They may carry a similar name, but these two 850s from BMW and Volvo that were captured parked together on a street in Holland couldn’t be more different even if they tried…
The Bavarian firm’s 8-Series GT-style coupe, seen here in top-spec 850CSi form, was the pinnacle of German engineering at the end of the 1980s, beginning of 1990s, with a sleek shape that has withstood the test of time, as has the interior design that looks better and fresher than what you see on a number of cars today.
-Did you know…that BMW’s 8-Series (1989-1999) was the first car in the world to pair a V12 engine to a six-speed manual?
On the other hand, Sweden’s 850 in T-5 Estate trim, is the stereotypical brick-shaped Volvo wagon that looks exactly like what you expect from a five-year old kid to draw on paper or build with Lego blocks. Yet, strangely, that’s also what makes many of us like Volvos from the previous century.
-Did you know…that Volvo’s 850 (1991-1997) was the brand’s first ever front-wheel drive executive model (the 1986 480 was the first FWD Volvo ever) and the first FWD Volvo to be exported to the States?
By John Halas
Story References: Autoblog.nl / Autojunk
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