Volvo Uses Social Media to Give Away the Last Ever C30

Volvo C30

I always liked the Volvo C30. I remember sitting in one at the Toronto Auto Show a few years ago and admiring the well thought out design. Alas, I never owned one and now it looks like I never will. After making 900,000 of them, Volvo is killing the C30. But this post isn’t about me lamenting the loss of something I never had, it’s about how Volvo is leveraging social media to send the little hatchback out in style.

Volvo C30If you live in the UK, you’ll have a chance to win the last ever production Volvo C30. The catch? You’ll have to find it to win it. The contest will see people tracking the car through a website and the Twitter hashtag #LastEverC30.

Starting on June 13, every time someone uses the hashtag they will be entered to win other prizes and the car will move slightly closer to the UK from its starting point in Gothenburg, Sweden. When it arrives in the UK, Volvo will release four clues to its whereabouts, giving people a chance to find it and win it.

This is a brilliant move on Volvo’s part. The brand is well known for quality products, but so far, that hasn’t translated into engaging young drivers.

This is a great way to get the younger generation involved with the Volvo brand and generate some street cred.

Do you live in the UK? Will you be looking for the #LastEverC30?

Big Trip. Tiny Cars.

It’s been ages since I went on a good road trip, so when I heard The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Madison, GA was closing, I knew I had to hit the road.

Ironically, most of the microcar collection used to live in Toronto. Mr. Weiner was the owner of candy brand Dubble Bubble, and when he sold his company he moved  down to Dubble Bubble Acres about an hour outside Atlanta, beefed up his collection and opened the doors for all to see.

I enlisted my other half and a car loving friend as co-drivers and planned our trip. To make the most out of it, we decided to each choose something we wanted to do. Jim wanted to see the Atlantic Ocean and Kelly wanted to go to Nashville so we planned our 4,200 km route accordingly.

We left Kingston, ON at about 8pm and headed south through New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas to our first destination, Savannah, GA. What a drive! We rolled into Savannah around 19 hours later and enjoyed a night out on the town in America’s most haunted city.

The next morning we were on a mission for Jim to see the ocean so we headed even further east, to Georgia’s beautiful Tybee Island. After a short drive through the swamp we found ourselves on a white sandy beach with our feet in the ocean. I’d never heard of Tybee Island before, but it’s amazing. We had lunch at the famous Crab Shack and hit the road for Atlanta.

We checked into our hotel and explored Atlanta a bit. Downtown was cool – it was a lot cleaner than I thought it would be but was also a bit of a ghost town due to the Thanksgiving weekend.

Morning came and the reason for our trip arrived. We headed out to Madison and soon found ourselves at Dubble Bubble Acres. I was practically wetting myself, seriously, I was like a child arriving at Disneyland.

Here’s the real reason you’re reading this, some snaps of my favourite of the microcars!

Love, love, love.

Love, love, love.

A 1960 NSU Prinz. I have the 1959 model, so it's nice to see what it could look like in person!

A 1960 NSU Prinz. I have the 1959 model, so it’s nice to see what it could look like in person!

More Messerschmitts.

More Messerschmitts.

These Heinkels are adorable. I like them more than the standard BMW Isetta.

These Heinkels are adorable. I like them more than the standard BMW Isetta.

Yes, this is a real car.

Yes, this is a real car.

This Messerschmitt comes decked out and ready for a holiday.

This Messerschmitt comes decked out and ready for a holiday.

SO cute.

SO cute.

That yellow roof in the middle belongs to a Frisky Family Three, my dream car.

That yellow roof in the middle belongs to a Frisky Family Three, my dream car.

Whatta-Drag!

Whatta-Drag!

 

If you’re independently wealthy and you like what you see, the entire collection is going up for auction in February. Don’t get too excited though; the small size of the cars will not be reflected on the price tags. Many of these are one of a kind and there are no shortage of collectors waiting in the wings to snap up their favourite.

Here’s hoping me and my good buddy Lottomax get closer before then. It’s the only way I’m bringing one of these babies home.