The Volvo 850 is 25 years old. You need to see these pics

June, 1991: at the Stockholm Globe Arena, Volvo revealed the new 850. It was trumpeted with 'four world firsts'. Count 'em: a new transverse five pot engine, 'delta-link' rear axle design, side impact protection and a self-adjusting seat belt. Yup, welcome to the '90s.

Keen calendar aficionados will therefore note that June 2016 marks 25 years since the launch of the 850. The first car was a saloon and came with a 170bhp engine, but the one you're most excited about came in 1993 - the wagon.

Which means a huge boot and those classic vertical tail lights. The car was so venerated, it was awarded the 1994 Japanese 'Good Design Grand Prize', along with the Italian award of 'most beautiful estate'. High praise indeed.

The following year (that's 1994), saw the unveil of the T-5R, alternatively known as the Really Quite Fast Yellow One. It featured a 240bhp turbocharged straight-five engine, and came with that classic silhouette, spoilers, special exhaust tips and 17in wheels. We're told all of the 2,500 yellow cars sold out "in a couple of weeks". So an all-black version was built, capping off with a run of 2,500 green T-5Rs.

Of course, 1994 was notable for Volvo not only because of the T-5R, but because they decided to run a pair of Volvo 850 wagons in the BTCC. This was good news. OK, so they only finished eighth that year in the manufacturer's championship, but whatever - just look at the thing. They'd soon switch to 850 saloons the following year (rule changes), faring much better; in 1995 they finished third overall.

The 850's reign ended in 1996 (they were then rebadged S70 and V70), and in total 1,360,522 850s were built. So, to celebrate its 25th birthday, have a click through these pics, and let us know your fave.

June, 1991: at the Stockholm Globe Arena, Volvo revealed the new 850. It was trumpeted with 'four world firsts'. Count 'em: a new transverse five pot engine, 'delta-link' rear axle design, side impact protection and a self-adjusting seat belt. Yup, welcome to the '90s.

Keen calendar aficionados will therefore note that June 2016 marks 25 years since the launch of the 850. The first car was a saloon and came with a 170bhp engine, but the one you're most excited about came in 1993 - the wagon.

Which means a huge boot and those classic vertical tail lights. The car was so venerated, it was awarded the 1994 Japanese 'Good Design Grand Prize', along with the Italian award of 'most beautiful estate'. High praise indeed.

The following year (that's 1994), saw the unveil of the T-5R, alternatively known as the Really Quite Fast Yellow One. It featured a 240bhp turbocharged straight-five engine, and came with that classic silhouette, spoilers, special exhaust tips and 17in wheels. We're told all of the 2,500 yellow cars sold out "in a couple of weeks". So an all-black version was built, capping off with a run of 2,500 green T-5Rs.

Of course, 1994 was notable for Volvo not only because of the T-5R, but because they decided to run a pair of Volvo 850 wagons in the BTCC. This was good news. OK, so they only finished eighth that year in the manufacturer's championship, but whatever - just look at the thing. They'd soon switch to 850 saloons the following year (rule changes), faring much better; in 1995 they finished third overall.

The 850's reign ended in 1996 (they were then rebadged S70 and V70), and in total 1,360,522 850s were built. So, to celebrate its 25th birthday, have a click through these pics, and let us know your fave.

June, 1991: at the Stockholm Globe Arena, Volvo revealed the new 850. It was trumpeted with 'four world firsts'. Count 'em: a new transverse five pot engine, 'delta-link' rear axle design, side impact protection and a self-adjusting seat belt. Yup, welcome to the '90s.

Keen calendar aficionados will therefore note that June 2016 marks 25 years since the launch of the 850. The first car was a saloon and came with a 170bhp engine, but the one you're most excited about came in 1993 - the wagon.

Which means a huge boot and those classic vertical tail lights. The car was so venerated, it was awarded the 1994 Japanese 'Good Design Grand Prize', along with the Italian award of 'most beautiful estate'. High praise indeed.

The following year (that's 1994), saw the unveil of the T-5R, alternatively known as the Really Quite Fast Yellow One. It featured a 240bhp turbocharged straight-five engine, and came with that classic silhouette, spoilers, special exhaust tips and 17in wheels. We're told all of the 2,500 yellow cars sold out "in a couple of weeks". So an all-black version was built, capping off with a run of 2,500 green T-5Rs.

Of course, 1994 was notable for Volvo not only because of the T-5R, but because they decided to run a pair of Volvo 850 wagons in the BTCC. This was good news. OK, so they only finished eighth that year in the manufacturer's championship, but whatever - just look at the thing. They'd soon switch to 850 saloons the following year (rule changes), faring much better; in 1995 they finished third overall.

The 850's reign ended in 1996 (they were then rebadged S70 and V70), and in total 1,360,522 850s were built. So, to celebrate its 25th birthday, have a click through these pics, and let us know your fave.

