Art Car designed by Orlina, inspired by Mondrian
Volvo 780 Limited Edition by Bertone
After a two year hiatus from his other passion to concentrate on his seminal work for the Quadricentennial of his alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas, Ramon Orlina makes a comeback in the custom car scene with his 1989 Volvo S780 Coupe Limited Edition entry in the 2011 edition of the Manila Auto Salon.
The S780 has an excellent provenance. Designed and built by Carrozzeria Bertone in Turin, Italy for Volvo, only 8,518 units were manufactured during its production run from 1986 through 1991. It debuted in the International Geneva Auto Show in 1985 and marked Volvo's return to the two-door coupe market after the 262C. The hood, trunk, and roof lines were all slightly lower than the standard 700 series profile, and the C-pillar was wider and had a more gradual slope down to the trunk. Headroom was improved over the 262C because of Bertone’s mere 1 cm lowering of the roofline. Window frames all had black matte trim, and were accented with chrome. Chrome also highlighted the door handles, bumpers, and side mouldings. Volvo would not produce another two-door coupe with the introduction of the C70 in 1995.
In the first two years the 780 was available worldwide and was equipped with the B280F V6 engine and a solid (live) rear axle. In the Italian market, originally only the Volkswagen built TD24 was to be offered, with 129 PS (95 kW). The V6 later became available and a 155 PS (114 kW) 2.0-litre turbo (B200ET) was the other variant. in 1986. In the following year, the 780 came equipped with Volvo's independent rear suspension, which used self-leveling Nivomat shock absorbers to keep the ride height correct.
The B280F at this point, had only 150 hp (110 kW), but the car itself weighed 3,400 lb (1,500 kg) at curb weight.
After a two year hiatus from his other passion to concentrate on his seminal work for the Quadricentennial of his alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas, Ramon Orlina makes a comeback in the custom car scene with his 1989 Volvo S780 Coupe Limited Edition entry in the 2011 edition of the Manila Auto Salon.
The S780 has an excellent provenance. Designed and built by Carrozzeria Bertone in Turin, Italy for Volvo, only 8,518 units were manufactured during its production run from 1986 through 1991. It debuted in the International Geneva Auto Show in 1985 and marked Volvo's return to the two-door coupe market after the 262C. The hood, trunk, and roof lines were all slightly lower than the standard 700 series profile, and the C-pillar was wider and had a more gradual slope down to the trunk. Headroom was improved over the 262C because of Bertone’s mere 1 cm lowering of the roofline. Window frames all had black matte trim, and were accented with chrome. Chrome also highlighted the door handles, bumpers, and side mouldings. Volvo would not produce another two-door coupe with the introduction of the C70 in 1995.
In the first two years the 780 was available worldwide and was equipped with the B280F V6 engine and a solid (live) rear axle. In the Italian market, originally only the Volkswagen built TD24 was to be offered, with 129 PS (95 kW). The V6 later became available and a 155 PS (114 kW) 2.0-litre turbo (B200ET) was the other variant. in 1986. In the following year, the 780 came equipped with Volvo's independent rear suspension, which used self-leveling Nivomat shock absorbers to keep the ride height correct.
The B280F at this point, had only 150 hp (110 kW), but the car itself weighed 3,400 lb (1,500 kg) at curb weight.
To address concerns over performance, Volvo introduced the B230FT+; a B230FT with Volvo's boost controller, Turbo+, increasing the engine output to 175 hp (130 kW). The following model year saw it increase to 188 hp (140 kW). In Italy, late 780s were available with the B204GT. This was a 16 Valve Turbo motor producing 200 hp (150 kW). In the car's final year, 1991, it was badged simply as "Coupé” and only a turbo version was available.
The S780 is the first in the series of what Orlina calls his Art Car Collection. Having made his mark as one the pre-eminent glass sculptors in the world, Orlina now shifts to this automobile as a medium of appropriation on the works of artists who have made an impact in the art world.
Pieter Cornelis Mondrian, more popularly known as Piet Mondrian, was a Dutch painter renowned for his contribution to the De Stijl Art Movement group founded by Theo Van Doesburg. The movement favored an abstract, economical style. It was influential on the Bauhaus and constructivist movements. In his lifetime, Mondrian evolved a non-representational form,
The S780 is the first in the series of what Orlina calls his Art Car Collection. Having made his mark as one the pre-eminent glass sculptors in the world, Orlina now shifts to this automobile as a medium of appropriation on the works of artists who have made an impact in the art world.
Pieter Cornelis Mondrian, more popularly known as Piet Mondrian, was a Dutch painter renowned for his contribution to the De Stijl Art Movement group founded by Theo Van Doesburg. The movement favored an abstract, economical style. It was influential on the Bauhaus and constructivist movements. In his lifetime, Mondrian evolved a non-representational form,
which he described as Neo-Plasticism, consisting of a white base, painted with a grid of horizontal and vertical black lines and the three primary colors. Mondrian's Neo-Plasticism did not reach its peak until the last years of his life when he moved from Paris to London and finally, New York. The changes in his abstractionist style evolved in the period between 1919, when he moved to Paris after World War II, up to his death in New York, in 1944.
Orlina takes Mondrian's Neo-Plasticism to another level by painting the S780 in this abstract form. Bertone's boxy contour contrasts sharply with the black vertical and horizontal lines and creates the illusion that the body is afloat. The black interior, interspersed with primary color accents, which is also part of the abstractionism, contrasts sharply with the white base and maintains fluidity in the use of the automobile as the canvas of the artist.
The effect is subtle and elegant. The essential elements of Volvo, Bertone and Mondrian are maintained but there is no doubt, that it is still, essentially, an Orlina, as only as he can conceptualize the automobile as his canvas.
Orlina takes Mondrian's Neo-Plasticism to another level by painting the S780 in this abstract form. Bertone's boxy contour contrasts sharply with the black vertical and horizontal lines and creates the illusion that the body is afloat. The black interior, interspersed with primary color accents, which is also part of the abstractionism, contrasts sharply with the white base and maintains fluidity in the use of the automobile as the canvas of the artist.
The effect is subtle and elegant. The essential elements of Volvo, Bertone and Mondrian are maintained but there is no doubt, that it is still, essentially, an Orlina, as only as he can conceptualize the automobile as his canvas.
