The “odd man hypothesis” was first advanced in Michael Crichton’s 1969 seminal techno-thriller novel The Andromeda Strain. Crichton presented it so convincingly that for decades afterward, I believed it to be an actual theory. However, according to Wikipedia, ‘The “odd-man hypothesis” is an entirely fictional construct stating that unmarried men are better able to execute the best, most dispassionate decisions in crises. In Crichton’s novel, the ‘odd-man’ hypothesis is explained by a page in a RAND Corporation report detailing the results of a test series wherein different people were to make command decisions in nuclear and biological wars and chemical crises.
Just to be sure, I searched RAND and found no connection to that hypothesis. (Now I’m just waiting for the D.C. “suits” to arrive here in a black SUV…) How did the odd-man hypothesis apply to me? Read on…
The original paperback version. Crichton aficionados can now buy a hardcover “50th Anniversary Edition” for somewhat more than $1.25. (Source: Abebooks)
But first some context: In mid-1976, Volvo of America was in the process of assuming control of several of its previously-independent U.S. distributors, including one in the mid-Atlantic region. Along with crates containing service tools, spare parts, and other items from that facility came a number of 1975 Volvo 244s equipped with driver- and passenger-side airbags. These cars had been leased to Allstate as part of their sizable company car fleet, exposing these airbag-equipped Volvos to real-world driving conditions, accumulating mileage and (hopefully not) confirming proper operation of their passive restraint systems. It was my job to deactivate their airbag systems and return the cars to their original specs. They were to be my hands-on, nitty-gritty initiation into the world of automotive safety.
An early Euro-market Volvo 244, similar to the cars on which I performed airbag surgery. (Source: volvocars.com)
As the Product Engineering & Development department’s only unmarried male employee at the time, I briefly (and cynically) imagined that management had calculated that their potential liability in the case of anyone’s deployment-related demise would be magnitudes less than if the bereaved spouse of a married employee with a family required compensation in a similar situation. Fortunately, neither eventuality came to pass.
Each of the airbag-equipped 240s had a steering wheel similar to this one, which Volvo used in some production cars (without the airbag, though). (Source: eBay)
As I remember, the airbag system was engineered by Eaton Corporation – at least Eaton’s corporate logo was on the slim, spiral-bound Operator’s Manual that I studiously referred to while disarming and dismantling the airbag units. It also appeared on the bright yellow test module which I used to connect to the system, ensuring its effective anesthetization before disconnecting its associated wiring and trio of crash sensors. After removing and carefully securing the airbag units, wiring harness, crash sensors, and other components, a stock steering wheel, glove-box, and under-dash panels were installed, returning the sedans to their original configuration.
An early Volvo 240 dash. In these Allstate test cars, the passenger-side airbag resided in what would have been the glove-box. (Source: barnfinds.com)
The final step in the process was to check for satisfactory operation of the vehicles’ horn and lighting (including glove-box illumination). I successfully completed the last of these automotive surgeries, never learning the ultimate fate of these test cars, whether they were destined for the scrapyard or a used-car lot somewhere. I was just glad to have completed my first assignment as a Volvo employee without any injuries or unintentional deployments.
Fortunately, none of the Volvos that I worked on had ever experienced a crisis severe enough to deploy an airbag. (Source: volvotips.com)
Some readers have asked whether my Audi Fox daily driver caused any raised eyebrows at Volvo. Other than a few tongue-in-cheek comments on its Royal Norwegian Auto Club car badge, there was absolutely no pressure to leave the dark side and trade the Fox for a Volvo; lots of the company’s permanent employees drove a variety of domestic or Japanese cars without a care. Unfortunately, as a “permanent temporary” employee, I wasn’t eligible for a low-cost lease on a new Volvo (let alone an actual company car, for that matter).
Despite my status as the Product Engineering & Development department’s newest hire, however, I would shortly find myself behind the wheel of one of Gothenburg’s finest, but that’s another story.
(The feature image, shows some of Volvo’s famed “Green Book” service manuals, sourced from eBay.)
Have experienced similar, but not so sinister work assignments based on my martial status early in my career. All with a wedding ring refused holiday coverage in the office. I got more done in one day sans the noise and distractions, then what I could get done in a full week. Didn’t matter to me if I opened Xmas gifts a day late. Yet, don’t give me s**t when I want Jazz Fest week off. Its over the head of you precious minions.