June, 1991: at the Stockholm Globe Arena, Volvo revealed the new 850. It was trumpeted with 'four world firsts'. Count 'em: a new transverse five pot engine, 'delta-link' rear axle design, side impact protection and a self-adjusting seat belt. Yup, welcome to the '90s.

Keen calendar aficionados will therefore note that June 2016 marks 25 years since the launch of the 850. The first car was a saloon and came with a 170bhp engine, but the one you're most excited about came in 1993 - the wagon.

Which means a huge boot and those classic vertical tail lights. The car was so venerated, it was awarded the 1994 Japanese 'Good Design Grand Prize', along with the Italian award of 'most beautiful estate'. High praise indeed.

The following year (that's 1994), saw the unveil of the T-5R, alternatively known as the Really Quite Fast Yellow One. It featured a 240bhp turbocharged straight-five engine, and came with that classic silhouette, spoilers, special exhaust tips and 17in wheels. We're told all of the 2,500 yellow cars sold out "in a couple of weeks". So an all-black version was built, capping off with a run of 2,500 green T-5Rs.

Of course, 1994 was notable for Volvo not only because of the T-5R, but because they decided to run a pair of Volvo 850 wagons in the BTCC. This was good news. OK, so they only finished eighth that year in the manufacturer's championship, but whatever - just look at the thing. They'd soon switch to 850 saloons the following year (rule changes), faring much better; in 1995 they finished third overall.

The 850's reign ended in 1996 (they were then rebadged S70 and V70), and in total 1,360,522 850s were built. So, to celebrate its 25th birthday, have a click through these pics, and let us know your fave.

June, 1991: at the Stockholm Globe Arena, Volvo revealed the new 850. It was trumpeted with 'four world firsts'. Count 'em: a new transverse five pot engine, 'delta-link' rear axle design, side impact protection and a self-adjusting seat belt. Yup, welcome to the '90s.

Keen calendar aficionados will therefore note that June 2016 marks 25 years since the launch of the 850. The first car was a saloon and came with a 170bhp engine, but the one you're most excited about came in 1993 - the wagon.

Which means a huge boot and those classic vertical tail lights. The car was so venerated, it was awarded the 1994 Japanese 'Good Design Grand Prize', along with the Italian award of 'most beautiful estate'. High praise indeed.

The following year (that's 1994), saw the unveil of the T-5R, alternatively known as the Really Quite Fast Yellow One. It featured a 240bhp turbocharged straight-five engine, and came with that classic silhouette, spoilers, special exhaust tips and 17in wheels. We're told all of the 2,500 yellow cars sold out "in a couple of weeks". So an all-black version was built, capping off with a run of 2,500 green T-5Rs.

Of course, 1994 was notable for Volvo not only because of the T-5R, but because they decided to run a pair of Volvo 850 wagons in the BTCC. This was good news. OK, so they only finished eighth that year in the manufacturer's championship, but whatever - just look at the thing. They'd soon switch to 850 saloons the following year (rule changes), faring much better; in 1995 they finished third overall.

The 850's reign ended in 1996 (they were then rebadged S70 and V70), and in total 1,360,522 850s were built. So, to celebrate its 25th birthday, have a click through these pics, and let us know your fave.

June, 1991: at the Stockholm Globe Arena, Volvo revealed the new 850. It was trumpeted with 'four world firsts'. Count 'em: a new transverse five pot engine, 'delta-link' rear axle design, side impact protection and a self-adjusting seat belt. Yup, welcome to the '90s.

Keen calendar aficionados will therefore note that June 2016 marks 25 years since the launch of the 850. The first car was a saloon and came with a 170bhp engine, but the one you're most excited about came in 1993 - the wagon.

Which means a huge boot and those classic vertical tail lights. The car was so venerated, it was awarded the 1994 Japanese 'Good Design Grand Prize', along with the Italian award of 'most beautiful estate'. High praise indeed.

The following year (that's 1994), saw the unveil of the T-5R, alternatively known as the Really Quite Fast Yellow One. It featured a 240bhp turbocharged straight-five engine, and came with that classic silhouette, spoilers, special exhaust tips and 17in wheels. We're told all of the 2,500 yellow cars sold out "in a couple of weeks". So an all-black version was built, capping off with a run of 2,500 green T-5Rs.

Of course, 1994 was notable for Volvo not only because of the T-5R, but because they decided to run a pair of Volvo 850 wagons in the BTCC. This was good news. OK, so they only finished eighth that year in the manufacturer's championship, but whatever - just look at the thing. They'd soon switch to 850 saloons the following year (rule changes), faring much better; in 1995 they finished third overall.

The 850's reign ended in 1996 (they were then rebadged S70 and V70), and in total 1,360,522 850s were built. So, to celebrate its 25th birthday, have a click through these pics, and let us know your fave.

