1985 Volvo 360 GLE + 1987 340 GL

[derskine]

Decided to make a thread about my two 300 series Volvos.

I've owned a few of these and  rate them highly, the 360 is a different beast though.

 

It all started when I bought this for £150 back in 2013 from a work colleague.

 

 

A very late 1.7GL 340. It had everything from the parts bin thrown at it, central locking, electric windows etc, not something I've seen on any other 340.

It was pretty rusty so it sat around until I decided the rust was too terminal and broke it for parts.

I made a nice profit from my original £150 so it wasn't all that bad.

 

Skip ahead to 2014 and FOAD purchased a 1.7 GL.

This didn't help with my itch to get another 340.

I knew of one sitting in a garden so bought that for £150 - that was a mistake as it had been declared scrapped and the seller hadn't told me.

 

 

To be fair, it was a shed, so not sure what I was thinking anyway.

Broke that for parts too, made a profit but not as much as from the 1.7 (1.7 mechanicals are sought after).

Kept quite a lot of the parts and they've come in useful for my subsequent 300 ownership.

 

Soon after, FOAD had become tired of the way his 1.7 drove, it was previously used as a drift car, so the interior had been stripped out.

Attempts to fit the interior from my silver 1.7GL had proven futile as it was still loud, rattly and crashy inside.

 

I then bought the brown roller painted beast off him.

 

 

I really liked the way it drove, it handled very precisely and could really be thrown about.

It also taught me a lot about car control and going sideways in a car.

 

Drove it around for a while and decided I wanted to have some fun with it.

So I welded the diff, lowered it, and fitted some bucket seats.

I also painted it grey as I wasn't keen on the brown.

 

 

 

I have this 440 2.0 engine that will be going in soon, the 1.7 is a bit gutless and started to sound a bit fucked.

 

 

Finally, I recently swapped my Polo GT for this 360 saloon.

 

 

 

I'm really, really liking this car.

After driving Renault engined cars mainly for the past year and a half, it's good to get in a car, and know it'll start when you turn the key.

 

The 360 is my daily now, aside the fuel economy - I can't fault it.

[dave21478]

Nice.
I have good memories of these. Father and sister had one each and an old pal had a few too.

 

Underrated cars.

[Split_Pin]

Good to see some SVM love for the 300 too. My dad had an A reg 1.4 from new and after he sold it, it lasted until 2004. I remember I kept hetting electric shocks from the doors but I think that was to do with my Woolworths shoes!!

[gordonbennet]

My mate had a 360 GLT as a company car new, cracking vehicle that could be chucked around with abandon.

[Asimo]

Good topic!

 

Wish they had done a 2 door saloon..........

 

A 360 is one of only two types of car I have tried to buy more than once, ie gone to try but didn't buy. Missed the boat now.

 

Does the 340/1.7 have the torque tube between the engine and gearbox like the 360 or do they have an open shaft with donuts like the 340/1.4?

[bigstraight6]

I had a 1.7 engined 340 about 16 years ago now that I paid £500 for at the time, it was bloody brilliant! Had no problems with it and found it nice to drive though the steering was a bit heavy at parking speed....

[derskine]

Good topic!

 

Wish they had done a 2 door saloon..........

 

A 360 is one of only two types of car I have tried to buy more than once, ie gone to try but didn't buy. Missed the boat now.

 

Does the 340/1.7 have the torque tube between the engine and gearbox like the 360 or do they have an open shaft with donuts like the 340/1.4?

They have the crap prop shaft but I have a few spare!

[derskine]

I had a 1.7 engined 340 about 16 years ago now that I paid £500 for at the time, it was bloody brilliant! Had no problems with it and found it nice to drive though the steering was a bit heavy at parking speed....

I have to say I found my 1.7s steering to be very light considering there was no power steering.

Having the diff welded has made it much heavier when parking though.

[Six-cylinder]

You have started me of now.

 

I sold these new and started with the Aylesbury Volvo dealer beginning of December 1985 and was given a 340GL 1.7 5 door in Ocean blue as my company car, it was six weeks old when I got it but I went on to have another 9 new 340s on and off over the following 5 years. I even owned a 1984 340DL 3 door for a while.

 

This was my 1st.

[Jikovron]

Spare propshafts FTW, I went through 5 on mine including a brief stint where I could only find a shorter cvt one so fitted it with a longer 1.7 input shaft and a bellhousing tail spaced with threaded bar

 

now and again I get tempted back into a 300, however these days it would need to be a 360 for its more robust drivetrain and an xud mated up to it for mpg madness

[overrun]

Ooh, I'll play.

 

Fun cars.

 

I bought my low mileage, low owner mk2 360 GLS for winter skids, but the fact it was a bit unusual, got under my skin.

So it got a ghetto B230 turbo swap, welded diff etc.

