[Closed] Elderly Volvo appreciation society

I believe many Volvo fans are elderly, yes.

I'm 50 and I've always loved Volvo estates since I was a kid

Does that count?

There might be some lurking here:

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/volvo-estate-appreciation/

I had a 1988 740 GLE estate in Canada, then replaced it with a 199 740 GLE estate as soon as I moved to the UK. The only difference between the two cars was that the Canadian version had the double headlamps as opposed to the single large lamp as in the picture above. The first of these two cars, especially, took us on thousands of kilometres worth of adventures. The second, not as many as my family outgrew it. But I flipping love Volvos old and new, and now drive a 2004 XC90.

I completely sympathise with your desire, and hope you enjoy it for a long time!

The only difference between the two cars was that the Canadian version had the double headlamps as opposed to the single large lamp as in the picture above.

That detail change was required on all sorts  of European cars imported to the US and Canada because, up until quite recently, there were only two sizes/ shapes of sealed beam headlamps permitted on US vehicles - a 7"round one or a 6"x4" rectanglar one. No mater what make of model of car in the US - they only used one or other of those lamps. So imports had to have the grill adapted to work with those lamps.

A few years back I had a S60 2.4 t
It was a great car as it had the heated leather seats, fantastic sound system with everything built so tight no bass vibration whatsoever, plenty life due to the 210bhp with the 5cyl growl sound but older Volvo's with that na 2.0 auto will be gutless and drink fuel like a weegie alky drinks vodka
I've 1 cyl more now in my Z4 na 3.0 and loving it

I had an Amazon and a P1800

It’s comically slow

Slower than the 2.5N/A 110 you had ? Which. Arguably was over powered for your smurf hat skills ? 🙂

Watching episodes of The Saint, I'd really like a P1800...looks very nice.

I love old Volvo cars - have to be estates though (apart from the P1800).

I had an Amazon and a P1800

We have a winner. None of your Johnny-come-lately boxy shite there!

I'd start looking out for crashed Monaro's or a VXR8 then reshell the noisy bits into the 740. Probably similar fuel economy and 4 times the power.

Typing this whilst sat in my 200k mile V70 - awesome car.
👍 for the 740.

This place is becoming more and more like a forum for old duffers/farts every day 🤣

crashed Monaro’s or a VXR8 then reshell the noisy bits into the 740

So you'd start by looking for a rare car with one of the most saught after and obvious engine swaps going ? Lsas are up there with 2jzs when it comes to folk looking to swap out due to the ease of big power.

I'd look for almost any BMW (pending your requirements for bhp/economy)to swap the noisy parts from.

(Knowing the op has the equipment and the skills to walk the walk as well as talk the talk)

Different 'brand' engine swops are a no-no with me, should always have the same make engine as the car started with. Depending on wallet size I'd swop in a 5cyl R/T5 turbo lump or older 2.3 turbo red block.

should always have the same make engine as the car started with.

If your going to go down that path the only rational path to head down would be to only swap in an engine that was availible in that vehicle* fitting anything from the entire range over the years is absolutely random reasoning.

* Harmonic vibration designs / clearances an all that

Just idly pondering engine swops in older Volvo's my thoughts were based on how good the aluminium 5cyl engines are rather than how tricky it is to actual swop one in.
A quick Google found this for a 240swop;

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=199342

So you’d start by looking for a rare car with one of the most saught after and obvious engine swaps going ?

Yes.

Different ‘brand’ engine swops are a no-no with me, should always have the same make engine as the car started with. 

No way. Not enough good options from most brands.

Yes

You vastly overestimate the OPs desire to spend money

You vastly overestimate the OPs desire to spend money

Well he did come in here and mention engine swaps in the first post. If anyone knows a way to switch engines to gain power and economy without spending loads of money please let me know. It used to be much easier than it is now before ebay and the fact that everything old enough to need an MOT is now an 'investment opportunity'. These days I just accept I'm done messing around with stuff like this even though I do miss it.

I mentioned Monaros as I couldn't be bothered a write an essay about the Chevy LS. They're probably rare and expensive now but I used to know a breakers in the northeast who handled a few of them.

One of them ended up in a mk2 Escort which was the fastest passenger ride I've ever had. One of them ended up in an E30 which was the most sideways passenger ride I've ever had. One of them ended up in Volvo 740 in Scotland which I never laid eyes on but can only imagine was an incredible bike carrier.

