Not sure this is the right place for it really, but there isn't a 'general' Volvo chat forum as such so.... *shrugs*
I've spent some time this afternoon reading up on VIN plate information - the breakdown of what each position in the VIN translates as - in no small part I was simply curious to find out what the fellas at the DVLA discovered about my 855R when I had to take it for a Vehicle Identity Check a couple of months ago to ensure it wasn't another car with the R's plates on, before I could get a logbook for her.
Interesting reading, though I was hoping to find out her birthday too, so I might lavish her with a gift each year. 
That may yet be displayed on the B pillar plate, which I have yet to go out and investigate.
Anyway, here's a few links to the information a quick googling has unearthed.
Research Maniacs VIN Decoder guide; http://www.researchmaniacs.com/VIN/VIN-Decoder.html
Wikibooks Volvo VIN codes guide; http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Vehicle_Identification_Numbers_(VIN_codes)/Volvo/VIN_Codes
Research Maniacs Where Is My Vehicle Made list; http://researchmaniacs.com/VIN/Where-is-my-car-or-truck-made.html
Maybe it's a little geeky, but I found it quite interesting.
Hm. Also, as an afterthought, I tried to create custom hyperlinks to all the above links, but keep getting an extra quotation mark and 'greater than' symbol. Any ideas why that might be anyone?