 

I never did take it skidding properly, but was no stranger to a cheeky bit of streeto.

 

[derskine]

Aw man, a louvre too, that is awesome.

[overrun]

Aye. I loved me louvre.

 

Starring a young Wilson WIlson;

 

and a bit of filthyjohn

 

[derskine]

Very nice.

Quite a few early ones there too, A and B reg ones seem hard to find now.

[warren t claim]

Can someone confirm or deny that you can't have an automatic 340 with a rear wiper because the speed hold switch is where the wiper switch would be?

[overrun]

Very nice.

Quite a few early ones there too, A and B reg ones seem hard to find now.

 

Yeah, so I see/hear. 

The B plate 340 belonged to WW.

 

He and I bought a Y reg(?) too.

 

Given their rarity, between fj,WW and myself, we had the North East pretty well catered for!

 

I still have a very good blue parcel shelf and carpets etc from my A reg, if they are any use to you?

[derskine]

Not sure on that one.

Don't know a great deal about the CVT 340s.

Would like to try one though.

[derskine]

Yeah, so I see/hear. 

The B plate 340 belonged to WW.

 

He and I bought a Y reg(?) too.

 

Given their rarity, between fj,WW and myself, we had the North East pretty well catered for!

 

I still have a very good blue parcel shelf and carpets etc from my A reg, if they are any use to you?

Seems to be mostly 86 onwards that are around commonly now.

I'm not sure I could make use of either of those - no interior in the 340 and the 360 is a saloon, but many thanks for the offer.

I could do with a few small interior bits, so not sure if you have anything else?

[overrun]

Seems to be mostly 86 onwards that are around commonly now.

I'm not sure I could make use of either of those - no interior in the 340 and the 360 is a saloon, but many thanks for the offer.

I could do with a few small interior bits, so not sure if you have anything else?

 

Not sure, fella.

Most went the journey, long ago, but I reckon I still have a few bits of interior kicking about.

Will look for you, next time I can (mates lock up).

[derskine]

That'd be really decent of you.

Previously I haven't really cared if something has broken off, in the case of the 340, but I'd like to keep the 360 nice-ish.

[cms206]

Very nice.

Quite a few early ones there too, A and B reg ones seem hard to find now.

Got a Y-reg here still needing welding. Just bought a B-reg Variomatic too 'cos I need my brain looked at.

[overrun]

Your 360 looks good, so I don't blame you.

 

This was another mates GLT saloon;

 

 

Ended its days like this (not his doing);

 

[derskine]

Got a Y-reg here still needing welding. Just bought a B-reg Variomatic too 'cos I need my brain looked at.

No brain looking at required. All seems fine to me.

 

Your 360 looks good, so I don't blame you.

 

This was another mates GLT saloon;

 

 

Ended its days like this (not his doing);

 

Matt black always looks shit, I've made this mistake in the past.

[DodgyBastard]

Ooooh can I play?

 

Mrs Foads 360

 

DSC_6478 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

and my 340

 

DSC_6239 by srblythe, on Flickr

[danthecapriman]

I love these things. I was always attracted to the styling of them believe it or not.

This one was my first Volvo, I bought it when I was 18 and kept it for years, then my dad used it for several years after I upgraded to a 244.

 

 

 

 

It was a very late one on a J plate. 1.7GL manual. It was giffer owned before me and it was absolutely immaculate, only had 50K on the clock when I bought it. When I sold it on (about 70K miles, so still low) it was still very very tidy but unfortunately I think it ended up dying in the scrappage scheme a few years after I sold it.

 

Edited, to add more pics!

[derskine]

I love the styling too.

I don't get how anyone could call them ugly.

[Richard]

If you're feeling brave you could knock on the caravan door and ask if this is for sale

 

[danthecapriman]

I love the styling too.I don't get how anyone could call them ugly.

When I was driving this, at 18 years old, most others my age had Novas or mk2 Fiestas. I was paying less than half what they were for insurance and I got a much bigger engine and rear wheel drive!

I still got loads of shit for having it though! I didn't care it was a brilliant car.

[derskine]

If you're feeling brave you could knock on the caravan door and ask if this is for sale

 

Seen that one, don't think anyone lives in the caravan though!

[Jim Bell]

FFS. I suppose me play too.

 

 

The Mk1 B14 that Overrun and I shared (very briefly) then it went to FJ, then bean tins I think.  Had a lot of early features such as quarterlights (went on the 360 I think), mk1 dash etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 340 GL I owned twice, with FJs 340 Valver. Bonus JIKOVRON content!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That 340 ended up getting a 4age transplant, and a bespoke prop.  Which didnt fit.  Then it got scrapped.

 

 

 

360 GLT on the worst wheels in history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

360 GLE Carb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

340 vario (WITH REAR WIPER THERES SPACE FOR TWO SWITCHES)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There may have been more..................