 1998. 

The decision to compete with two Estate cars was made several months before the start of the 1994 race, but was kept secret until the last moment. When the news was released, many thought it was a joke. A large Estate is not an ideal track car – with a lot of weight behind the rear axle and a higher centre of gravity, it’s harder to get around the corners than a saloon. "But the aerodynamics of the estate were slightly better than the saloon," was the theory. The deciding factor, however, was that the estate would attract more attention. And it did!

Behind the wheel of one car was 26-year-old Rickard Rydell who, despite his age, had a great deal of experience from karting, Formula 3000 and Formula 3. In the other car was his teammate Jan Lammers, a 37-year-old Dutchman who had competed in various classes including Formula 1.

"We hadn't had time to test the car on the track before its launch at Thruxton on 4 April," says Rickard Rydell. "Jan Lammers and I had been able to drive a few hundred metres at the entrance to TWR's development workshop, but that was all!"

According to the FIA class 2 regulations, the competition cars had to be based on a production model. The appearance of the body could not be changed, although to make the races close and exciting, the engine cylinder volume was restricted to two litres, the maximum engine speed to 8,500 rpm and the minimum weight to 950 kg for front-wheel drive cars. Supercharging was not permitted in any form.

Enjoy this makeover. If you like the video, please give it a thumbs up, subscribe to my channel and hit the notification bell for regularly updated content. It’s free! Your respectful comments are always welcome and I promise to reply to each and every one of them. Be sure to tell me where you’re watching from. I’m a world traveller, so I’m interested to know. Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Andrew Price
Basel, Switzerland
andrewprice04@gmail.com

Want to learn more about the Volvo 850 Estate? Go to: [ Ссылка ]

Want to donate some old, beat-up diecast cars by post for future makeovers? I’m open to models of all brands and makes (Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Corgi, Siku, Majorette et al). Surprise me! I use an international shipping address in Germany:

Andrew Price
c/o LAS Burg 24708
Colmarerstrasse 10
Weil am Rhein 79576
Germany

FYI: I don't collect, display or sell the cars, and they’re certainly not competition entries. All of the Maple Leaf Matchbox Makeovers finished projects that are kid-friendly are put in custom blister packs and go to my local Goodwill store where they are given to children for free. If there are parts that can be swallowed, those cars are given as gifts to adult collectors that are fellow enthusiasts.

Note: Due to the use of paint stripping chemicals and power tools, this channel is not intended for viewing by children. Age 14+ is recommended.

Please be sure to visit these two friends of my channel, with whom I’m doing some future builds.

Diecast Mafia
[ Ссылка ]

Opa's Diecast Restorations
[ Ссылка ]

Matchbox Mark
[ Ссылка ]

2AHD Cat
[ Ссылка ]

SoMo Diecast
[ Ссылка ]

Cuda's Diecast Customs
[ Ссылка ]

Diecast Sheriff
[ Ссылка ]

Irie Fix Diecast
[ Ссылка ]

Three Blind Mice
[ Ссылка ]
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Coffee For Teddy
Royalty Free Music by Giorgio Di Campo for FreeSound Music
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