The car that stole the headlines – discover the Volvo 850 Estate slot car
When the bright blue Volvo 850 Estate roared into the starting grid at the 1994 British Touring Car Championship, competitors and touring fans thought someone was playing a practical joke. Our 1:32 scale slot car is an incredible tribute to the iconic car that proved that estates can race just as well as saloons, instantly becoming a fan favourite.
The story of the driver, Rickard Rydell, is just as fascinating. Read on to find out all about his rise to race success and discover the car that stole the 1994 BTCC headlines.
Rickard Rydell: a rising race star
Rickard Rydell was just nine years old when he began his racing career, although back then, he was practicing for his chance to compete in karting races. Motorsports was in his blood, with his father being a former rally driver who encouraged his career. In fact, without his father’s support, Rickard would never have met Picko Troberg who became his Formula 3 manager in 1986.
His journey into BTCC legend was full of twists and turns. His first year of Formula 3 was a real learning curve, as he transitioned from kart to car, but by his second year he had secured a place on the podium.
He then spent time with Eddie Jordan’s team, his first season ending at the FIA Macau World Cup where he started in pole position but crashed out on his first turn. The next year he came fourth in the British Formula 3000, made his debut at Le Mans 24 Hours, and even competed in Japan.
He spent the next two years racing for TOM’S in the Japanese F3 Championship. Then, in 1992, he won the Macau Grand Prix, a feat he would have replicated in 1993, if a small rock hadn’t hit his cooler. Instead, he settled for setting a lap record.
Introducing the Volvo 850 Estate
His success led to many offers, but he had to decline most of them due to a sudden collapsed lung. When he did return to racing, in 1994, it was with Tom Walkinshaw Racing in a Volvo estate car – a very different proposition to what he was used to.
For Rickard, this was another learning year, but for BTCC enthusiasts, it was an incredibly exciting time! The car was bold and unconventional and stood out in a line-up of Peugeots, BMWs, and Fords.
At the time, the Volvo had a very sensible image and its inclusion in motorsport was a bold marketing move to make it seem more exciting. When the everyday Estate-style car rolled up to the starting line, spectators thought it was a joke, but when Rickard put his foot to the pedal, he proved that the team were deadly serious.
That first year was a learning period, with the No.15 Volvo 850 Estate finishing 14th overall. Its best result was a fifth-place position at Oulton Park, but the press attention that came from the series more than made up for any podium places.
In the following years, Volvo reverted to a saloon-style car and Rickard went on to find great race success, eventually winning the series in 1998 in a different car.
The Scalextric Volvo 850 Estate BTCC 1994 Rickard Rydell slot car
The Volvo 850 Estate might not have been a race-winner, but it stole the hearts of spectators anyway, thanks to its unconventional design. Our Scalextric slot car beautifully replicates the unique race style and captures a key moment in BTCC history.
This highly detailed 1:32 slot car features the same boxy design and all the distinctive sponsorship logos of the original, but we’ve added Magnatraction technology so now it’s a car that wins races! It also has front and rear lights for an illuminating boost.
It might have come 14th in the 1994 BTCC, but it is about to head to the top of our sales charts – get your Rickard Rydell Volvo classic touring slot car while you can!
