1982 Volvo 343GL
Discussion
What a crazy find to do, such a good condition!!
This is the other side of the spectrum, probably the worlds maddest volvo 360 built by a guy here in sweden, turbo and supercharger, full of ex F1 parts from the 90s and 2000s, jet fighter and helicopter parts. Just to get those volvo 3 series juices flowing, if there ever were such a thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSIpjNU1p4c
This is the other side of the spectrum, probably the worlds maddest volvo 360 built by a guy here in sweden, turbo and supercharger, full of ex F1 parts from the 90s and 2000s, jet fighter and helicopter parts. Just to get those volvo 3 series juices flowing, if there ever were such a thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSIpjNU1p4c
H6CJF said:
I sold these new when I worked for Lex 'back in the day'. I think I had several of each derivative as a demo at some point!
After a shaky start in the late 70's when they first came out in variomatic guise only (build quality was atrocious), by the time we got to early eighties and a choice of 4 or 5 speed manuals (4 speed in the DL & 5 speed in the GL ) became available they were really quite good. The de-Dion set up at the rear with rear mounted gearbox gave it virtually 50:50 weight distribution and they handled really well.
As stated by others, the introduction of the 2.0l B20 engines (badged 360) made for a much more exciting car to drive and the one to have was of course the 360GLT with the fuel injected unit and gas filled shocks etc.
I could go on lol
Got me quite nostalgic now! ??
Ps - as for the white 'buttons' mentioned by the o.p. .... not a clue... decoration? Certainly not anything functional!
Yes - the early ones were pure 'DAF 77' apart from the grille. They were expensive to buy and the quality was appalling, for some reason.After a shaky start in the late 70's when they first came out in variomatic guise only (build quality was atrocious), by the time we got to early eighties and a choice of 4 or 5 speed manuals (4 speed in the DL & 5 speed in the GL ) became available they were really quite good. The de-Dion set up at the rear with rear mounted gearbox gave it virtually 50:50 weight distribution and they handled really well.
As stated by others, the introduction of the 2.0l B20 engines (badged 360) made for a much more exciting car to drive and the one to have was of course the 360GLT with the fuel injected unit and gas filled shocks etc.
I could go on lol
Got me quite nostalgic now! ??
Ps - as for the white 'buttons' mentioned by the o.p. .... not a clue... decoration? Certainly not anything functional!
Volvo extensively re-engineered it (five door, Volvo manual, new interior, etc) and made a pretty decent car of it.
I only briefly drove the later one and though it was slow and stodgy, it actually handled really well (50/50 mass distribution) and was far nicer a place to be than the usual Escorts and Astras. I never understood why buyers drove them so slowly.
That was bete noir of mine as it was invariably the car at the front of a long queue of traffic on an open road. I have a similar antipathy/hatred for Metros, Clios and 205s for the same reason.
This example though, I really, really like! Time is a great healer.
Emily's dad said:
Love it, keep in original and enjoy
There's definitely something about Volvos that get under your skin.
My parents had a succession of them when I was a kid, 144 saloon, 145 estate, 244 saloon, a couple of 340s , a 360GLS, a 360 GLT and finally a 740 estate.
The 340s were a matching pair bought at the same time, one for mum and one for dad and had consecutive number plates, very flash.
In my early 20s I had a 360GLT, C47HOV, loved it...
Lates 40s now and what do i drive, a C30 T5, and my brother with a bigger family and 2 dogs has a V70.
Spend far too much time looking on line for 240 GLTs, my wife doesn’t understand...
does this help with yr searching !There's definitely something about Volvos that get under your skin.
My parents had a succession of them when I was a kid, 144 saloon, 145 estate, 244 saloon, a couple of 340s , a 360GLS, a 360 GLT and finally a 740 estate.
The 340s were a matching pair bought at the same time, one for mum and one for dad and had consecutive number plates, very flash.
In my early 20s I had a 360GLT, C47HOV, loved it...
Lates 40s now and what do i drive, a C30 T5, and my brother with a bigger family and 2 dogs has a V70.
Spend far too much time looking on line for 240 GLTs, my wife doesn’t understand...
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C880882
My parents bought the exact same car brand new- an F plate 240 GLT back in the day. what an absolute belter and for its day, a very quick car.
look at the plate- its even a 244. (you need to be a volvo nerd to work out the relevance)
Black S2K said:
I only briefly drove the later one and though it was slow and stodgy, it actually handled really well (50/50 mass distribution).
Handled really well!? I'very driven a lot of old cars and the Volvo 360 is one of the worst - massive body roll, really heavy steering, way too soft springs and a tendency to snap oversteer. It really has no redeeming features as a car to drive.Paul S4 said:
I had a 360 GLS as my main daily car, did about 50,000 miles in it. It was a great car, very well built and had a 'real Volvo' 2 litre 4 cylinder engine.
It was thirsty ( about 28mpg!) but a great motorway car. It was very comfortable, but I suppose could have done with some stiffer springs/shocks etc.
I recall it had a coolant leak which I forgot to top up before my motorway commute up to Newcastle. The engine started pinking really loudly ( my music was on !), and then I realised that the temp was over in the red !
Pulled over, opened the bonnet and discovered that there was absolutely no coolant in the engine... at all !
AA man arrived, and, after it had cooled down,we filled it up again and off I went to work.
Next day I removed the radiator, had it repaired and re-installed, ( it was a nice car to work on as well !) and I never had any more problems.
