classic Volvos - anyone out there?

Author
Discussion

classicsincamera

Original Poster:

119 posts

257 months

Monday 8th November 2004
quotequote all
Classic Volvos are my first choice nowadays.

I like the PV444 and PV544
(we call them "Katzenbuckel" = the back of a cat)

...the estate versions PV445 and P210 called Duett:
http://home.swipnet.se/lev_chassi/index_e.html

...the P1800, S, E + the fabulous ES
(we call it "Schneewittchensarg" = Snow White's coffin)
www.volvo1800pictures.com/

and the Amazon Coupe and Estate.

Any Volvo fans out there?

clapham993

11,362 posts

245 months

Monday 8th November 2004
quotequote all
Always a bit of a soft spot for them as my mother has had a succession of Volvo estates from a 1969 145 DL, through to her current V80.

I remember particularly the 265 GLE - a surprisingly rapid straight line tool for a 1979 Volvo, in which my father got stopped by the Hampshire BiBs on the M3 on the way back from a family holiday. 7 of us in the car, all our luggage for a month in the south of France, 2 windsurfers and a mirror dinghy on the roof rack, he was doing 115mph!

Pigeon

18,535 posts

248 months

Monday 8th November 2004
quotequote all
Love 'em. My first car was an Amazon estate. Keep being tempted by the thought of getting another one, but I don't have a garage and don't really want to keep a 35-year-old car outside.

The 1800 convertibles on that link you posted are excellent, done well and it really suits them.

IOLAIRE

1,293 posts

240 months

Monday 8th November 2004
quotequote all
My favorite was a 164 GLE that I took in against another car and ended up keeping it for three years!!
It had beautiful blood red leather uphostery and a superb six cylinder engine. Surprisingly quick too!

clapham993

11,362 posts

245 months

Monday 8th November 2004
quotequote all
IOLAIRE said:
My favorite was a 164 GLE that I took in against another car and ended up keeping it for three years!!
It had beautiful blood red leather uphostery and a superb six cylinder engine. Surprisingly quick too!


My father was always gutted that Volvo never offered an estate version of the 164 GLE and seriously considered commissioning Abbots of Farnham to make one up before the 265 was launched

Pigeon

18,535 posts

248 months

Monday 8th November 2004
quotequote all
That was certainly done, I think somewhere in the North West, by some dealer or other - they basically chopped off the front of a 245 and grafted on the front of a 164. Given the dodgy nature of the V6 I'd certainly prefer one of those to a "proper" 265.

IOLAIRE

1,293 posts

240 months

Monday 8th November 2004
quotequote all
Pigeon said:
That was certainly done, I think somewhere in the North West, by some dealer or other - they basically chopped off the front of a 245 and grafted on the front of a 164. Given the dodgy nature of the V6 I'd certainly prefer one of those to a "proper" 265.


Ah but Pigeon, the 164 was a straight six, the same engine that Volvo used in the Penta Marine range, beautifully balanced and indestructible.
You're right about the V6 though. I don't know how many of these I replaced camshafts on under warranty.
Hugely expensive parts prices.

classicsincamera

Original Poster:

119 posts

257 months

Monday 8th November 2004
quotequote all
Hi

to whom it may interest:

the story of Volvo P1800s:
http://users.easystreet.com/pessia/1800/index.htm

www.volvoclub.org.uk/

Volvo P1800 - The Saint
www.saint.org/

Pigeon

18,535 posts

248 months

Tuesday 9th November 2004
quotequote all
Thanks for those links... plenty for me to pore over there!

IOLAIRE said:

Pigeon said:
That was certainly done, I think somewhere in the North West, by some dealer or other - they basically chopped off the front of a 245 and grafted on the front of a 164. Given the dodgy nature of the V6 I'd certainly prefer one of those to a "proper" 265.

Ah but Pigeon, the 164 was a straight six, the same engine that Volvo used in the Penta Marine range, beautifully balanced and indestructible.
You're right about the V6 though. I don't know how many of these I replaced camshafts on under warranty.
Hugely expensive parts prices.

Yes, the 164 straight six was a lovely engine, same as my Amazon's 4-pot but with two extra... an extension of the family that seemed to work better than BMC's 'B' four -> 'C' six development. Even had more power than the later V6.

A 164E is definitely on my Volvo "wishlist"... only ever sat in one once, never drove one. And it seems that they're a bit of an unrecognised gem, so they've stayed at about the same price range for a long time... and are now lot cheaper for me to insure than when I first became aware of them. This is a dangerous line of thought!

classicsincamera

Original Poster:

119 posts

257 months

Tuesday 9th November 2004
quotequote all
[quote=Pigeon]Thanks for those links... plenty for me to pore over there!
[quote=Pigeon]

...and here is the English version of the Swedish 164 Club:
www.164club.org/indexen.html

I think about to buy a 1967 Volvo P210 (fitted with a B20 engine and overdrive!) - any other P210s or PV445s in the UK?

Helmut

IOLAIRE

1,293 posts

240 months

Tuesday 9th November 2004
quotequote all
Pigeon said:
Thanks for those links... plenty for me to pore over there!


IOLAIRE said:


Pigeon said:
That was certainly done, I think somewhere in the North West, by some dealer or other - they basically chopped off the front of a 245 and grafted on the front of a 164. Given the dodgy nature of the V6 I'd certainly prefer one of those to a "proper" 265.


Ah but Pigeon, the 164 was a straight six, the same engine that Volvo used in the Penta Marine range, beautifully balanced and indestructible.
You're right about the V6 though. I don't know how many of these I replaced camshafts on under warranty.
Hugely expensive parts prices.


Yes, the 164 straight six was a lovely engine, same as my Amazon's 4-pot but with two extra... an extension of the family that seemed to work better than BMC's 'B' four -> 'C' six development. Even had more power than the later V6.

A 164E is definitely on my Volvo "wishlist"... only ever sat in one once, never drove one. And it seems that they're a bit of an unrecognised gem, so they've stayed at about the same price range for a long time... and are now lot cheaper for me to insure than when I first became aware of them. This is a dangerous line of thought!


To Hell with dangerous thoughts Pigeon, just go for it and enjoy yourself!!

clapham993

11,362 posts

245 months

Tuesday 9th November 2004
quotequote all
IOLAIRE said:

Pigeon said:
Thanks for those links... plenty for me to pore over there!



IOLAIRE said:



Pigeon said:
That was certainly done, I think somewhere in the North West, by some dealer or other - they basically chopped off the front of a 245 and grafted on the front of a 164. Given the dodgy nature of the V6 I'd certainly prefer one of those to a "proper" 265.



Ah but Pigeon, the 164 was a straight six, the same engine that Volvo used in the Penta Marine range, beautifully balanced and indestructible.
You're right about the V6 though. I don't know how many of these I replaced camshafts on under warranty.
Hugely expensive parts prices.



Yes, the 164 straight six was a lovely engine, same as my Amazon's 4-pot but with two extra... an extension of the family that seemed to work better than BMC's 'B' four -> 'C' six development. Even had more power than the later V6.

A 164E is definitely on my Volvo "wishlist"... only ever sat in one once, never drove one. And it seems that they're a bit of an unrecognised gem, so they've stayed at about the same price range for a long time... and are now lot cheaper for me to insure than when I first became aware of them. This is a dangerous line of thought!



To Hell with dangerous thoughts Pigeon, just go for it and enjoy yourself!!


The Douvrin engine was a great performer but it did get through a lot of cams - every 70k miles if I recall. We took ours from zero to 325k miles and I think it had the cams done four times