Volvo

In July 1924, businessman Assar Gabrielsson and engineer Gustaf Larson met at the Sturehof restaurant, Stockholm.  Over a large plate of red crayfish, the new car company was planned and the rest is as they say, history.  By 1926, the first prototypes - built to demonstrate the company's potential to prospective investors - were underway, nine open vehicles and one closed - and the first Volvo car crash occured, when a prototype collided head on with an imported American Car whilst out testing on the road from Stockholm to Gothenburg.  The American car was completely wrecked, whilst the Volvo was just scratched: at this point, the company realised that safety was an important issue, and that this could be a good selling point.  

• Volvo S40