This time we were allowed to drive a real Swedish evergreen, a Volvo 240 GL Injection (B 200 E engine with K-Jetronic) in excellent condition. The car even had a full maintenance history and has had only two owners in its years. We are reacquainted with the unexpected and therapeutic qualities of the Swedish hit song.
The Volvo we will be driving was delivered new in Brussels in September 1990. It was equipped with a few options by the first owner, such as a rev counter and beautiful Volvo light metal. In addition, she opted for the fine combination of a silver-grey exterior and a predominantly blue interior. That is a nice combination that fits exactly with this Volvo sedan from 1990. A car that was already a classic during its assembly.
Robust and comfortable quality
Saturday afternoon adjusts to the peaceful Volvo and we decide to subject the Volvo 240 GL to a nice tour east of Leeuwarden. When we get in, the typical Volvo 240 upright sitting position stands out. It takes little effort to find a good seating position. The seats sit and provide excellent support. An inspection before departure makes it clear that the ease of use of various facilities has been considered, although the stove operation does require some study. Yet most buttons can be found by touch in that beautiful, calmly evolved interior from the XNUMXs. And that interior says a lot about the character of this Volvo. The materials are robust and of excellent quality. They provide a modest form of comfort. Precisely because of the lack of unnecessary frills, the quality comes to the fore in a pleasant way.
Civilized and modest despite large dimensions
That tribute also applies to the exterior of the Volvo, which symbolizes an excellently balanced combination of strength, large dimensions and slender lines. Civilized and modest, the Volvo shows how thoughtfully its makers built this car. Everything is right, everything feels solid. The doors, the tailgate (which provides access to a large luggage compartment) and the hood open and close decisively.
Recognizable sound, impressive solidity
When we are on the road with the Volvo, we experience the tranquility on board, which is mixed with that characteristic sound that the power sources of historic B engines make: a slight hum and a strong airflow can be audibly combined and give the driver the impression that the engine is has eternal life. This also applies to the sovereign and exceptionally comfortable road holding, the experienced solidity of the chassis and body. Meanwhile I realize how excellent the car shifts. The clutch replaced as a precaution definitely contributes to this.
unhurriedn
We experience it in a Volvo that has a longingly therapeutic effect. He prefers to drive straight ahead in peace and not for a moment encourages the choice of the left lane, while he has enough power to move forward in an acceptable way. And thanks to a steering that is tuned for comfort – in combination with the sublime suspension comfort – it encourages calm. He prefers to leave sudden steering maneuvers to the sharp competitors of his time.
Just run in opportunity
Jan de Vries, owner of the provider Auto van Jan, already says so in the run-up to the pleasant ride. “Volvo drivers are loyal and in general they take very good care of their cars.” The car has since been sold to a Volvo enthusiast in Belgium. He will not have regretted it, because this late version of the illustrious Volvo 240 series has everything to stay with us for decades to come. In addition, it had just run in with 133.000 kilometers. It is a car of sublime and solid quality, in which the organic qualities float to the top precisely because of the lack of pretension. And we liked them very, very well.
The images are made by Erik van Putten and Auto van Jan
Also read:
- Volvo 242 custom restoration
- Volvo 340: Very cheap classic driving
- The Volvo 740 station wagon. a real Volvo
- Volvo Amazon. Vilken fantastic buttock!
A 240 with 133.000 km is unique. I sometimes suspect owners of old Volvos that the odometer turns forward instead of backwards as with other brands.
Great steering car, lies like a "block" on the road! But the interior has no emotion, few shocking instruments, ... missed opportunity in Sweden, therefore switched to another brand with more emotion, to this day…………..
A beautiful car, wonderful to drive by an astute driver. We had a 80GLE automatic in the 244s. Absolutely not suitable for fast cornering, but for fast straight pieces. Driving it has always stayed with me, where the same experience in other cars has completely faded. Only the consumption of the for that time heavy car, that was a thing.
After a Volvo 122s; Volvo 164; Volvo 121; Volvo 244; now the proud owner of a Volvo 240 GLT.
Unfortunately I have had some bad experiences with this type. I bought the car from my neighbor in 1978 with 60.000 Km on the odometer. At 85.000 and a year later I traded it in for my previous brand, Mercedes. Perhaps the Volvo sensed that I had different feelings and that it was not welcome.
But after 2 weeks I already had the poker in hand. After 15.000 kilometers driven by me, the oil consumption started to increase to 1,5 liters per 1000 Km. It must be mentioned that it was made in Antwerp and might not have had the quality control that they had paid to the car in Sweden.
Have to say that the depreciation was not too bad. After these 25.000 KM I finally got Hfls 1500 as an encore. This is to compensate for the oil consumption. I said goodbye to the car without any hard feelings.
Nice solid car,
except for the dashboard, Volvo should have hired an Italian or English designer for that instead of a Russian one.
It was probably a designer from the Volvo Truck department who designed the dash (and maybe more). You saw that more. A car brand that also had a utility at home was less frivolous than a pure sang car brand, with roots in aviation or motorsport. Decent Mercedes Diesel, Decent Daf, Decent Volvo are examples where two worlds came together, resulting in solid passenger cars.
Did Saab do that differently, despite the trucks and planes
Saab was inspired precisely by aviation, the Viggen. The B20E was one of the strongest OHC engines available and was later upgraded to 2.3, B23. The 6-cylinder came from VW, engine from the LT (heavier van). For Q8 we installed test engines to test their lubricating oils. Factory new engine was disassembled for a baseline measurement, reassembled, filled with Q8 oil and after 60K to 1 ton disassembled again, measured, oil sent to the lab for test analysis. Why Volvo? The name, reputation (80s)
For that reason I have 2 saabs 900 and only 1 volvo (pv)
As with other classic brands: a strong image and unique DNA in the past. Now a one-size-fits-all and often part of a large brand consortium/investment company. Or completely disappeared from the flow of the nations.
Great cars. Even with the 175CDS carburettor, the engine was already a lot of fun. And yes, that sound. Delicious. Steer it a little less sharply,… well, forgive him. Comfort and stateliness are reason enough to unconditionally love this car, with an almost indestructible engine.
How recognizable. Have been driving a 240 Polar for several years now with an engine just broken in
(430.000km) I do the maintenance myself and am the 2nd owner. I did upgrade the chassis immediately after purchase. New rubbers, Eibach springs, Bilstein dampers and new tires.
I had previously had the 6 cylinder diesel and a 240 sedan. When I got back into a 240 after almost thirty years, I immediately had the feeling this is it and now nothing else. Fantastic cars.
What a wonderfully wrong 80's rims. Great!