Crichton saw things differently. Instead of aliens or space invaders, the enemy was a virus. Was so impressed with the movie and book, have both on my shelf in the den. Made excellent viewing during COVID. This time, it came from China, not from the stratosphere. That’s saying something!!
Somewhere out west is Project Wildfire 2.0. Good luck Dr. Stone!!
I remember these cars if not being airbag equipped .
Pretty good cars if deathly boring .
Slow going up hill but easily able to catch and pass “Sports Cars” going downhill with zero drama .
-Nate
Small world on those airbag-equipped Volvo 240s! I believe only 75 were produced, all 244s and only for the 1975 model year.
I joined the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 1979 and soon found out that a handful of employees had these Volvos (as I recall, acquired from Allstate and still under lease from Volvo of America). In addition to the dual frontal airbags, these cars had only lap belts in front (at the time it was thought that shoulder belts wouldn’t be needed with airbags). My immediate supervisor had one of these cars in that then-common light green color, and I rode in it many times.
My recollection is once the cars were to be sold, they had to be converted back to stock configuration, as you outlined in your account, including replacing the front lap belts with Volvo’s standard 3-point lap/shoulder belts.
The Institute kept one of these Volvos when they opened the Vehicle Research Center (crash testing facility) near Charlottesville, Virginia in 1992. Our intention was to eventually crash it, but that never happened. It was eventually scrapped, but IIRC, we removed the airbags and deployed them before the car left our facility.
I still have the airbag operator’s manual:
210delray,
Thanks for adding more detail to the story! It seems fitting that the IIHS would have participated in the program, though I had no idea that some of these Volvos were still doing fleet duty as late as 1979.
That Air Bag Manual is definitely a keeper!
That was a bit cynical of Volvo to assign the bachelor to the job but you were effectively handling bombs. I’m very glad I didn’t have tohandle he Buick’s airbag module while solving the no horn problem.
While I like Volvos, I haven’t driven once since my family’s 1974 164 which was heavy feeling but comfortable and mostly reliable unlike my father-in-law’s XC90.
Great story Stephen! I’ve heard about these experimental 1975 244s, but didn’t have the story behind them. Thank you (and 210delray) for adding to the documentation of Volvo-related lore.
Of course, I know that wheel well as I see it every time I take my 1976 245 out for a spin. I’m actually asked often by those who don’t know if the wheel holds an airbag given that it just looks like it ought to.
And I’m glad you did your work back in 1976. Thinking about the state of the original wiring in my car (Glovebox light? Glovebox light? We don’t need no stinkin’ glovebox light!) I hate to think about one of these cars having an airbag still out in the wild. Not everyone can be the odd-man.
(photo credit – me. in my driveway about 10 minutes ago. 😉 )
301,000 – miles or kms?
Miles. Frankly, we don’t drive it as much as we ought to, so it’s not accumulating as fast as I anticipated.
And what great shape it is in! Obviously well cared for!
Wha is the switch inside the shift handle? Is it for an overdrive feature?
Yup. M41 transmission. 4 speed with a Laycock electric overdrive activated by the switch in the center of the shift knob.
Looks very similar to my former 1980 242DL, although the steering wheel design was modified somewhat. The dash and instrument cluster were revised in 1981, then carried through to the end of production in 1993.
Yes, I can use dashes up through 1980, and sometimes a 1981 will fit although that’s kind of hit or miss. (I’ve changed the dash once.)
Looks like you had at least one of the same seats as I have…at least in terms of upholstery (with a 2 door, you hopefully had seats that folded forward). I got those from a 1980, I think.
Yes, both seats were original to the car and did fold forward, but I had to cover the driver seat because the upholstery was starting to get threadbare. Also on the driver seat, the supporting spring structure for the cushion broke, so I had to slip some plywood underneath so my butt wouldn’t sink too far downward!
Your insider’s perspective is interesting! I had forgotten all about the air bag Volvos, but remembered GM’s brief foray into air bags, also in 1975. I think I still have one of the brochures about the air bags. It seemed like we would see them any time, and far sooner than the decade+ they took to finally show up.