Expedition, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is a journey or excursion undertaken for a specific purpose. The definition of expedition vehicle? You're looking at it. Though there has been much discussion about what criteria qualifies a vehicle as a true expedition rig, we believe that Phil Raymond's '75 Volvo just might be the new benchmark for judging such things.
Anyone who has ever experienced a weeklong off-road adventure or taken an out-of-the-way dirt road just to hear the ground rustle beneath their tires will tell you that there's always a few more items they wish they had on their truck. Complete with everything from a welder and onboard air to advanced GIS (Geographic Information Software), this five-door, seven-passenger ride just about has it all.
Originally serving as a Swedish Defense Forces command vehicle, it is built with durable military-grade parts from the ground up and, thanks to Phil's touch, is fitted with all the camping and off-road amenities, including the kitchen sink. Seriously, there is a kitchen sink!
Though the rig's 35-inch MT/Rs are not huge by most standards, the factory air-locked portal axles give the breadbox wheeler an incredible amount of clearance, and with remarkable approach and departure angles it's ready for almost any trail on this continent or the next. So if you're in the market for a new expedition-style rig and can't seem to make up your mind, it might be time to start thinking outside the domestic box.
Everything but the kitchen...
Everything but the kitchen sink. Wait-there is a kitchen sink! With a modified Maggiolina rooftop tent, a 6-foot shower extension, and a Butane stovetop, we're not sure we would ever want to come back to civilization.
The cockpit feels more like...
The cockpit feels more like a classic military fighter plane. From laptop mounts, multiband radios, and a massive front windshield, this former Swedish Defense Forces command vehicle is almost part-tank.
Keeping the front axle in...
Keeping the front axle in check and giving the Volvo height to clear the 35-inch MT/Rs is a spring-under axle configuration. Equipped with 2.06 portal gearboxes at each corner and factory air lockers, these axles are the least of your powertrain worries when you hit the trail.
The vehicle has great approach...
The vehicle has great approach and departure angles from the factory. Phil added a touch more utility to the Volvo by incorporating a Thomas 24V air compressor, which feeds air to both ends of the rig. And if he finds that the '75 becomes stuck to the gills out in the far unknown, he can simply hook up one of the Superwinch winches mounted front and rear inside of his custom front and rear bumpers.
Tech Specs
1975 Volvo TGB 111/C303
Drivetrain
Engine: 3.0L six-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed S4ZF
Transfer case: Stock
Front Axle: Volvo portals (2.91 differential, 2.06 portal boxes, 6.00 overall), air lockers
Rear Axle: Volvo portals (2.91 differential, 2.06 portal boxes, 6.00 overall), air lockers
Suspension
Springs & Such: Stock, Rancho 9000 shocks
Tires & Wheels: 35-inch MT/Rs
Other Stuff: Dual Optima YellowTops, VDO Vision instrument panel and gauges, Thomas 24V onboard air, Superwinch X9 and Husky 10, 60-inch Hi-Lift, custom rear bumper, Garmin e-Terx GPS, modified Maggiolina roof tent, sink, fridge, 12-gallon internal water tank, 4-gallon hot water heater, custom birch cabinets and drawers, DeLorme X-Map GIS software, Yamaha Sine Wave Inverter/generator, Ready Welder, 140-watt solar panel