I have new shite! 1988 Volvo 740 GL

[Futuramic]

Car buying is a strange business, isn't it. Sometimes the oddest of vehicles will call out to you across a forecourt, wedges of cash will change hands in a smoke filled, wood panelled caravan (such is the office of the class of trader I frequent) and you leave, non-plussed in a new set of wheels with a teaspoon of petrol in the tank.

 

Anyway my old Mondeo was a massive disappointment and far too new, so I bought this baby. She has had a new timing belt, fitted by me, and a fuel pump, installed by a professional. Stunning build quality, modern cars feel pathetic by comparison. The doors and bootlid make a lovely clunk when closed and the bonnet counterbalances. Everything feels expensive, as if it was made to last rather thank to look flashy. Equipment is fairly basic for what was in its day a prestiege car.

 

Driving it is an odd experience. The engine generates massive torque for its size and spec (2.0 litre 8 valve non-turbo) but revs slowly. Acceleration is reasonable and it is the best motorway cruiser I've ever driven. Totally different to a manic, modern 16 valve lump. The non-catted exhaust is offensively loud (factory standard too) and the viscodrive fan sounds like a MiG taking off. The gearchange is ponderous, but has a nice mechanical feel to it, I've never selected the wrong ratio by accident. The hydrauilc clutch is perhaps over damped but allows silky smooth engagement with practice. In fact I reckon I could out "smooth" an automatic driving the Volvo slowly and rev-matching.

 

The chassis, and much of the equipment, was antique when this car was being built. The 740 is made using 1950s technology, even down to constant dribble mechanical injection (the exhaust fumes smell wonderful because of this). Live axle RWD was totally outdated at the time and nowadays is considered beneath contempt, but it works. The handling is barge-like but nowhere near as bad as detractors make out. It is possible to drive these things quickly, but it's not what they were designed for.

 

Home maintenance is a dream. No special tools are required for even complex jobs, such as renewing the cambelt, and everything is designed to come apart with the minimum of fuss. It all goes back together without breaking too, unlike certain French cars I've owned.

 

It is an idiosynchratic car, but I'd have a hard time finding another daily drive I like so much. Nothing else is quite as imposing, the pre-facelift brutal front end helps with that. Young children all seem to be fascinated by it too, I suppose in a world of obese jellymould cars that are "friendly" this squared off beast represents a different age; one they never saw.

 

Anyway here are lots of pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RWD!!!!!111!!!! GR8 4 DRIFTIN NOT AE86 NOT SUPRA NOT MK2 ESCORT RALLY

[binhoker668]

Love it mate - had the estate version fer a while, but only got to drive it a few times - felt like I owned the road - and to hell with the lack of toys!I *will* have another one. for sure. Punto can't last for ever dammit...

[outlaw118]

if it were a woman, it would be a m.i.l.f.Like Fern Britton.

[r.welfare]

740s are the dogs, man. Easiest cambelt change ever. Comical TICKA-TICKA-TICKA from the seatbelt warning lamp when you get in and switch on the ignition. Viscodrive fan noise, as mentioned. Super-powerful ventilation fan. Don't forget the toolkit hidden in the plastic panel between the rear lights on the inside of the boot. Kudos for the pinstripe upholstery - does it suffer from the (factory standard, I think) drooping headlining? I assume, being a 2-litre, it has the 5-speed 'box, rather than the 4+overdrive the 2.3 GLEs my brother had, with the little "5" light on the dash when you engaged it. You're right about the gearchange, too. And those stainless steel hubcaps! Awesome. Hope yours is early enough to avoid the "intermittent" speedo/fuel/temperature gauge issues that my brother's '90 model suffered mightily from - 740s are a heavy car to push to a petrol pump...

[bigstraight6]

What a handsome beast, I'd glady waft around in that

[pogweasel]

Beautiful!!They are very nice to drive in a 'quietly proceeding' kind of way.Bonus points for saloon too.

[Guest]

Lovely. That original in car entertainment equipment looks strangely antique for a big late eighties car.

[Futuramic]

Thanks for all the encouraging replies. No-one seems to dislike this car. As for the fuel guage, it is a law unto itself. I just fill up little and often. Being a saloon the load carrying capacity is severely diminished, but it has been pampered by its ONE (!) previous owner. I've had to do a bit on the mechanical side, but for a 20 year old car it's great.As for the MILF comment, the exhaust is probably fat enough.

[Mash]

Blimey, I saw the thread title and thought "oh great another shitty old Volvo" but that's a bit bloody nice that is; top buy.And I stand very much corrected

[Guest]

Not really a fan of the later Volvos but I must admit you've got yourself a cracker there.The B200 OHV engines shove Amazons along rather nicely as well, as many Scandinavians have done.Love the seats as well. I imagine they're comfortable in a sort of epic squashy IKEA way. Volvos have always had awesome seats.

[wuvvum]

I had a string of 740 estates as tow cars a few years back. Brilliant old things, never been let down by one - my first one was still dragging a car transporter up and down the country at 338,000 miles. Not quick and rather thirsty but a thoroughly competent and dependable old bus. The turbo diesel ones are superb - pull a house down. And people don't tend to cut you up in traffic when you drive one of those either.

[FredTransit]

I am warming to volvos, this looks a good clean example. I do prefer the 240 though, got a GTE.

[AXrescuer]

Lovely find there. But them I'm biased, I had one almost the same!

 

[Richard]

My dad is getting rid of his 940TD Estate soon. I'm tempted to make him an offer for it.What is the difference between a 940 and a 740, is it just the lights?

[AnthonyG]

What a lovely old beast .I think you're being a bit harsh on the '1950s technology' though, Volvo put a lot of development and engineering thought into the 760/740 as they were heavily criticised by the motoring and business press for the so called 'new car' that was the 1975 240, basically a 140 with McP struts and safety bumpers. The 1976 343 also got a drubbing from the press and needed a lot of post launch fettling and a crash development programme for an improved 'mk2' model.For example the 700 rear suspension is mounted on an aluminium subframe or something - I have a couple of mates who are Volvo nuts and could recite the specs and design characteristics to their hearts content!

[STUNO]

There's one of those in the carpark at work , it stands out from the Japshite! I must have a good look at it today and find out why the owner likes it. It's grey too

[r.welfare]

Hey Futuramic, I know you've changed the cambelt already but if this one's gonna be a keeper I've got a gennerwine Volvo belt and also a waterpump kicking around my garage, yours for the price of postage like.

[Torsten2001]

What a loverly piece of kit! It's been a while since I had a 740 Saloon and I fancy another, a satisfyingly earnest car!

[Hutch]

Excellent.My old 760 saloon looked virtualy identical to this appart from the alloys and leather seats. Another of the long list of old RWD's I regret selling. Saw it on ebay last August still going strong and no rust.Wonderfull cars.

[dollywobbler]

Lovely. Was only thinking today that I wish I had a 700 series Volvo. Had a very shonky 740 last year and it made me think I should get a less shabby/broken one.

[Owain-328i]

Wonderfull cars the 700's. My parents had a ex demo G reg 740 GL Estate 2.0 Auto in around 1990 (facelift), so a lot of my childhood motoring memories are from travelling in a 740, they kept it till about 95/96.My mother still says now that nothing they've owned since has been as solid or reliable as the old Volvo.

[alfetta]

I could see the point of an estate, but otherwise....not a fan sadly, looks tidy though!