Volvo 480 Designer, John de Vries, Funeral

[jamescarruthers]

John R. dv Vries died on 21st June 2025 and his funeral is tomorrow.  I had the pleasure of having dinner with him a few years ago at a 480 meet in Belgium and also briefly said hello at similar last year in Germany.  A great guy who designed a fantastic car-- the Volvo 480.  He was Dutch, the the 480 is Dutch built and designed; a surprise to most who think my car is Swedish.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_de_Vries_(designer)

Lets share a bit of 480 love here today, eh?  Got any good memories or photos of your time with one?  Just for today, lets forget the rear-arch rot and the ability to let all the water in the world in to the boot.

I have had a 480 my whole driving career since about 2001 or 2002... apart from a little break of a few months before I couldn't resist and bought another one rather swiftly!

I'll go first: my current 480 D828 CPV, just as it was finished being painted a few years ago.  One of two remaining UK launch 1987 CPV launch cars

 

My previous one E918 KHM , went to Germany a few years ago:

 

H858 FGV, my lovely turbo auto.  I also had a turbo manual L691 JFC but no idea where the pictures got to.

 

F70 MNR which I bought with just 8500 miles on the clock and it still smelt new at 20 years old.  Hopefully on a private now as I can't find it online but it was probably the most perfect 480 in existence when I sold it:

 

D864 CPV, the only other remaining UK launch car.  Now with my friend Keith but not sure if it is still on the road.

 

J449 MNL, an auto n/a one, which I was given free by a family friend! 

J123 CFU, which I sadly crashed

@Jifflemon  and @MisterH to the beige pop-up phone

[D.E]

Until recently, John would still occasionally show up at Volvo related events and meetings, enjoying the cars he designed. May he rest in peace.

I"ll see if I can add some new pics of my 480 to this thread later today.

[Rustybullethole]

[sierraman]

Max Farnham on Brookside had one. 

[jamescarruthers]

2 hours ago, D.E said:

Until recently, John would still occasionally show up at Volvo related events and meetings, enjoying the cars he designed. May he rest in peace.

I"ll see if I can add some new pics of my 480 to this thread later today.

True.  Here he is there last year at the big meet in Europe.

[jamescarruthers]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

Max Farnham on Brookside had one. 

Ah yes.  Didn't know that.  C/O IMDB

[sierraman]

Wasn’t he a kerb crawler? 

[Six-cylinder]

I worked for the Aylesbury Volvo dealer in 1987 when the 480 was UK launched. We were allocated D873 CPV as our dealer launch car and I got to drive it, even taking it home along with other dealer staff.

I was impressed and asked for one as a company car, I must have been in favour because my wish was granted and our Feb 1988 new smoked Silver demonstrator was allocated to me for personal use.

I ordered unsold new car stock for the dealership and my boss remarked “why do we always have a Black 480ES in stock?” I told him the truth, I want a black one next. My luck held and when I was due a new car 1st Aug 1988 I got my wish and got a black 480ES. I was very excited about getting it, but the 1st Aug was a Sunday so I drove it home Saturday night on trade plates so I had it for Sunday morning.

Feb 1989 was the UK launch of the 480 Turbo, our allocated launch car was Artic Blue. As I was running the 480 demonstrator it came to me without any begging needed.  I loved it and managed the 10,000 miles max allowed in only 4 months. Then the sad new as we could sell every new 480 Volvo allowed us, we were not going to run a demonstrator any more. I ended up with a white June 1989 240GL estate as my next car.

I then worked on the same Volvo dealers used car site and several 480’s passed through and any with tax discs I would take home.

In 2010 a friend offered me his white 1990(G) 480ES and I was ready for some more 480 action so bought it. A year later my eldest son wanted it so I let him have it.

In Nov 2023 a friend pointed out a bargain white 1989(F)480 ES auto for sale he wanted, but was not ready for it. I suggested I bought it and then he could buy it when me when he was ready. He bought a different car altogether. I had never much liked the Automatic when they were new, but somehow this car felt nice to drive with smooth gear changes and performance seemed better than autos I remember in the past. Trouble was I bought it home and the basis it was moving on quickly and felt the need to sell it on as it was another car that needed taxing.

