This is a 1st-generation 1999 Jösse Car Indigo 3000, a rare Swedish sports car with an intriguing background. This example was photographed by @teilix at the 2024 VROM (Volvo Rendezvous & Owners Meeting) in Torslanda. Manufactured between 1996 and 1999, it was the brainchild of Bengt Lidmalm, who conceived the idea after visiting a TVR showroom in 1993. Lidmalm, motivated to create something of his own, partnered with Hans Philip Zackau, a designer known for his work on the Volvo 850 alongside Volvo’s former chief designer Jan Wilsgaard. Together, they launched Jösse Car in 1994 in Arvika, Sweden, and by the end of that year, a prototype of the Indigo 3000 was complete. The Indigo 3000 is a two-seat roadster with rear-wheel drive, characterized by a combination of components sourced from other Swedish manufacturers. It was powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six Volvo engine producing 204 horsepower, giving it a claimed 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph. The vehicle also used parts from various Volvo models, including the steering column from the Volvo 850 and the rear suspension from the Volvo 960. The fuel tank came from a Saab 900, while the seats were borrowed from a Volvo S40. In 1995, the car was approved for road use, and full-scale production began in 1996. To meet demand, a second production facility was opened in Åmål, but despite promising sales early on, interest in the Indigo 3000 dwindled as time passed. By 1999, the final example of the Indigo 3000 had been sold and delivered. In total, only 44 units were produced. Following this, Jösse Car faced financial difficulties, ultimately declaring bankruptcy in 2003. Although short-lived, the Indigo 3000 left a mark as one of Sweden’s most distinctive and low-volume sports cars, blending Volvo engineering with a custom roadster aesthetic.
How many made? 44
Engine: 3.0 L Volvo I6 - 204hp
Debut: N/A
Top Speed: 155mph (electronically limited)
0-60mph: 6.5 seconds (claimed)
Photo Credit: @teilix
Research: @rarecarsonly
1999 Jösse Car Indigo 3000
29.10.2024
Jösse Car