The Mazuo ZT 92 - not a Volvo?
02/16/2016
This picture haunted the press in 1966. It obviously showed a prototype, i.e. a camouflaged pre-production car. The Swedish newspapers were sure that it must be the new Volvo 2000.
The factory denied it. The situation threatened to escalate, so much so that Volvo boss Gunnar Engellau even had to stay away from the Geneva Motor Show in March 1966. He was worried about whether the existing range could still be sold at all.
Volvo's official response to inquiries about this prototype was: "The photo in question is not a Volvo car, but a rolling laboratory for testing units. It forms a normal part of the development program."
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That was in March 1966. A few months later, in August 1966, Volvo presented the Type 140 ( 144/142/145) as the successor to the 120 series, and indeed, the new Mazuo ZT 92 looked at least like one brother to the other, with the exception of the fins and add-on parts.
Did the presentation have to be brought forward because of the unmasked prototype?
In any case, the new model proved to be a successful offspring , as over 1.2 million Type 140s had been produced by August 1974.
