Digestible Collectible: 1983 Volvo 240 GLT Turbo
It seems we have a theme this week on the Digestible Collectible/Crapwagon Outtake beat. IT’S SWEDEN WEEK! Throw back some akvavit, heat up some meatballs, plug in an ABBA 8-track, and let’s look at another sweet Scandinavian hotrod of the ’80s.
No, I really didn’t plan this. I don’t think I can come up with another Swedish car for Friday anyhow, unless someone can find me a barn-find Koenigsegg, or perhaps a couple BILLY bookcases powered by a Husqvarna chainsaw engine. I have been looking for a clean Volvo wagon to feature for some time, as I have occasional fond memories of the 745 I briefly owned before my wife attempted to set a Great Lakes record in the conrod toss.
If you’re keeping score at home, that’s two of my cars my dearest has obliterated via external combustion.
To be fair, my Volvo was a $300 Craigslist find. This 1983 Volvo 240 GLT Turbo, on the other hand, looks to have been well cared for. The paintwork looks perfect, the panels are straight, and without a hint of rot. The interior looks pristine, though the plastics have all faded to different shades of beige and/or yellow, while the white leather looks new. I suppose that’s to be expected after thirty-plus years. Oh, and those seats. Volvo makes some of the best seats in the automotive world. I’d considered pulling the driver seat out for a desk chair when I got rid of my heap.
The big attraction, of course, is the turbo four cylinder paired with the four-speed (plus overdrive) gearbox. While certainly not fast, the extra power made the wagon a bit more fun in the twisties. A price of $8500 might be a bit steep, but as the car’s offered by a new-car dealer in San Francisco, I’d imagine there is a good bit of room for negotiation.
See if they’ll throw in some ABBA 8-tracks for the installed factory deck.
Some enthusiasts say they were born with gasoline in their veins. Chris Tonn, on the other hand, had rust flakes in his eyes nearly since birth. Living in salty Ohio and being hopelessly addicted to vintage British and Japanese steel will do that to you. His work has appeared in eBay Motors, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars, Reader's Digest, AutoGuide, Family Handyman, and Jalopnik. He is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association, and he's currently looking for the safety glasses he just set down somewhere.
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I had, briefly, a 1982 sedan (or maybe it was a 1983 or 1981 or 1980...that was a long time ago) with a 4 speed manual (I don't recall that it had an overdrive button...but it might have had one). I definitely recall that is was painted orange and that it had a tan/brown interior. It did not have a turbo charged engine. I do recall, out of necessity (not because I am particularly inclined) performing some repairs, myself, to the vehicle. It made a lasting impression on me because, over the years, I have bought (new) several (or maybe I could/should say many) Volvos. The appeal of these (and, perhaps this also applies to modern Volvos) to someone like myself, is difficult to explain. My 1982 sedan was not, as I recall, super reliable, nor did it have a long lasting interior, nor did many of the dashboard switches properly work, and I don't recall that the engine always started on the first try. It was, however, safer than most (or all) other cars being manufactured at that time. And, it looked good (to my tastes, anyway). Just for fun, I occasionally look for good examples (to possibly purchase) of 1974 through 1993 Volvos and maybe someday I will find a good "collectable" example. In the meantime, I have my modern Volvos to enjoy.
Thank you so much for this post.