My 1990 Volvo 340

[Harding91]

Here's Oliver, My 1990 Volvo 340 1.7

I'm the second owner, the first being an elderly gentleman who purchased it from new and had it serviced every 6 months without fail, including having anything that needed to be, fixed.

It had 35K Miles on it when i got it, now nearly 40K And i've only had it 3 Months


From 1990 - 2011 it's not had a single advisory on an MOT and has been garaged most of its life, the paint is beautifill

I almost feel guilty parking it on my drive and actually driving it!

A few pictures to start




So far what i've done:
- Oil and filter just for the sake i do it with EVERY car i get, peace of mind if you will
- Fully undersealed the car to prevent any naughty rust

- Picking up some Volvo Atlas alloys for the cheap price of £50 from southampton later off of a forum member

PH Sticker, Of course!
Driven and enjoyed it, did a few long runs, birmingham and back and a few others, I'm in Wiltshire.

Plans with the car? I have a few..

- Lower it 2-3", Im aware a lot of you will disagree/dislike this plan but its my car and i want to enjoy it and my friends one is low and i think it looks ace. I can always revert back to normal if need be, im not ruining it
Photoshop:

- Take care of the paintwork/car in general


Not sure what else really currently, will keep this updated best i can, will put up some pictures when i fit the new wheels in the next few days.

Opinions etc are welcome, Thanks for reading

Dan

Oh go on then, a few more pictures

[soad]

Looks tidy. Haven't seen one for years and years.
Spare wheel under bonnet? Nice retro touch

[Harding91]

New shoes!


Well only the back two for now, other tyres need replacing, not worth 6 points on my lisence, i can be patient

Cleaning:

[danposs86]

Love these, don't know why, but I think they just have so much character.

[Harding91]

danposs86 said:

Love these, don't know why, but I think they just have so much character.

Agree'd. When i got it i thought it was nowhere near as fun as my EG Civic but i got it because it was cheap to insure/run

Now though.. I've fallen in love with it, so basic, No assistance, RWD, just real driving And very rarley do 19 year olds have cars like this I love it.

[chriis]

I can still remember my Dads baby blue 340 HCS 672V That wasnt yesterday !
Cracking cars , look after it bud !

[y2blade]

great old cars these


enjoy it

[Harding91]

Buggles said:

Lovely car! Do you mind me asking where you bought it? My Grandad has/had one of these, same colour, same year, everything, and he has a similar approach to motoring, doesn't drive in the rain, serviced religiously e.t.c

He's in Leamington Spa? I didn't realise he was selling it, if it is his old one.

Cheers,

Chris

It came from swindon, the gentleman who owned it passed away and his son sold it on to me

So not the one you were thinking of im afraid

[Jw Vw]

That is one very tidy Volvo OP

[Pothole]

There's one for sale near me for £695...looks like it's not been taxed since 2007 but is in similar nick to yours...I'm so tempted.

[Crombers]

Wow, that looks to be in far better condition than my dads old 345 25years ago!

JSD 543W that one was, I can still hear the whirring noise of the autobox to this day and I was only a sprog back then :-)

Good find fella!

[Harding91]

Crombers said:

Wow, that looks to be in far better condition than my dads old 345 25years ago!

JSD 543W that one was, I can still hear the whirring noise of the autobox to this day and I was only a sprog back then :-)

Good find fella!

Haha the automatics are called Variomatics i think, or at least they are on the forum, they're famous for being noisy, not smooth at all and terrible, but they're so cool!


Currently deciding what colour i want to paint the new alloys

[BDR529]

Haven't seen one of these in yonks. Yours must be the best condition one I've ever seen, and one of the best out there. Very nice.

[Pothole]

Harding91 said:

Crombers said:

Wow, that looks to be in far better condition than my dads old 345 25years ago!

JSD 543W that one was, I can still hear the whirring noise of the autobox to this day and I was only a sprog back then :-)

Good find fella!

Haha the automatics are called Variomatics i think, or at least they are on the forum, they're famous for being noisy, not smooth at all and terrible, but they're so cool!


Currently deciding what colour i want to paint the new alloys

They are Variomatic, which is basically CVT. The model was the result of Volvo's purchase of DAF, who used the Variomatic on their cars. It's a characteristic of CVT that the ending noise doesn't 'change' in the same way as a conventional auto box.

[bob1179]

I've had two 340's, one was a 'Jewish racing gold' 1.7 GL on a 'D' plate, it was the first car I had with electric windows! It was also knackered! I then also had a base model 1.7 340 Saloon, that had no power steering, even more rust that the previous car, no front brakes and and a blowing exhaust. I actually ended up swapping that for a 216,000 mile 740.

Those were the days.

[Harding91]

Again thanks for the feedback guys

I'm slowly doing bits and bobs to it, recently serviced it and a few more things in the pipelines


Will do a big update post when more is done

[Harding91]

lil' update...


Got bored and had satin black spray paint.. cue new wheels.





I really dont know if i like them? I'm so unsure! If i keep the wheels i will be going lower profile tyres and a different colour for sure, they'll do for now but im not sure if they look st or not


If i dont keep them ill be saving for something worthwhile like ATS Cups or Classics or possibly some 4x100 Wellers if i can find em'.

Any input? I like having the Volvo alloys on it, the tyres are stupidly chunky and im not sure on the black on red look though

[Codswallop]

I think the angular design of those wheels complements the shape of the car well, but generally I think black wheels rarely work. Gunmetal would look a lot nicer with the red imo.

I also think fitting lower profile tyres you mentioned would be a good move. Car looks a touch too high with the plumper rubber, so lower profile replacements would probably sort the stance nicely.