June, 1991: at the Stockholm Globe Arena, Volvo revealed the new 850. It was trumpeted with 'four world firsts'. Count 'em: a new transverse five pot engine, 'delta-link' rear axle design, side impact protection and a self-adjusting seat belt. Yup, welcome to the '90s.

Keen calendar aficionados will therefore note that June 2016 marks 25 years since the launch of the 850. The first car was a saloon and came with a 170bhp engine, but the one you're most excited about came in 1993 - the wagon.

Which means a huge boot and those classic vertical tail lights. The car was so venerated, it was awarded the 1994 Japanese 'Good Design Grand Prize', along with the Italian award of 'most beautiful estate'. High praise indeed.

The following year (that's 1994), saw the unveil of the T-5R, alternatively known as the Really Quite Fast Yellow One. It featured a 240bhp turbocharged straight-five engine, and came with that classic silhouette, spoilers, special exhaust tips and 17in wheels. We're told all of the 2,500 yellow cars sold out "in a couple of weeks". So an all-black version was built, capping off with a run of 2,500 green T-5Rs.

Of course, 1994 was notable for Volvo not only because of the T-5R, but because they decided to run a pair of Volvo 850 wagons in the BTCC. This was good news. OK, so they only finished eighth that year in the manufacturer's championship, but whatever - just look at the thing. They'd soon switch to 850 saloons the following year (rule changes), faring much better; in 1995 they finished third overall.

The 850's reign ended in 1996 (they were then rebadged S70 and V70), and in total 1,360,522 850s were built. So, to celebrate its 25th birthday, have a click through these pics, and let us know your fave.

June, 1991: at the Stockholm Globe Arena, Volvo revealed the new 850. It was trumpeted with 'four world firsts'. Count 'em: a new transverse five pot engine, 'delta-link' rear axle design, side impact protection and a self-adjusting seat belt. Yup, welcome to the '90s.

Keen calendar aficionados will therefore note that June 2016 marks 25 years since the launch of the 850. The first car was a saloon and came with a 170bhp engine, but the one you're most excited about came in 1993 - the wagon.

Which means a huge boot and those classic vertical tail lights. The car was so venerated, it was awarded the 1994 Japanese 'Good Design Grand Prize', along with the Italian award of 'most beautiful estate'. High praise indeed.

The following year (that's 1994), saw the unveil of the T-5R, alternatively known as the Really Quite Fast Yellow One. It featured a 240bhp turbocharged straight-five engine, and came with that classic silhouette, spoilers, special exhaust tips and 17in wheels. We're told all of the 2,500 yellow cars sold out "in a couple of weeks". So an all-black version was built, capping off with a run of 2,500 green T-5Rs.

Of course, 1994 was notable for Volvo not only because of the T-5R, but because they decided to run a pair of Volvo 850 wagons in the BTCC. This was good news. OK, so they only finished eighth that year in the manufacturer's championship, but whatever - just look at the thing. They'd soon switch to 850 saloons the following year (rule changes), faring much better; in 1995 they finished third overall.

The 850's reign ended in 1996 (they were then rebadged S70 and V70), and in total 1,360,522 850s were built. So, to celebrate its 25th birthday, have a click through these pics, and let us know your fave.

June, 1991: at the Stockholm Globe Arena, Volvo revealed the new 850. It was trumpeted with 'four world firsts'. Count 'em: a new transverse five pot engine, 'delta-link' rear axle design, side impact protection and a self-adjusting seat belt. Yup, welcome to the '90s.

Keen calendar aficionados will therefore note that June 2016 marks 25 years since the launch of the 850. The first car was a saloon and came with a 170bhp engine, but the one you're most excited about came in 1993 - the wagon.

Which means a huge boot and those classic vertical tail lights. The car was so venerated, it was awarded the 1994 Japanese 'Good Design Grand Prize', along with the Italian award of 'most beautiful estate'. High praise indeed.

The following year (that's 1994), saw the unveil of the T-5R, alternatively known as the Really Quite Fast Yellow One. It featured a 240bhp turbocharged straight-five engine, and came with that classic silhouette, spoilers, special exhaust tips and 17in wheels. We're told all of the 2,500 yellow cars sold out "in a couple of weeks". So an all-black version was built, capping off with a run of 2,500 green T-5Rs.

Of course, 1994 was notable for Volvo not only because of the T-5R, but because they decided to run a pair of Volvo 850 wagons in the BTCC. This was good news. OK, so they only finished eighth that year in the manufacturer's championship, but whatever - just look at the thing. They'd soon switch to 850 saloons the following year (rule changes), faring much better; in 1995 they finished third overall.

The 850's reign ended in 1996 (they were then rebadged S70 and V70), and in total 1,360,522 850s were built. So, to celebrate its 25th birthday, have a click through these pics, and let us know your fave.