That was a tribute to the 'old fashioned' robust Volvo 2 litre heavy engine !
Despite having the image of an 'old man's car' in the day, it was one of the best cars I have owned.
No pics sorry !
I had a 360 GLS too! Mine was a Limited Edition, but I could never find any info out about what made it a limited edition. It had an electric sunroof with manual wind up windows, maybe the sunroof made it limited?It was thirsty ( about 28mpg!) but a great motorway car. It was very comfortable, but I suppose could have done with some stiffer springs/shocks etc.
I recall it had a coolant leak which I forgot to top up before my motorway commute up to Newcastle. The engine started pinking really loudly ( my music was on !), and then I realised that the temp was over in the red !
Pulled over, opened the bonnet and discovered that there was absolutely no coolant in the engine... at all !
AA man arrived, and, after it had cooled down,we filled it up again and off I went to work.
Next day I removed the radiator, had it repaired and re-installed, ( it was a nice car to work on as well !) and I never had any more problems.
That was a tribute to the 'old fashioned' robust Volvo 2 litre heavy engine !
Despite having the image of an 'old man's car' in the day, it was one of the best cars I have owned.
No pics sorry !
I sold a nearly new Saab 9-3 (the proper one) with all the Abbott Racing bits on it many many years ago. A great car but a sudden change in circumstances meant that it had to go. The guy who bought it arrived in a 360 GLT which was bound for the scrapyard as it had a dodgy gear linkage and a few other MOT failure bits.
I offered to take the Volvo off him, sorted out the MOT stuff and a mechanic friend cut a trapdoor into the transmission tunnel to sort out the gear linkage. Then followed a year or so of totally reliable transport, it would cruise all day on the Motorway at 80mph (and 20mpg) and was particularly good fun in the wet. Understeer, oversteer, no steer it had it all.
In a way it reminded me of my....(members of the S.L.O.C.look away now)..old Sunbeam Lotus.
I offered to take the Volvo off him, sorted out the MOT stuff and a mechanic friend cut a trapdoor into the transmission tunnel to sort out the gear linkage. Then followed a year or so of totally reliable transport, it would cruise all day on the Motorway at 80mph (and 20mpg) and was particularly good fun in the wet. Understeer, oversteer, no steer it had it all.
In a way it reminded me of my....(members of the S.L.O.C.look away now)..old Sunbeam Lotus.
r129sl said:
Such an interesting car and the condition is just remarkable.
It is odd that this kind of vehicle simply does not exist in the new car market any more. Can you buy a comfortable, attractive, safe (purportedly), solid, compact (yet spacious), grown up little thing? I think it is the grown up-ness that you can't get these days. All cars seem to be aimed at 23 year old estate agents.
When I was a bit my best friend's dad had one of these. I think it was either a 343 or 345 DL, but I can't really remember. They were obsessed with it. They would go bananas when they saw a 360 GLT, a real motoring holy grail for them. A bit like a 300 E 4matic for me, ha ha.
I look forward to hearing what it is like. I hope you do cherish it: it deserves it. I wonder whether the manufacturer would be interested in it?
Wow my 2nd ever car was a red 360 GLT 3 door, Absolutely loved that car.. was bloody quick for its era also, haven't seen one for bloody years.It is odd that this kind of vehicle simply does not exist in the new car market any more. Can you buy a comfortable, attractive, safe (purportedly), solid, compact (yet spacious), grown up little thing? I think it is the grown up-ness that you can't get these days. All cars seem to be aimed at 23 year old estate agents.
When I was a bit my best friend's dad had one of these. I think it was either a 343 or 345 DL, but I can't really remember. They were obsessed with it. They would go bananas when they saw a 360 GLT, a real motoring holy grail for them. A bit like a 300 E 4matic for me, ha ha.
I look forward to hearing what it is like. I hope you do cherish it: it deserves it. I wonder whether the manufacturer would be interested in it?
I had two of these, both 340gl models, one auto (CVT) and one manual. Bearing in mind I was a "yoof" and it drove them as such, the manual would lock its rear wheels if you changed down with too higher revs i.e. anything over 3k rpm, scary!
The CVT was appalling, both blew their big ends in spectacular fashion, probably down to my style of driving at the time.
Oddly though, I've always a soft spot for them.
Maybe one day....
The CVT was appalling, both blew their big ends in spectacular fashion, probably down to my style of driving at the time.
Oddly though, I've always a soft spot for them.
Maybe one day....
Great car, lovely to see one of these again. My brother was a volvo master technician and as such had access to all the older part ex volvos coming through the dealership at the time.
We had a 360gls 360glt and 2 340's aswell as 240's. The 360 glt would surprise a few drivers. Hideous handling but nippy off the line and good fun around wet roundabouts. The 360's had the 2.0 volvo engine. I think the 1.4 and 1.7 were both Renault lumps
We had a 360gls 360glt and 2 340's aswell as 240's. The 360 glt would surprise a few drivers. Hideous handling but nippy off the line and good fun around wet roundabouts. The 360's had the 2.0 volvo engine. I think the 1.4 and 1.7 were both Renault lumps
Olivera said:
Black S2K said:
I only briefly drove the later one and though it was slow and stodgy, it actually handled really well (50/50 mass distribution).
Handled really well!? I'very driven a lot of old cars and the Volvo 360 is one of the worst - massive body roll, really heavy steering, way too soft springs and a tendency to snap oversteer. It really has no redeeming features as a car to drive.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff