The unknown story of the Volvo Tundra prototype, designed by Marcello Gandini and rejected by the Swedes because it was too modern

Volvo was a manufacturer with an impeccable reputation in the 70s, its cars being considered primarily durable, safe and indestructible, designed to last a lifetime and not impose unwanted repair costs on the owner. And that inevitably attracted people who were more conservative in their desires for a car. However, at the end of the 70s many manufacturers predicted that the 80s would be marked by radical changes in car design, so Volvo contracted the Bertone design house, with which it regularly collaborated, to create a prototype of a future Volvo hatchback that would attract a new generation of buyers.

Marcello Gandini was working at Bertone at the time, and he is one of the most brilliant car designers that Italy has ever had, without a doubt. He created legendary models such as Lamborghini Diablo, Lamborghini Countach, Miura, Renault 5 Turbo, Renault Magnum truck , BMW Series 5 E12, Cizeta-Moroder V16T , Bugatti EB110 , Alfa Romeo Montreal, Lancia Stratos, Maserati Khamsin and many others. Gandini worked at Bertone for 14 years, during the golden period of his creation. And to create the Volvo prototype we're talking about today, called the Volvo Tundra, Gandini took as a basis the Volvo 343 series model, the hatchback version of the 300 series, which, by the way, had rear-wheel drive.

The prototype was one in which Gandini put all his imagination of how he saw the 80s in the automotive world. The on-board dials were digital, showing both the speed evolution curves in each transmission gear, as well as the actual speed, the outside temperature or the time.

The board was completed by a second display, positioned on the right, above the central console. It's an arrangement reminiscent of modern cars with large displays, isn't it? But the Volvo Tundra was actually introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1979!

The interior was upholstered in yellow and brown colors, with very stylish controls in dark brown. The ergonomics and appearance were on par with the creation of the one who drew so many brilliant creations.

The external proportions and silhouette of the car were equally interesting. There were sharp angles, in step with the times, and only the almost vertical rear was a bit reminiscent of the Volvo design of those days. Basically, Gandini wanted to take the entire Volvo design in a new, more progressive direction.

The glazed spaces were very large, the elevations were almost invisible. At the top behind the central pillar was, however, a curious design element that seemed to come from the roof. This element had a purely decorative role, just to give the car a memorable personality.

In front, it is very curious how Gandini placed the Volvo grille. If it was still asymmetrical, the designer put it in the lower right corner.

And this placement was completed with functionality, or, the engine radiator was more and more to the right, with the spare wheel being placed on the left side. The engine was located longitudinally, for rear drive, and it was a 1.4 liter and 70 HP.

Volvo, however, refused this car, because it considered it too avant-garde for its style and the Swedes were afraid of such a radical change. Gandini, however, did not lose hope. He had the vision of such a car with similar shapes, since 1977, when the Turks from Otosan had contracted him to create a model of similar size for them, but there the structural changes from Otosan and the British company Reliant led to the refusal. After rejection from Volvo, Gandini convinced Citroen that these shapes were visionary. This is how one of the most successful French models appeared, the Citroen BX, which sold more than 2.3 million copies in 1982 and 1994 and which, in effect, reaped the full laurels of an experiment from which the Volvo it was fear.

Photo: Citroen BX

But still, Volvo collaborated with the Bertone workshop for several later successful models, the most notorious of them being the Volvo 780 Coupe Bertone , but also the Volvo 262C, launched earlier.

Photo: Volvo 780 Coupe Bertone

The prototype Volvo Tundra, which we talked about today, remained forgotten in history, however, because the Volvo people rarely spoke about it afterwards, and they no longer even own that unique car built in 1979. The car was bought by the historic car club in Italy and is kept in their museum.