Independence Day Collection: Volvo Content

[BorniteIdentity]

Following yesterday's sale of the Ford Sierra, it's time to get into something else before the resentment of selling the car to the wrong person becomes too much.

 

I'm breaking two of my own rules this morning.

 

1) Telling y'all what it is before I set off to collect this afternoon.

2) Buying something I've already owned.

 

Being a sentimental old fool, I've been keeping my eye out for a nice Volvo 300 for the last few years.  My first proper car (ie RWD and not a Metro) was a Volvo 360 GLT in 'Goldmember Bronze'.  It was a fucking hoot.

 

A flurry of 300s have appeared for sale over the last couple of weeks and, while I should be putting the Sierra money towards the repair bill of my exploded Mercedes 190e, I'm fearful that my wife will put the brakes on a further car purchase later down the line.  It's easier to seek forgiveness than consent, so I'm hitting the public transport network at 2pm this afternoon.

 

Whilst this is the fourth 300 we've had in the family, none of us have ever had one in the miserable flavour of 'Variomatic'.

 

Can anybody give me any tips for things to check with it?  I know it's quite an idiosyncratic arrangement.  

 

Also anything else to look out for on the cars?  This one looks to be absolutely peachy - which is, ironically, more worrying than comforting.

 

Cheers!

[Jim Bell]

Rust.

Grinding when operating the gear selector. Look underneath if you can and make sure there's two drive belts attached. Eddiehonda knows far more about the variomagic system than me.

[chaseracer]

If there were any 360GLTs left that hadn't been drifted to fuck, I'd have one like a shot.

[BorniteIdentity]

It was a proper bruiser of a car.  I knew nothing about RWDYO back then - just how much fun it was in the snow/opposite field and how much faster it was than all of my friends' phase 2 clios on alloy effect trims.

[DodgyBastard]

If there were any 360GLTs left that hadn't been drifted to fuck, I'd have one like a shot.

 

Here's one

 

DSC_0500 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

It's Mrs Foad's and she won't sell it.

[BorniteIdentity]

 

Here's one

 

DSC_0500 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

It's Mrs Foad's and she won't sell it.

 

Exactly the same as mine - although newer and perhaps with PAS around 88/89?

 

We were lucky enough to have a 3dr as well - they're almost extinct now too.

[DodgyBastard]

We have a few 300 series volvo's around the yard, a 360 glt, 360 gle injection saloon, 340gl 1.7 and a 340dl 1.4 3dr.

 

DSC_0477 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

DSC_0499 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

and the grey 340 just out of shot

 

DSC_0744 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

Never had a vario but would like to try one at some point.

[the judge]

Please be the 79 one. Please be the 79 one. Please be the 79 one.

[Jim Bell]

If it's a nose cone one, don't crash it.

[BorniteIdentity]

If it's a nose cone one, don't crash it.

 

Come again?  (Actress/Vicar)

[Noel Tidybeard]

Come again?  (Actress/Vicar)

 the early ones had shorter bonnet etc with a nose cone wiyh the lights and grille in

 

i would imagine ovlov made the nosecone out of unobtainium

[Jim Bell]

Early noseconey 340/343 and later early one.

[Lacquer Peel]

The early ones look really gormless.

I wanted a 340 for my first car but insurance was weirdly expensive.

[BorniteIdentity]

And we're off.

 

Charging my phone up on the train so expecting to be arrested almost immediately.

[BorniteIdentity]

Change at Peterborough for the Great East Midlands.

 

Sunshine and nice legs.

 

(Hers, not mine)

[BorniteIdentity]

 

Pork pies await.

 

Should have worn a pork pie too. My fat head is burning.

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[danthecapriman]

Good luck BI. Can't wait to see the 340.

I've never had a rubber band propelled one so have absolutely no idea what to look for with them or even how they drive.

 

Aside from obvious rust (sills, arches etc) check the chassis legs where they curve up over the rear axle. I've seen a lot of these with rot in this place and my old one was starting to go there. It's not that hard to weld up or you might get lucky like I did and catch it when it's just surface rust. Worth a look though.

[BorniteIdentity]

 

My kind of place.

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[BorniteIdentity]

Oh it's good. Like really good.

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[BorniteIdentity]

My favourite thing.

 

Heading home in the pissing rain with the sunroof open. Not my favourite thing.

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[BorniteIdentity]

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[Jim Bell]

Fwar. Best wheels too. Leos I think they're called. Does it have an early dash?

[danthecapriman]

Oh my!

Look at those rimz! I'm jealous, really really jealous.

[greengartside]

Wow! FATHA greengartside had one of these in the early 90's, 1.4 vario in blue. Got all its badges stolen off it outside my nan's in Manchester and then dad wrote it off in town after some pillock didn't think of applying his brakes to avoid a nasty car interface.

 

Safe journey back, looks a good 'un.

[Jim Bell]

My favourite thing.

 

Heading home in the pissing rain with the sunroof open. Not my favourite thing.

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Rule 16: never open the sunroof.

[r.welfare]

I had those rims on my '84. Prefacelift 360 GLT fit if I am not mistaken?

[johngarty]

Nice buyage sir. I had one many years ago in this exact colour. 

 

 

The only automatic I ever owned, a game little thing tho but mind. I hope you stocked up on on pork pies whilst in the pie capital of the world?

 

[Skizzer]

Nosecone 343! That's HOT, well done

[trigger]

Wow! That's lovely man! NEED MOR FOTOS.

[Ditchfinder General]

My kind of place.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

This is my neck of the woods. I live and work in Melton and I've never spotted this lovely Volvo before!