Junkyard Find: 2002 Volvo V70 XC Ocean Race Edition

Murilee Martin
by Murilee Martin
junkyard find 2002 volvo v70 xc ocean race edition

I’m always on the lookout for small-production figure, special-edition cars during my junkyard explorations, and we have admired such classics as the Etienne Aigner Volkswagen Golf and the Daytona 500 Pace Car Pontiac Grand Prix in past installments of the Junkyard Find series.

Today, we’re moving into the 21st century, for a genuine, numbers-matching, one-of-650-made 2002 Volvo Ocean Race Edition V70 Cross Country, spotted in that hotbed of nautical action: Denver.

The Ocean Race V70 came with blue paint and these very attractive fender emblems.

The Volvo Ocean Race was so prestigious in 2002 that buyers of these cars got special blue upholstery stitching.

The plastic cladding on the Ocean Race V70 was gray instead of the usual black.

I wouldn’t have noticed this car on my own, but my neighbor and fellow car writer, Andrew Ganz, had joined me for the Half Off Everything New Year’s Day sale at this junkyard. He recognized this rare special edition immediately. We had just seen an amazingly customized Mitsubishi Eclipse in the customer parking lot, so it was a good day for rare cars.

The sportscar.







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  • Kmars2009 Kmars2009 on Jan 10, 2017

    I currently own a '02 V70XC. About to turn 213K miles. It's been quite reliable. Contrary to popular belief, these P2 Volvo's will go the distance if maintenance is kept up properly. My only "gremlin" is the on board computer display that works intermittently. I can live without knowing my actual instant MPG. No biggie. The AWD system needs regular fluid changes, just like a regular 4WD. As well as the transmission needing regular fluid changes. If these items are ignored, you can forget long term ownership, as they will definitely fail. These are great cars. However, they ARE NOT Toyota's. The maintenance is more like Mercedes-Benz.

    • Superdessucke Superdessucke on Jan 10, 2017

      Yes, and the price difference between this clapped out monstrosity and a perfect one with 45,000 miles which was stored in a climate controlled garage its whole life is about $550, meaning you can just replace 'em if they need a major repair!

  • Kmars2009 Kmars2009 on Jan 12, 2017

    Sweet...When/if this one dies at, or over, 300K miles... I'll have a cheap replacement for my dog car. Yes, my dogs love the emmense space.

  • Sgeffe Why on Earth can’t you just get the torque specs and do it yourself if you’re so-inclined?!
  • Sgeffe As was stated in another comment, the FAA nominee went down in flames. But the NTSB chairwoman certainly didn’t, and she’s certainly not qualified either!Lots of this kind of stuff going on both sides of the aisle—Ben Carson would have arguably made a better Surgeon General than HUD Secretary under Trump, for example.
  • Art Vandelay Interesting, the Polestar 2 I had as a rental utilized Android Automotive which is what GM said it is going to exclusively, yet it still offers Apple CarPlay according to this. Wonder if GM will do the same.
  • Stuart de Baker EVs just aren't ready for prime time for those with a single car and who take road trips. Being able to charge as soon as you arrive at a charging station, and even the chargers working on your car is a crapshoot. In the former case, you could have to wait for nearly an hour while someone else is charging.I also don't find EVs particularly fun to drive (I've driven a Tesla Model S and an Ionic 5.) I LOVE driving my '08 Civic (stick). I love the handling, the feel and responsiveness of the engine, the precise steering (the Michelin Pilot Ultra Sport tires help, but even with the snows on, the car is a joy). I have 152k on the clock, and hopefully another 25 years or so of driving (I was born early in the Eisenhower Administration and I have exceptionally healthy habits), and I'm going to try to keep the Civic for the duration.My Civic causes a less global warming emissions than some of these humongous battery operated trucks.
  • FreedMike They should throw in a Lordstown pickup with every purchase. Make it the “vapor twofer.”
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