Yes I would have another 480 if one fell into my lap.

[New POD]

I know it's not a 480, but did they basically take over the DAF antwerp factory, where the S40.and the Mitsubishi Carisma were eventually made ? 

[D.E]

11 minutes ago, New POD said:

I know it's not a 480, but did they basically take over the DAF antwerp factory, where the S40.and the Mitsubishi Carisma were eventually made ? 

The 300 series, 480, S40 and Carisma were all made in Born, in the former DAF factory.

[D.E]

13 hours ago, D.E said:

I'll see if I can add some new pics of my 480 to this thread later today.

[Wibble]

Please show us more🙂

[D.E]

[Wibble]

Thank you, looks amazing.

[jamescarruthers]

Found a few more pictures from the meeting last year.  Extra: the lady with the big hair designed the interior and they guy with the Aviator shades was the boss of the design office.

 

And a picture of the convertible prototype which showed up:

 

And a few more of the meet in general:

[Jifflemon]

On 26/06/2025 at 07:50, jamescarruthers said:

@Jifflemon  and @MisterH to the beige pop-up phone

better late then never!

I'll start with the re-homed ones...

Storm Grey Celebration - Put back on the road back in 2020 for the forum. Still going strong.

GT model - Ended up having an almost complete restoration (including full paint) back in 2021, still living happily.

Earlier one - another one done in 2020. Was originally thought to be a breaker, but was so good it was worth saving. Think it's up for sale in NI at the moment.

Then theres some of the "in progress" stuff

The first one I volenteered to rescue - and most stubborn one! Still ongoing (time is now my enemy!)

A pair of black turbos - one manual, one auto. Both waiting for some of my time.....

My own turbo auto...... "just needs a brake pipe" (and the time to actually do that)

My manual turbo - Currently sorned, but could go back on the road if I wanted to.....

My other manual turbo.... The one I'll never sell. Full repaint, just got to reassemble....

One of my dailies - saved from impending scrappage, been in daily use for 2 years now

And my other daily - Auto celebration - first time I've actually driven an auto 480, and suprisingly good!

As you can tell, I'm something of 480 nutter.. I shouldn't mention the other 6 that I don't have pictures to hand of...

[MisterH]

Thank you Jeff for alerting me to this! 

It is a great shame to see John go but the 480 community is one of the most passionate I have ever come across, and in a healthy way too unlike some marques and models. I am sorry I never got to meet him, but my own example F69 NLP has been the car in which I learned to drive and passed my test, has been recommissioned twice, the second time after the bin lorry scandi-fucked it on black ice while I was in bed. 

Currently my uni hack, the car is on a break for the summer while I work out just how fucked my new Mitsubishi Starion is, and the Audi recovers from Le Mans. Odometer stopped at 84,000 miles or thereabouts in September 2023, reckon its on about 95-100k now. Drives nicely, tho needs the brakes rebuilding. All in all these are fantastic cars: great handling, peppy performance and useable space, all with that sexy coupe driving position. It is a car that does beat the system.. 

[FakeConcern]

I've never had a 480, but would love a black Turbo to go with my C30 T5.

There were a few at the Torque Volvo meeting last Sunday, I don't know anything about these and didn't see the owners to chat to.

I did restore a model 480 (not quite the same thing, I know!) that I bought with a missing door

Here with a couple of other 1/43 examples

And a Matchbox one!

 

 

[rob88h]

11 hours ago, FakeConcern said:

I put M_AAF back on the road a few years ago and did a road trip of Lands End to John O’Groats in it. Great car. Great to see the Skandix rear quarters I had welded in are still looking good!

[FakeConcern]

6 hours ago, rob88h said:

I put M_AAF back on the road a few years ago and did a road trip of Lands End to John O’Groats in it. Great car. Great to see the Skandix rear quarters I had welded in are still looking good!

I prefer the look with silver wheels...