The truck shared both front end and engine with the smaller LV90-series while other components were sturdier to cope with heavier loads.

It had a new overhead valve engine, designed by Gotthard Österberg who had come to Volvo when Tidaholm ceased production in 1933.

[2] During the Second World War many of these trucks had their engines converted to run on wood gas.

From 1947 onwards the LV290 series could be delivered with Volvo's pre-chamber diesel engine VDB.

A few trucks were fitted with the larger direct injected VDF engine in 1951 before the Longnose was succeeded by Volvo Titan.