volvo 740 turbo

What was my 1989 Volvo 740 Turbo worth in 1996? I was selling it as a private owner.

This is an easy question to answer. It was worth exactly what you sold it for, and not a penny more. Don't really understand why you would expect anyone else to know what you sold a car for 22 years ago. There were only two people involved in that sale, you and the person that purchased it from you.

What are some slow cars that fool people into thinking they’re fast?

The Ferrari 308. A persistent object of desire for guys of my generation, it looks like speed incarnate. It also ,sounds, fast, with an engine note that makes a 3-block run to the gas station feel like Le Mans. But…the original carbureted 2-valve models we got in the US took over 9 seconds to go 0–60. Even when the improved 4-valve EFI engines were introduced in ’82, the car was only about as quick 0–60 as a Volvo 740 Turbo. To be fair, it was geared more for high-speed cruising, with a top end over 155. In the early 1980s there wasn’t much that could touch it in a 90MPH - 130MPH roll race, but if you had one in America, you didn’t want to be drag racing guys in big-block Chevelles. And, of course, today, it would have a hard time keeping up with a 4-cylinder lease-special BMW or Benz. It’s still beautiful, though.

What is the biggest scam an auto mechanic ever tried on you?

In the late 1980’s I owned a Volvo 740 Turbo estate. One day the engine developed a loud whistle when accelerating, even very gently. So I drive to the Volvo franchise and asked them to have a quick look. A mechanic and the workshop supervisor ttook it for a drive while I stayed in the building. 20 mins later they turn up, hand me the keys and say “It needs a new turbo, manifold, ………. and intercooler, about £2:700” I was shocked, yes it was out of warranty, but I'd only paid £3600 for the car. I very gently drive the car home and thought about my options. A neighbour was passing and asked what the problem was. I explained. “ Follow me” he said. 400m, a right turn and there was a small independent repair and service garage. Never knew it was there ! The owner was really helpful, called his workshop manager, who took the car up and down the road. He pulled into the forecourt, popped the bonnet, produced a set of Allen Keys and 10 seconds later announced that it was fine. The boss wouldn't accept a penny for this, so £20 was deposited in the works “Tea Box" and I told everyone I knew about how honest they were. I still use the same guys 30 years in.

What is the quirkiest car you ever owned, and how long did you keep driving it?

Lancia Gamma Coupé, 2:5 litre flat four. Picked it up for peanuts and 3 months later was offered 4 times what I paid for it. 1987 Volvo 740 Turbo estate. Now this is an oddity. I bought it from my local Volvo dealership as a trade-in that was too old to go on the forecourt and was being sent to auction, I saved it ! It was 6 years old and only had 8,000 miles on the odometer, included a Haynes manual and a full Volvo workshop manual, full Volvo service history etc etc. So I drive it home and immediately give it a detailed inspection. All seemed perfectly normal until I progressed to the mechanical inspection. 2:3 litre black and head. Normal And that's where it ended ! The intercooler was enormous and none of the serial numbers matched. The turbo casting looked like it came from a Volvo F12 wagon !! and again, none of the serial numbers matched. The fuel injection system, exhaust manifold and system too. Everything look factory, but none of the numbers matched either workshop manual. So I called the dealership and told them. They informed me that the previous owner was a retired Volvo dealer that had bought it for himself as a retirement gift. They also gave me the phone number of someone at Volvo HQ in Berkshire. On calling the number, the guy asked if there were serial numbers, from chassis, block, turbo etc etc. I told him my findings and could hear him tapping away on a keyboard. He then said “Oh ! You've got one of those !!”. “One of what ?”. “We knew there were 13 in the country, we now know there are 14. It's mechanically a homologation special that Volvo put together to qualify for the Scandinavian and Europen Touring Cars race series. It's probably got 380+ bhp against 187 bhp as standard. Perfectly capable of outruning a lot of mid market exotics.” And so it proved. In some ways I wish I still had it.

Do you consider Volvos sporty?

I owned a ’72 Volvo back in the day. It had 4 on the floor with the 5th gear, an electronic toggle on the steering wheel column, almost like a signal light arm, but on the right side of the steering wheel column. This car wasn’t considered “fast”, but it would move along nicely. If you had to pass someone, you best have a good stretch of highway, as it was slow to come up to speed. NOW, there was TV advertisements for the Volvo 740 TURBO. The screen was dark. The hanger door would open slowly. You would see the silhouette of the Volvo 740 TURBO. The tail lights were on. The hanger door continues to open. Then the car was gone with the tail lights going to the vanishing point. Words appeared on the screen: Volvo 740 Turbo. No words were spoken. No sound on the commercial. I so wanted that car.

Which model of a car you owned and drove longest (years and distance) and how long?

What was the worst European car you've ever owned? What made it so bad?

’86 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon. This car was a real rocket sled, but I had $1800 in repairs/parts not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Parts were incredibly expensive - like $70 for a headlight bulb back in the mid 1980’s.