Good luck OP. Enjoy it for what it is and if you decide to hotrod it, please keep us updated.

Well he did come in here and mention engine swaps in the first post. If anyone knows a way to switch engines to gain power and economy without spending loads of money

The op has previous in doing just that.

I very nearly got a 940 last time, chickened out and got a much newer subaru but I do have regrets. I'd love an Amazon estate...

And yeah obviously the solution to everything is to put an LS in it- but also to live in America and be able to find a complete running car with a good one in it on craigslist for 50 cents.

Nearly bought a rotbox C202 that was originally Argentinian and then made it to UK from the Falklands. Chickened out as initial enquiries with dvla suggested it would be a nightmare to register as not on the current system for import duty / VAT as it was imported back in the 90s (and could only attempt to register once it could get an mot which needed a full resto).

Had a long term itch for the earlier L3314 / valp / felt / laplander but seems increasingly irrelevant to have a petrol plaything. But the new house does have a big enough gap to drag one into the back garden if I ever change my mind :-). Would be an easy electric conversion.....

Volvo D5 with a Celtic stage 2 rrmap
230bhp, 350 ft lb torque. Should stil do 40mpg plus on a run.
Putting big power plants in antique dealers cars needs alot of work. Brakes amd suspension amd chassis strengthening and modifications.
The D5 is cracking and would suit that car, only drawback is they were front wheel drive so might need bellhousing adapter plate if you keep the squidge box.
Then you need pedal box if gping manual conversion.
Lpg T5 ticks your boxes. Cost may vary.

The hardest thing about fitting a T5 is finding the gearbox from a 2.5 940 and from memory it's a nothing special, wobbly 5 speed.

There's a company who specialise in making custom bell housings for RX8 gearboxes so anything they can fit make it suitable for RWD. Then you could use almost any engine. I bet those boxes aren't so cheap and plentiful these days either.

How much is a complete but rusty BMW 330?

All my car and engine swap knowledge is out of date these days.

I very nearly got a 940 last time, chickened out and got a much newer subaru but I do have regrets.

I've been looking at classic Imprezas for ages and watching the prices get more and more ridiculous. I also really wanted a blob eye wagon but all the ones I went to see were dogs. Probably a lucky escape given the current (and no doubt future) petrol prices.

Every time I see one of those big boxy, Volvo retrobarges I assume that it’s the local landowner, clad in a muddy Barbour, waxed flat cap, wellies and there are two labradors in the back

Do you all match this description?

Putting big power plants in antique dealers cars needs alot of work. Brakes amd suspension amd chassis strengthening and modifications

Wouldn't it be easier to find a longitudinal engine and box rather than mess around with trying to make it take a transverse engine ?

This place is becoming more and more like a forum for old duffers/farts every day

Checking in.

For background my family car as a kid (stock photo - we didn't have a plane).

340 GLT 1.7

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When that time came for me to buy my own car, after an Astra & Citreon AX, at 26 I bought a mini-tank.

440 2.0 GLT (Renault engine if I believe). I [b]loved it[b/]. Possibly still my favourite car I've ever owned. Only got rid as it failed an MOT in spectacular fashion when I moved to Leeds, and I didn't really need a car, so went car-less for a year.

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Then a year later I bought an S40 2.0T. So many options ticked it out-smarted a lux model. I was 30. Friends mocked me for a light blue car, cream interior, 'vicar's car', but I didn't care - it was 6 years old, no service book but £3,800. Pre-GDPR I rang Volvo who told me it had been serviced regularly in their care.

This was 14 years ago. I then ended up giving it to my Dad shortly afterwards as I got into work-provided cars. That was, until Covid hit. My Dad had given up driving a couple of years back, I was fisting £300 a month on nothing, so in may 2020 it arrived back with me on the back of a trailer.

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Cars don't really like being sat still for a few years and it was tired, scratched and just drove like a dog. So after some cleaning, servicing, parts replacement and miles it was driving fine and looking well -..considering it's pretty much 20 years old!

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And I still have it now.

I really should get a grown-up car, I'm 44 now, but I can't see the benefit. It's got all the important toys, it's pokey enough (163bhp), the parts are laughably cheap and I just don't drive much.

Missus hates it, but that's fine. It's my car and it's lasted me longer than any relationship 🙂

I love my elderly Volvo.

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Wouldn’t it be easier to find a longitudinal engine and box rather than mess around with trying to make it take a transverse engine ?

Who suggested that?

