There's only ever been one car-submarine wreck in history and even that feels like too many
Published on Feb 19, 2026 at 6:13 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Feb 19, 2026 at 8:59 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Alessandro Renesis
A long time ago, a Volvo PV544 crashed into a docked submarine in Sweden.
The 1961 incident sounds like the start of a very bad joke, but it actually happened.
It was the result of an incredibly unlikely combination of factors.
And, for a couple of reasons, we can assert with a fair degree of confidence that this is never going to happen again.
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This is how this Volvo ended up crashing into a submarine
The Volvo PV544 (a forgotten icon) crashed into a docked submarine in service with the Swedish Navy.
This is the sort of thing that you’d expect to see in a Tom and Jerry cartoon, but it happened IRL.
And it happened for an incredibly banal reason.
The owner of the Volvo apparently had to make a call (those were the days), which means they had to leave the car and find a payphone.
The driver just so happened to leave the car in a parking lot without the handbrake – presumably because they forgot.
The car park was, unfortunately, angled downhill.
Then, by pure chance, a submarine happened to be moored at the very end of said steep hill.
And, in short, that’s how a car ended up crashing into a submarine.
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There are a couple of reasons why this is very unlikely to happen again
The combination of factors we mentioned is very unlikely to happen again.
For starters, no one uses payphones anymore.
We all have smartphones.
Also, modern cars have automatic (and electronic) handbrakes, so there’s no such thing as ‘forgetting to put the handbrake on‘ anymore.
But the main reason why this is never going to happen again is that in today’s world, the chances of a submarine being docked in public areas are zero.
Modern security protocols mean that naval vessels – including submarines – are kept in highly restricted, fenced-off military zones, not near mom-and-pop boats.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
