P1 History
What is P1 Nation?
P1 Nation is a group of Volvo enthusiasts. We love all things Volvo, but we specialize in everything to do with the “P1” model Volvos. The name originates from the Ford C1 chassis naming convention. During the Ford Motor Companies’ ownership of Volvo Cars back in the early 2000’s, Ford acquired many design and manufacturing elements from Volvo, and they oversaw the production of vehicles on the Volvo P1, Ford C1 and Mazda BK chassis. This means that the P1 chassis shares parts between cars like the second generation Ford Focus RS, Mazda 3, and others.
What makes the Volvo P1 special?
For Volvo, the P1 platform is a chassis number designation which is inclusive of specific model Volvo’s produced from 2004 to 2013. In the North American market these models include the C30, C70, S40, and V50. All other Volvo models have their own platform designation (P80, P2, P3, etc.) which can represent a specific chassis, time period, and possible engine configuration.
The P1 models came in a number of engine variations worldwide, including diesel and electric versions. In North America they can be summed up to two versions, the T5 and the 2.4i. As mentioned above, many parts were shared between different brands of vehicles at this time- which is great for the enthusiast. One car specifically was more performance oriented: the Ford Focus RS MkII. It came with a tuned up version of the T5 motor. But, in classic Volvo nature the Volvo version of the T5 had to be "safe and predictable" for the road.
But they’re still boxy and slow, right?
Not exactly, with the body lines of the C30 and some T5’s being tuned to north of 300bhp, Volvo hit a sweet spot between sophistication and surprise.
The T5 is a 2.5 liter straight 5-cylinder turbocharged transversely-mounted engine. It was used by Volvo for many years, making it’s first appearance in the 1994 850 Turbo. Back then Volvos were known as the boring, boxy car that your college professor drove. With the introduction of the T5, Volvo began to take a different shape in the eyes of Scandinavian car-loving folks alike. Fast forward a decade later, the T5 had underwent many upgrades and alterations which allowed Volvo to shake the grocery-getter status it’s been so frequently regarded as.
Through these changes, a group of loyal Volvo followers could be identified in the niche market of auto enthusiasts albeit still very small compared to American Muscle and JDM cars. Thats where we come in. P1 Nation is one of many groups who contribute to the aftermarket appeal of Volvo, and we are here to stay.