Visually different from most of its contemporaries, and totally different from every other Volvo cars. The Volvo PV36, perhaps better known as the Carioca, is an exciting chapter in the Volvo cars history. It is also quite famous in automotive history if you consider how few examples were actually built and by such a small manufacturer like Volvo Car Corporation.

In 2010 the Volvo PV36 celebrates its 75th anniversary – and let us right from the beginning state: It is not a copy of the Chrysler Airflow which it has been accused of.

The history of these cars is yet another version of the eternal question about whichever was first, the chicken or the egg. What is the truth? Yes, Chrysler was first to put its Airflow on the market in 1934, but that does not automatically mean that Volvo copied its styling. That could not have worked from a timing point of view since the Volvo made its debut less than a year later. Such short leadtimes do not exist even today, and definitely not 75 years ago.

1935 Volvo PV36 Carioca

1935 Volvo PV36 Carioca

1935 Volvo PV36 Carioca