Volvo ÖV4
The open four-cylinder car that rolled out of Volvo's new Gothenburg factory and started a century-long story.
1927 Volvo ÖV4 in the Volvo Museum · Kotasik · CC BY-SA 3.0
Research pending
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More than a set of wheels.
On 14 April 1927, Volvo's first series-produced car left the Lundby factory. Its name was a compact description: ÖV meant öppen vagn, or open car, and 4 meant four cylinders. The dark-blue body used sheet metal over an ash-and-beech frame. This profile follows that original Swedish open tourer, before four-wheel brakes became an option in 1928.
Look a little closer.
People often call every ÖV4 Jakob, but Jakob was first the nickname of a pre-series car completed on Jakob's name day.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A body made from wood and steel
The outer sheet metal did not do all the work. Volvo says the body was built on an ash-and-beech frame, a reminder that early car construction borrowed ideas from carriage building.
Source: Volvo Cars · ÖV4 heritage model ↗Stopping changed after launch
The original 1927 specification used mechanically operated brakes on the rear wheels. Four-wheel braking became optional in 1928, so the safer later setup should not be silently folded into this first-year profile.
Source: Volvo Owners Club · ÖV4 technical history ↗Where these facts come from
- Volvo Cars · ÖV4 heritage model
- Volvo Cars Global Media · ÖV4 heritage data
- Volvo Owners Club · ÖV4 technical history
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.