Vintage Volvos at Virginia International Raceway, '04
Photo: Victor Newman / vfnewman.com

Our goal is to provide parts and services necessary to fulfill the performance needs of older Volvos. Modern technology allows us to transform an old Volvo into a car that performs like a modern sports car. It allows you to have an exciting vintage car to drive at a reasonable cost, the car your Volvo could have been and should be, while retaining its original looks and vintage character. Our new supercharger system for the B18/B20 truly makes modern performance not only possible, but readily available at a reasonable cost. Seven years ago I started Vintage Performance Developments to fill a need for performance parts for older Volvos. While we had been quite successful for several years in adapting and developing parts for vintage racing, the traditional performance parts sources were drying up for these vehicles. Seeing the need, especially for street performance parts, we decided to supply them ourselves. Our emphasis is on performance parts and services for 1800s and 122s, but many suspension items and most engine modifications are applicable to 544s and 140s as well. Street performance items are tested in various cars we have developed and use as daily drivers. Some of the parts are "in stock," but many others are built to your specifications after a consultation to determine your needs. We are not a "parts house," and specialize in performance rather than stock parts. Services range from engine building to supplying individual parts, to performance conversions, to the supercharger system. At the Wellwood Garage we do complete restorations, conversions, installations and vintage race car preparation. Many of you have seen my silver Volvo P1800, usually racing as #97 or #77, in Vintage Racing in the Eastern U.S. over the past 12 years. It has proven that a properly prepared vintage Volvo can be competitive racing against Porsches, Jaguars, Alfas, Corvettes, and other cars of its era. Against this opposition it has been a consistent class winner. Against other Volvos it has been dominant. This car has been the test bed for developing many of our products. As has been said many times, "racing improves the breed." Through our racing experience we are able to offer our customers performance advances proven over years of racing and street use. -John Parker