Photo credit: Bonhams
It's rare to see manufacturer-built prototypes settle in private collections, as automakers tend to hang on to such examples or lend them out to museums—if they survive at all. Ending up in an automaker's collection is no guarantee that such prototypes will run again, either, for fear of breaking something irreplaceable.
In a few days, however, one such prototype will roll across the auction block as Bonhams offers an early 1993 Volvo 850 hybrid prototype, featuring a gas turbine paired with an electric motor.
Why did Volvo experiment with gas turbines?
Volvo's experiments with this type of engine relate to its aviation division, Volvo Flygmotor, which contributed to the development of the first gas turbine prototype in the late 1970s, as Bonhams notes. The Swedish automaker presented the Environmental Concept Car (ECC) based on the 264 in 1978, but the technology did not lead to a series car, of course.
Nonetheless, Volvo revisited the turbine engine concept in the early 1990s, this time coupling a turbine with an electric motor and nickel-cadmium battery, with the turbine itself serving as a high-speed generator (HSG). The sedan would be able to rely either on the battery or the turbine for propulsion, switching between the two modes as in modern hybrid today.
The 850 prototype also featured regenerative braking, which is another common item today.
Photo credit: Bonhams
Another item familiar today were driving modes. The 850 prototype could be driven in Gas Turbine, Electric, or Hybrid modes. The driving modes could be selected via buttons, in another modern touch. The gear selector was similar to an automatic in most respects, Bonhams notes, but lacked the “automatic creep” when in placed into Drive, requiring the driver to press the accelerator.
The gas turbine prototype may have been advanced for its time, but the “environmental” part of the equation didn't quite live up to its billing. The turbine and electric motor and battery setup may saved some weight, compared to the regular 850, but the fuel consumption was not quite there to justify the expense of the powertrain.
The normal 850 itself debuted in 1992, offering five-cylinder engines in the US market, and went on to be a massive sales success for Volvo in the 1990s, spawning the C70 coupe and convertible duo, as well as the V70 Cross Country, after the facelift that saw the sedan/wagon duo renamed as the S70 and V70 in 1997. The 850 was easily the most important new Volvo model launched in the first half of the decade.
Photo credit: Bonhams
This particular example, one of two in existence, is the only one in private hands and currently shows just 4000 kilometers, or around 2500 miles on the odometer. Curiously enough, this car is said to have been purchased in Italy from someone who was involved with the project, Bonhams says. The auction house does not state whether the car runs, or whether it runs well enough to be used in modern traffic from time to time.
Bonhams estimates this Volvo 850 to bring between $68,000 and $90,000 on auction day. The auction house also notes that this is the only example that's in private hands.
Photo credit: Bonhams
As you've probably guessed by now, the audience for hybrid prototypes based on European sedans from the 1990s is not vast, with many collectors choosing to spend the money in this estimate range on visually more noticeable examples. Bonham's is silent on how the mechanical bits have fared after a presumably long period of inactivity, but given the fact there's a battery involved, there are likely some recommissioning issues if one was planning to use this as a summer classic. EV batteries don't like to be drained.
The 850 is certainly interesting from an engineering point of view, but in the world of collector cars, tech like this tends to scare people away. This is why we see EVs from the 1970s and 1980s often sell for a song, as getting them to work properly often requires some experience in such things, to put it mildly.
Visit the auction website to view the full list of lots from the upcoming sale.
Will early hybrid and EV prototypes be sought after in the future more than they are now? Let us know in the comments below.
Keyword: Volvo 850 Hybrid Prototype Heads to Auction