Can we have them banned?

I had a 244 back in around 1979. Kept it for a couple of years... nice comfortable reliable car for its time.

Who suggested that?

D5 mentioned above as far as I've ever seen them in the flesh a sideways engine .... Unless they put it in some models longitudinally and others transverse.

Too late to edit, but I keep looking at this as a replacement - when I've had a drink.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13108106

It's glorious, a great example that's had lots of preventative maintenance, but like a lot of newer or highly-strung cars, including Volvos, they have the potential to be ruinous at the drop of a hat. Or Haldex system.

Plus it's a LOT of money for a 104k mile Volvo (Mine's a year older, less miles and probably worth about £500!). I just can't do it.

D5 mentioned above as far as I’ve ever seen them in the flesh a sideways engine

I misunderstood, I thought you meant convert the car to FWD. The absolute horror.

Nooo, not the thread I need.

I'm about to change the V70 we've got for regulation STW Octavia estate...

I am going to hugely miss the Ovlov. The best car we've ever owned imo.

Plus it’s a LOT of money for a 104k mile Volvo (Mine’s a year older, less miles and probably worth about £500!). I just can’t do it.

Well, I don't know what yours looks like @bearnecessities, but the one you have linked to looks so-o-o-o beautiful! I would be sorely tempted.

Elderly is just a state of mind. I live in Sweden and engine swapping old 740s, 24xs and older is a thing here. A lot of the younger drivers just use them as drift machines and a lot of the smaller roads around town are covered with the tracks of junior drifters.

740s have a rep for taking a V8 well, but there are a couple of people that have swapped in RB26s with turbo for maximum smiles. The OG is to go for the B230 and then turbo it.

If you have the time, and the money, do it. Assuming it will pass emissions and the MoT.

Not necessarily an elderly Volvo, but I have just bought a mint condition 2015, brown painted, cream leather & carpeted interior, automatic Volvo estate. It’s certainly a car to appeal to the older gent.

Hopefully it will be the last ever ICE car I buy and will see me through to my expected retirement  [in 20 years time!].

It’s really well bolted together - no rattles or knocks, great sound system, heated windscreen and quite possibly the comfiest seats known to mankind.

I had a 2 litre 940 estate. Did sterling service but I seem to remember about 28mpg. Anyway, diesel and aircon became trendy and I chopped it in for a Peugeot estate. Big mistake. I bet the Volvo is probably running around somewhere in Africa as a taxi.

I had a Volvo 480 - my second car ever, just after I finished uni and started working.

Bought as it had pop-up headlights.

It was apparently built in the same factory as my current car. I note that the build quality hasn’t improved. At least the 480 had the excuse of being 12 years old.

I suggested mounting the D5 unit longitudinally, but noted an adapter plate may be required as, to my knowledge, the d5 only was ever transverse.
If you want silly hp then Supra jza or Soarer jza can get supercar levels of power. Nissan RB26 out of a skyline would be ok as they did rwd versions.
BMW m power, supercharged 3ltr out of a jag s type r. But you are in a eye watering money levels as all need ecu looms etc

I have nothing useful to add other than I miss my 2004 V70 more than is reasonable. I’ve probably thought about that car about 3 times a week since selling it in 2017. What. A. Car.

That detail change was required on all sorts of European cars imported to the US and Canada because, up until quite recently, there were only two sizes/ shapes of sealed beam headlamps permitted on US vehicles – a 7″round one or a 6″x4″ rectanglar one. No mater what make of model of car in the US – they only used one or other of those lamps. So imports had to have the grill adapted to work with those lamps.

This is important and interesting information. A great many American films now make sense.....

Was it the 240 where a quick flick of plastic under the bonnet and your lights were adjusted for driving on the right?

My last car, MOT was to expensive for the 3-4k I did per year so sold it few years ago. Its been fixed by the buyer and is still going.
Also had a Blue 340 in the 90s.

I believe many Volvo fans are elderly, yes.

Boooo, I'm only 2 years older than the car 😀

There might be some lurking here

Woops, I was sure there was already a thread! I even remembered that it had 'appreciation' in the title... Still, that thread has modern cars in it, modern cars are boring 😉

Well he did come in here and mention engine swaps in the first post. If anyone knows a way to switch engines to gain power and economy without spending loads of money please let me know.

