Someone Turned A Volvo 240 Into A Weird Camper By Putting A Saab On Top Of It

One of the downsides of camping out of a car is the fact that you have limited headroom. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve started a day at a Gambler 500 or HooptieX with a thump followed by “ow!” It seems I’m not the only person who isn’t a fan of a car’s short roof. Someone sought to solve this problem by taking a legendary Volvo 240 wagon and perching a 1972 Saab onto its roof, creating the Internet-famous Volvaab. Nobody could complain about the headroom in this ride!

This wonderful creation has come to my attention first through Facebook Marketplace, and then again more than once through the fine folks of Opposite-Lock. As it turns out, a nearly double-decker Volvo gets people talking! If you do an Internet search for Volvaab you’ll find sightings from confused people and even a piece by Curbside Classic. I can’t blame these people. This is similar to what I’ve seen people do with custom vans and buses, but with a humble family wagon.

Oh, and did I say you can own this masterpiece of backyard engineering for just $5,500. If I didn’t already have some irons in a few fires I’d be telling Sheryl we’re headed to Oregon.

The Legend

The Volvo 240 is an automotive icon. I’m sure if you just bring up an old Volvo, the other person will imagine a 240 even if they don’t know the vehicle’s model name. This is in part because the Volvo 240 and its variants were a runaway success. Volvo introduced the rolling brick in 1974 and managed to sell over 2.8 million copies over the course of 19 years. That’s a production run so long that multiple generations were able to buy these cars new. Volvo today says that the 240 remains the company’s most-produced vehicle in its history. For many, the 240 is Volvo!

Volvo’s retelling of the 240 story isn’t much different than that of any other car:

On 21 August the media got to see and drive the new car for the first time. The journalists were flown by chartered plane from Volvo’s head office at Torslanda to the little town Borlänge, where a row of Volvo 244 GLs were waiting for them. Each and every one had an orange paint job very typical of the time – with orange interiors to boot.

The Volvo 240 was a development of the 140 series, but a lot had changed. The innovations were primarily at the front, its appearance was greatly inspired by the VESC safety car that had been presented two years earlier. Most prominent of all were the large bumpers – the car was a total of 13 cm longer than the 140 series. The characteristic lattice headrests were among the new additions to the interior.

The newly developed B21 engine came in a 97 hp carburettor version and a 123 hp fuel injection version. The front of the car was a new design using MacPherson struts and rack and pinion steering.

Volvo goes on to talk up the 240’s variety of engine options, which included a six cylinder diesel developed in a partnership with Volkswagen. Then there was the 244 turbo and the fabled Volvo 245 turbo wagon. Volvo also points out that the 200 series won awards for its safety to how the California version scrubbed emissions with three-way catalytic converters and Lambda sensors. By all accounts, the Volvo 240 was basically bank vault safe and just an all-round solid family hauler. But that’s not all of why it’s a legend. I mean, according to the U.S. Highway Loss Data Institute, the Volvo 240 was the safest car in its class for four years in a row.

As contributor Brett Berk wrote earlier this month, the Volvo 240 is a car that transcends class. Volvo 240 owners are everyone from the poor person in a trailer park to the person sitting on old money. Volvo 240s are first cars, restoration projects, battle cars, campers, hot rods, really anything you want that block of car to be.

Here’s a bit from Berk’s piece:

“I think, in part, it is the anti-design that it really stands for,” says Hans Hedberg, a lifelong Volvo fanatic and veteran Swedish automotive journalist who now manages the brand’s heritage cars and activities. “It’s about functionality, or transport. It was never done to be fancy. And in that way, it’s very authentic, and people are attracted to that.” Hagerty echoes this, stating that “Square is now cool, and über-utility holds as much appeal to younger buyers as sexy lines and sporty handling had for Boomers.” Of course, I already knew this, having owned a battered manual Volvo 265 wagon back in the 90s.

I’ve witnessed this for myself, including a 240 that was lovingly restored to a beater 240 shod in all terrain tires and hitting more airtime from dirt jumps than most Jeeps ever will. Here’s another wild 240, and this one is so neat.

The Volvaab

One of the cheapest ways to go camping with hard walls is to just sleep in your car. You don’t need to set up a tent, have better security from jerks, and have better protection from wildlife. Plus, your car probably already feels like home.

However, cars are just terrible for space. Wagons give you enough room to stretch out, but not enough headroom. I suppose you could buy a minivan, but now you’re getting into a vehicle form factor that you may not want. And even then, the roof might not be how you’d really want it to be.

That’s where the Volvaab comes in. The vehicle’s owner and seller, Amos, has been the custodian of the vehicle for more than 15 years. Back then, the 240 was just your typical Volvo wagon. Then about 9 years ago, Amos decided to turn his wagon into the ultimate Swedish camper. The roof of the 1992 Volvo 240’s was chopped off and then everything from the beltline and up from a 1972 Saab 96 was welded on. The result is a vehicle with a surprisingly roomy interior.

I especially love how the Saab still has interior trim, so the Volvaab almost looks like it came from a factory that way. Though, I cannot speak of how useful that rearview mirror is. However, add in enough space for a 6’1″ person to stretch out and that fantastic greenhouse and you have a great camper. Toss in a few creature comforts and you can make anywhere a nice place to set down for the night.

Aside from the nice hat that’s welded on you get a 2.3-liter inline four with 114 HP and 136 lb-ft of torque to its name. There aren’t a lot of ponies in the stable, but at least they reach the rear wheels through a five-speed manual. Amos has attached a rather long list of repairs and maintenance ranging from a new cylinder head and seals, new belts and gaskets, plus bushings and a fuel pump. That’s about as I’d expect from a car of its age with roughly 325,000 miles. It’s definitely not a perfect car, but one that seems like it’s ready for more.

Thankfully I’m not in the market for a vehicle like this or else I’d be on my way to Portland, Oregon right now and ready to part with $5,500. One of you should bring this masterpiece home. There isn’t anything like it out there and it might be the ultimate in car camping.

(Images: Amos C, unless otherwise noted)