dollywobbler Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 The story begins some weeks ago, when a free Volvo 740 was flagged up via a Facebook group. Naturally, it found its way to the Scotoshite page, where it caused much excitement. Myself and CMS entered into a friendly debate about nabbing it but the trail went cold. We both contacted the seller, but no contact. CMS played with rubber bands while I just felt disappointed. Story is, the owner had sadly passed away, and his son was trying to find it a new home. For whatever reason, I got contacted recently and yes, it was still available. Emails and messages were swapped and I agreed to have it. The Volvo is in Hertfordshire. This is about 200 miles away. The initial plan was that I would drive over in the Nippa, as Mrs DW is heading to Leicestershire tomorrow. I wasn't hugely keen on this as the Nippa is fun for about 20 miles, and then not much fun at all. It's just a bit small. Then a better plan presented itself when a cheap Volvo cropped up in Haverfordwest. One P. Andamonium asked whether anyone could collect it and get it closer to Essex and himself. Well, this just seemed too good to be true! Panda's Volvo looks like this. Always a bit worrying when the photo is taken quite so far away... but it's a 940 Turbo. Nice. It has taken some sorting, but we're there now. Both cars are insured. Both cars will be taxed. We're still trying to work out the logistics at the England end of things. If there's anyone living in Herts, you may be able to assist! My long, long day begins early tomorrow with a blagged lift into town. Then it's three hours (!) on a bus to Haverfordwest... Alexg, anonymous user, mouseflakes and 19 others 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 I love it when a plan comes together! Im intrigued by the 740- looks to be an estate from the roof rails, perhaps a caravan club badge on thr grille, but what colour is/ was it? Looks throughly Leonard hatred-ed. Looking forward to live updates! Lacquer Peel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandamonium Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Hellooooo all. Yes, we are both crazy, I know! holbeck 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 I was going to wish you good luck, but this trip involves driving two of Volvo's finest so you won't be needing any luck. It'll go perfectly and you'll complete the trip feeling as fresh and comfortable as when you started! Looking forward to updates. eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyboy406v6 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 I will cruise Haverfordwest looking for stranded Volvos !! And get the necessary pics ! Junkman and anonymous user 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 I'm due there at 11:14. I'll be looking pretty frazzled I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cms206 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Ye all have little faith... we SCTSCH aren't Volvo apologists for the sake of it. davidfowler2000, Junkman, rml2345 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 I love it when a plan comes together! Im intrigued by the 740- looks to be an estate from the roof rails, perhaps a caravan club badge on thr grille, but what colour is/ was it? Looks throughly Leonard hatred-ed. Looking forward to live updates! I reckon the colour is Blue Green Met. Could be a GL or SE hard to tell from that shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 740GL estate in what was probably once blue green metallic. Junkman and Six-cylinder 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 740GL estate in what was probably once blue green metallic. Manual or Auto? Sorry to say the 2 Ltr cars were rather sluggish neither a nice revver or a wall of torque, they were a tax break cars when company car tax was based on engine size and prior to that GL's used a 2.3 carb engine that had much more torque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 So how does a Volvo 740 Estate fit into your fleet when you all ready have the XM diesel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Interestingly when the catalytic converter was introduced, on the 2.0i cars with cats you could opt for a 2.3i cat engine for no extra cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 That looks decent for a freebie, low mileage and good MOT history. If it's a manual would it have the 4+OD 'box? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 That looks decent for a freebie, low mileage and good MOT history. If it's a manual would it have the 4+OD 'box? Quite! I couldn't really give a monkeys if it's a bit sluggish at the asking price of nowt. It'll still out accelerate a 2CV. No idea on the gearbox. Guess I'll find out tomorrow. We're still a little bit stuck on Volvo handover. Panda can't meet me when I need to be collecting the Volvo, so that leaves me stuck 200 miles away from home with two Volvos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Could you stash the keys somewhere for p. Monium when he's ready to collect it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 . Panda can't meet me when I need to be collecting the Volvo, so that leaves me stuck 200 miles away from home with two Volvos.#firstworldscottishproblems Cavcraft, garethj, cms206 and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Quite! I couldn't really give a monkeys if it's a bit sluggish at the asking price of nowt. It'll still out accelerate a 2CV. No idea on the gearbox. Guess I'll find out tomorrow. We're still a little bit stuck on Volvo handover. Panda can't meet me when I need to be collecting the Volvo, so that leaves me stuck 200 miles away from home with two Volvos. Sorry, not meaning to belittle your fine Volvo 740 in my favourite colour for them, just my personal road test report from 1987! dollywobbler 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 That looks decent for a freebie, low mileage and good MOT history. If it's a manual would it have the 4+OD 'box? GL's have 5 speed gearboxes rather than overdrive. Lacquer Peel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 Could you stash the keys somewhere for p. Monium when he's ready to collect it? That's some sort of option. I'm just a bit worried about leaving a car somewhere with the keys accessible. Lacquer Peel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillock Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Put a series of faults on it (rearrange plug leads, disconnect coil, clamp on fuel line etc) to stop it getting nicked if they find the keys For added fun, don't let on what the faults are. It'll be like a gameshow, where the prize is a Volvo. davidfowler2000, oldcars, garethj and 9 others 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyboy406v6 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Cant be many folk desperate enough to own a Volvo let alone nick one ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 what odd shit do you have on the svm that they didnt travel (for them) a small distance for a FREE volvo 3 hours on the bus davidfowler2000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandamonium Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Put a series of faults on it (rearrange plug leads, disconnect coil, clamp on fuel line etc) to stop it getting nicked if they find the keys For added fun, don't let on what the faults are. It'll be like a gameshow, where the prize is a Volvo. Bring it on, I love a good puzzle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig the Princess Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Love complicated double collecting capers, I would wish you luck but it's a Volvo so that is redundant. Hope the bus is a B10 or such like davidfowler2000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meshking Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 I just want to wish you good luck. We're all counting on you. Sent from my SGP621 using Tapatalk Craig the Princess and trigger 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Bring it on, I love a good puzzle.This has got to be worth a live webcam .. The launch of Shite TV dollywobbler, eddyramrod and beko1987 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 Love complicated double collecting capers, I would wish you luck but it's a Volvo so that is redundant. Hope the bus is a B10 or such like Some chance. It'll probably be an Optare Metrocity - a bus described as ideal for city and town environments. Er... davidfowler2000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethj Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 I'm also going to pick up a Volvo tomorrow, going from Bury St Edmonds to Bedford. Another Volvo not going to Scotland, what the hell is going on? Good luck with the trip, DW. As it involves ancient Volvos the bit most likely to go wrong on the whole adventure is your bus not arriving. dollywobbler 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2MB Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 I love early 740s and, equally, the lengths shiters will go to to get a car they don't need for nowt. Never thought the 2.0i was all that slow in my old 240. It could hold decent drifts but that was down to the fact that the tyres were absolutely shit and I drove it like a twat because young Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted November 27, 2015 Author Share Posted November 27, 2015 I officially declare this caper open. After a lift in a T plate Octavia, I waited for a bus. Savvy moment. The Moog, Junkman, Craig the Princess and 18 others 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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