Discussion
850R said:
Get ready to be bored senseless, way back in 1994 I was a mere 13 year old, my dad took me to Silverstone in his 240GLT to watch a round of the BTCC, I loved motorsport and that era of touring cars was immense, the TWR Volvo 850 was racing, amazing marketing from Volvo looking back, I was hooked on the 850 with a Rydell batting round in the old brick.
A few weeks later my dad trialled the 850 T5 for Northamptonshire police on traffic and brought an unmarked 850 home, I wanted one!! Brought up with 340s, 240s then later 940s and then my dad brought a nearly new 850T5 saloon in black, my destiny was always going to be Volvo! My mates at 17 all wanted golfs etc but not me I wanted a brick.
Fast forward a few years , I was in the market for a Volvo and I yearned for an 850 still, found a Gul T-5R, went to view agreed a price and placed a deposit with a view to return the following week. I get a call the following week to say unfortunately the yellow brick had been totalled, wrapped round a lamp post with the owner wanting one last play! Back to the drawing board. Gutted wasn’t close
Years past and I still searched. A UK spec 2 owner from new red 850R auto with dark grey interior (manual now) with full service, a deal was done and I drove home in her that night .finally I’d got my hands on one! My childhood dream had been realised (sad I know) 10 troublesome years later we’ve still got her....when really she should have been scrapped after the first month....happy to update with issues (there’s a lot) if anyone wants boring to sleep!! Also a monumental list of modifications.
The R is a thirsty daily ride for me and sits outside all year long, and gets used and abused in equal measure and still makes me smile every-time I drive her, here’s a few pics of how the old bus looks now





Stunning car; a credit to you A few weeks later my dad trialled the 850 T5 for Northamptonshire police on traffic and brought an unmarked 850 home, I wanted one!! Brought up with 340s, 240s then later 940s and then my dad brought a nearly new 850T5 saloon in black, my destiny was always going to be Volvo! My mates at 17 all wanted golfs etc but not me I wanted a brick.
Fast forward a few years , I was in the market for a Volvo and I yearned for an 850 still, found a Gul T-5R, went to view agreed a price and placed a deposit with a view to return the following week. I get a call the following week to say unfortunately the yellow brick had been totalled, wrapped round a lamp post with the owner wanting one last play! Back to the drawing board. Gutted wasn’t close
Years past and I still searched. A UK spec 2 owner from new red 850R auto with dark grey interior (manual now) with full service, a deal was done and I drove home in her that night .finally I’d got my hands on one! My childhood dream had been realised (sad I know) 10 troublesome years later we’ve still got her....when really she should have been scrapped after the first month....happy to update with issues (there’s a lot) if anyone wants boring to sleep!! Also a monumental list of modifications.
The R is a thirsty daily ride for me and sits outside all year long, and gets used and abused in equal measure and still makes me smile every-time I drive her, here’s a few pics of how the old bus looks now





Edited by 850R on Sunday 13th December 07:57

I'm seriously considering a V70 R AWD as my next car if / when I decide to sell my current E39 touring
850R said:
Red9zero said:
What show was the first pic taken at ? I'm sure I saw your car at a show, when we were allowed such things. Looks stunning.
Evening, it was the the classic restoration show at the NEC, in March of 2019 I think, literally just got it back from a total engine rebuild the evening before it went! Bloody tight for time I must admit! 
Another great fan of these with memories of my father who worked for TWR at the time bringing a similar spec one home for a weekend.
The engineering that went into cylinder head development for the touring cars is rather interesting too! http://www.supertouringregister.com/document/4/
I think there is a museum in Sweden which has some race cars along with engines on display.
The engineering that went into cylinder head development for the touring cars is rather interesting too! http://www.supertouringregister.com/document/4/
I think there is a museum in Sweden which has some race cars along with engines on display.
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