This escalated a bit, but yea, any heavy lifting in an engine swap will be done by my engine crane, not my wallet 😀
I'm not a Volvo guy, hence not knowing much about the options yet, but given that the current engine produced 120-odd bhp when new, and would do low-30's mpg on a long run, I'm optimistic that I can find something that will improve things. By modern standards it's not a heavy car (1300kg, ish) - granted the aerodynamics aren't great, but if I could to 180+bhp and keep the mpg in the 30's on a run, I'd be happy. I don't really do any town driving, it'll only see longer distance stuff. My plan would be to pick up a cheap (so, not a Monaro unfortunately) donor vehicle to provide the majority of the parts. I'm assuming at the moment it would be a Mercedes/BMW I6, but there may be other options. I would probably swap engine and box from the donor to avoid the need for an adaptor plate.

Depending on wallet size I’d swop in a 5cyl R/T5 turbo lump or older 2.3 turbo red block.

The 2.3 is an obvious choice, though my concern would be that economy would suffer in the quest for power. I may be wrong though, I just assumed that being a fairly low-tech engine I wouldn't be able to have my cake and eat it.

Volvo D5 with a Celtic stage 2 rrmap
230bhp, 350 ft lb torque. Should stil do 40mpg plus on a run.

Anyway, time for some shots of the engine bay and incredibly stylish blue interior:

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Ooooohhhhhhhhhh yea.

I too am old and love a volvo, loved my old 940, bike in the back, wheels on, bit thirsty though. Currently have a T5 V50.

Has anyone else noticed how many volvos are used in film and TV?

My last car, MOT was to expensive for the 3-4k I did per year so sold it few years ago. Its been fixed by the buyer and is still going.

That's rather nice. I considered an 850/early V70 (the boxier one before yours), but in the end I couldn't resist the call of RWD.

https://youtu.be/8M18MbXdBks

Boring cars

Love that S40 up there. My first Volvo was a 2003 V40, moved onto a V70, now in a V90. Wife runs about in a C30.

Edit.
The jag S type r is not a 3lt 6, but is a 4.2 v8, with supercharge
They were always the cheapest way to sit in 400bhp car.
I do recall an issue with nicasil block liners on this model.
Driving the xj with the same engine was a hoot, but not kind on the wallet

My dad had the same model as the OP as a company car back in the late 80s, 740GL. I seem to recall it cost around £17k at the time.

They were always the cheapest way to sit in 400bhp car.

why would you want to sit in a 400bhp volvo brick ?

yaaaaaay fast - oh **** a corner shiiiiiiit.

yaaaaaay fast – oh **** a corner shiiiiiiit.

Do you even drift, bro?

lol - i assume thats actual footage from the op on a long journey getting a usable level of power with a reasonable mpg......

Bit new for me, that. I would LOVE something like this

Had an old S80 for a while (that we were given for nothing!) - 3litre engine was probably not the most econommical, but it was superbly comfortable and lovely to drive.
Got to the point where the economics just didn't add up, the MOT was more than the value of the car, but still regret letting it go.

an issue with nicasil block liners on this mode

That was the original 4.0 V8, the 4.2  (and late 4.0) had iron liners. Guess who had a 4.0...

why would you want to sit in a 400bhp volvo brick ?

Think you've got your thread anecdotes mixed up.

Think you’ve got your thread anecdotes mixed up.

What makes you say that ? We are discussing engine swaps for the Volvo are we not ?

Since we are suggesting stupid options Just go full bhuna fit a Tesla core and motors 😉

I’m not a Volvo guy, hence not knowing much about the options yet, but given that the current engine produced 120-odd bhp when new, and would do low-30’s mpg on a long run, I’m optimistic that I can find something that will improve things. By modern standards it’s not a heavy car (1300kg, ish) – granted the aerodynamics aren’t great, but if I could to 180+bhp and keep the mpg in the 30’s on a run, I’d be happy. I don’t really do any town driving, it’ll only see longer distance stuff.

I had the 2.3L Turbo version of the very same car. It made 182bhp and could just about return 30mpg. It could easily have the boost wound up till the needle went off the scale and bring the total to about 250bhp too. Economy only suffered if you used all that 250bhp. I did a few trips down to the alps for skiing and biking, four people in blue velour-clad luxury and boot space for four full bicycles (important to avoid using a roof rack, I didn't want to make the economy any worse). I even did a few trackdays in it, for a giggle. Not as embarrassing as you might think, especially in the rain, where the sheer mass and ABS brakes made it stable and controllable. Zooming past Lotuses and Caterhams in a 25 year old estate car with a national trust sticker in the rear window is one of my favorite memories of that car.

