Tom's 2004 Volvo C70 (P80)

[PartOfTheProblem]

After several weeks looking at X150 Jaguar convertibles, I depressingly admitted that I would never be able to squeeze kids in the back, and wrote the idea off for a few years However, still pondering what convertibles might be viable for humans in the back, I found myself bored on eBay at about 8pm the night before 'Festival of the Unexceptional', my fiancee was away for the weekend on a hen-do, and with gleaming sunshine forecast, I pondered what drop tops might be available locally for not much cash at all. I was already driving a P2 V70 T5, and Volvos are very much my thing at the moment, so imagine my delight to stumble across a low miles, and cheap C70 convertible just 6 miles from home. Admittedly a bit scruffy cosmetically, but decent history, the roof worked; what could possibly go wrong?

Bidding was up to a grand with 48 hours to go, so a cheeky £1,150 offer was sent to the seller on condition that I could pick it up that evening, the deal was done, and the car was on my drive just 2 hours later My little boy (just over a year old) wrapped up in a sleeping bag, he loves it! This was the photo I sent my fiancée to break the news that I'd "done a thing". She laughed, and that is just one of many reasons that she's a keeper





Arguably one of the most pleasing dial sets ever made, absolute clarity and understated elegance. Tell me I'm wrong?



So, approximately 15 hours after purchase having driven from Kent to Lincolnshire, the car was on display at the Festival of the Unexceptional. A cracking day was had, and the car didn't miss a beat. It looked a bit too smart for the show to be honest, but I was happy to leave it open all day for people to poke around.





Again, my little boy loving it!



The day after I treated my fiancee to a lovely pub lunch in the old bus, and it got the seal of approval so we went to collect the V70 I'd dumped near the sellers house, and put the C70 into daily use.



All summer we did about 3000 miles, including a trip up to Northern Ireland with the inlaws, and the car really did impress everyone who travelled in it, my prospective future mother in law even approved me finding another example for them to enjoy.



After such an enjoyable summer, I've decided to make some improvements. Things have, how do we say, escalated somewhat, and now I own 4 of the bloody things

To be continued...

[bolidemichael]

They’re fantastic value for money. I’ve often wondered whether I should get one to scratch the four seater convertible itch.

[PartOfTheProblem]

bolidemichael said:

They’re fantastic value for money. I’ve often wondered whether I should get one to scratch the four seater convertible itch.

They are staggeringly cheap, and I don't really understand why to be honest. Yes you should try one, no cheaper proper 4 seat convertible out there!

[PartOfTheProblem]

So having decided to improve the car, there were a few things that were top of the list to address:

• Swap beige interior for a black one
• Replace cambelt, full service etc
• Refurb alloys and fit decent rubber
• Replace all brakes
• Explore suspension options
• Fix the faulty speakers to restore full 13 speaker Dynaudio goodness
• Repaint the bumpers
• Investigate the minor coolant loss
• Explore remap / performance options.

Whilst researching all this stuff, I spent a bit of time on www.volvoforums.co.uk and I found an advert for a 1999 C70 with a huge list of modifications, upgrades, mostly genuine parts, clearly £10k plus spent, advertised for a measly £1300. It had

• Immaculate wheels with recent Bridgestone tyres
• Immaculate bumpers
• Big turbo and supporting mods
• Lovely black leather interior from a 'Collection' run out model with the soft Nappa leather and white stitching
• Refreshed suspension with new genuine dampers and optional 'dynamic' springs.
• Way too much to list here...

So I couldn't work out why it hadn't sold, and I now believe its because it was only advertised on that forum which is pretty quiet. I went to view, and the owner Brian blew me away with the attention he had lavished on the car. I decided I'd buy it, but the real killer with this one is ULEZ. I live in SE London, and there's no way I'm paying £12.50 a day to drive the car, so I explained I would be taking the nice bits off the car and fitting them to my 2004, and he was happy with that.

Whilst I did briefly contemplate just swapping the plates over, a plan was made to build a 'best of both', and T306NBV joined the 2004 car on the driveway.

One of Brian's pics from earlier in his ownership



And my pics...











And a quick clip of the exhaust... really sounds perfect to my ears!

https://youtu.be/Ppx-rwm71WA

[GeniusOfLove]

I really like these, picked up a manual T5 one for an ex years ago and it was brilliant fun, solidly dependable, and a great looking car. She had the original option lowered suspension (and it really was low) and sports exhaust, it sounded wicked for a factory car. I do believe I admired yours at the FOTU.

Hers had the soft leather in ivory, which Volvo didn't bother to match with the plastics, the black with white stitching looks much better.

Really glad to see one preserved properly, it's not like rust will kill them either, hers had some tiny blisters that never got any bigger in 5 years.

ETA - Ahh here is the thread!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Also good call on the X150 rear seats, they're almost useless for more than very very short trips. I have a 5.0XKR and it's absolutely brilliantly bonkers, you should keep one in mind for the future and prices are dropping like a stone right now.

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Wednesday 18th December 10:12

[PartOfTheProblem]

Nice one GoL! I did catch that thread before I bought mine.

I do view these cars as modern classics now, and with that mindset they are just fabulous. Lots of character, lovely to drive, a dream to work on, and I think they look classy too. With all the mods that T reg car drove amazing, 300bhp, manual, decent suspension and upgraded brakes... Still not going to worry any hot hatches on a B road, but as a GT car which can get a wriggle on it was magnificent.

I can't wait to have all the good bits moved onto my 2004 car.

[GeniusOfLove]

There was talk of the late facelift clear headlight cars being better assembled, although 20 years on I imagine it's purely academic have you noticed any real differences in feel?

[PartOfTheProblem]

GeniusOfLove said:

There was talk of the late facelift clear headlight cars being better assembled, although 20 years on I imagine it's purely academic have you noticed any real differences in feel?

Nope, I think all ME7 cars (mid 99 on) are much the same. I've dismantled the 1999 car and 3x 2004 cars, and they all came apart the same. Some of the plastics are horrendously brittle, but that applies to all of them.

I was expecting to find a few differences between the years, but I haven't found anything of note. The only thing that comes to mind was the lack of a passenger airbag on the 1999 car, I'm astonished it was only an option!

[Davie]

PartOfTheProblem said:

They are staggeringly cheap, and I don't really understand why to be honest. Yes you should try one, no cheaper proper 4 seat convertible out there!

I'd echo this... in the case of the OP's car at £1150, utter bargain more so when you consider the jewel headlights, indicators and egg crate grille are probably nigh on £300 worth alone and the wheels will be similar. I've liked these and the coupe of years, never bought one as I couldn't see past the V70 (because estate) but I still find myself looking at them, thinking they must offer nigh on the best value for money available. I always kept talking myself out of one because the estate was more practical, however kids are older... have a van and another estate... a C70 GT coupe with the T-5 engine and manual box would be rather nice.