Go big or go home. 450 is rookie numbers.

Nice looking old Volvos. When we went to ride Tour of Flanders last weekend there was a 1990s V70 BTCC “Securicor” fully liveried replica with slammed suspension. It looked damn cool.

And coincidentally I saw test driving Volvo’s today after our Merc was nicked at the weekend. They do some nice cars now.

@stiggy

Has anyone else noticed how many volvos are used in film and TV?

I think it is a TV/film trope that the 'responsible, sensible family' drives a Volvo. Once you spot it, you won't be able to unsee it.

Then it was played upon by Gus Fring in Breaking Bad.

I used to have a 1961 Volvo PV544, but it was rusty beyond salvage.

My dad has one of these... Great fun to drive, and room for some bikes in the back! 🙂

1963 Volvo Valp, bought from the Swedish Military and brought to Denmark. This is a stock photo, didn't have any good pictures on line.

Had a couple over the years:

£333 940 Wentworth 2.0T auto - made it to the Alps and back with 4 of us and sold for a profit!
£320 850 T5 manual - total wreck but served as the fastest tip run car ever during a house resto. Sold to a loon building a twin engined race 850...

Happy memories of Wentworth!

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elwoodblues - see my post on the previous page. I need to visit your dad 🙂

I keep watching blocket.se and finn.no just in case I get tempted for a purchasing road trip....

I used to have a 1961 Volvo PV544, but it was rusty beyond salvage.

My dad has one of these… Great fun to drive, and room for some bikes in the back! 🙂

That looks deliciously impractical. I simply MUST have one 😀

@mick_r Something like this perhaps....

https://www.blocket.se/annons/stockholm/volvo_valp/100284118

Although I would prefer this as a pickup:

https://www.blocket.se/annons/skane/volvo_amazon_221_p220_1_8_pickup/100290727

Can't remember if it was posted here or not but it's always worth seeing:

https://expeditionportal.com/featured-vehicle-1968-volvo-valp/

Actually, it's not too impractical.

Easy to drive, not too big, everything is bombproof. In the summer, we take off the doors, load some bikes in the back, and go for a ride. It is a seven person edition, 4 wheel drive. Here is a small clip of an almost stock Valp playing around in the mud.

Volvo Valp Telemark

Proper bouncy vehicle but looks great fun!

I've probably got one vehicle restoration project in me - and it will be a Valp if I ever do it. Think the space it needed was about the same as my wife's C3 Picasso as the fwd control layout makes it really compact. Always lots of pictures of them toppled over, so don't think you can get too ambitious off road.....

I've been following that Norwegian project. Always thought the axles would be a weak link with the big tyres and engine. Also it is the Norwegian ambulance body so doors and roof / hardtop are fibreglass. Prefer the look of the all-steel Swedish ones, but think they come with their own set of rot repair issues.

One day. Maybe.

A mate is on his second Valp, first one was one of the (relatively) rare gun platform ones with flip down windows and bolt on stabilisers. Obviously the only features his retained were the mounts for the stabilisers and the flip down windows... no gun.

He's got what is laughingly called a hard top convertible now. Top speed of about 50 mph with a redblock engine, and about 180bhp.

I suggested mounting the D5 unit longitudinally, but noted an adapter plate may be required as, to my knowledge, the d5 only was ever transverse.

Yes, the I5 modular engines were all transverse, started in the 850/P80 platform IIRC.
It's fairly easy to mount it longitudinally in one of the older platforms, as i've seen a few older cars with the modular I5 in. (Usually petrol and tuned to 300+ bhp though!)

Gun platform like this one? They go for big money.

https://www.milweb.net/webvert/a6052/102229

Picked up this 1998 V70 T5 last year. Only on 126,000 miles (last owner was an elderly gent, 10,000 miles in 10 years!)

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It's an auto, but pretty quick with 240bhp, very comfortable. MPG of course isn't brilliant, at mid 20s, but it only does around 4k/5k a year.

It's the Volvo TP21 that you all need.

Tasteless SUV

@mick_r
Yeah, basically that, think his had been used for a heavy machine gun though. And it was in no way shape or form in that good condition!

He got about 20k for it from memory (it was a few years ago.)

A dude down the road from my old place had one of those TP21s in his back garden, I've a pretty strong suspicion the extension he'd built meant he couldn't get it back out but it was still ace