cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
20787
A bit more Volvo-love
Inspired by Nico, I dug up some photos of my Volvos. The first was this 1966 122S 2-door sedan, which I bought after graduating from college in 1973. Practically a new car!
Sorry for the photo quality but I think it was near the time of the invention of the camera ...
I kept it from 60,000 through about 200,000 miles. We took it on our honeymoon adventure through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and many times from the Mexican border (where we live) to the Canadian border (where my family is).
The first time the engine melted a piston top, and I had a shop rebuild it. I remember being outraged at the $811 invoice. And they made me buy new spark plugs! when the old ones were perfectly good and only a month old. After that, I just bought junkyard engines and transmissions and rebuilt them myself and swapped them in -- as one does when young and poor.
Over the course of our ownership the Volvo had two paint jobs, a new interior, two engines, three transmissions and a new rear axle.
Sadly, it didn't end well. After my wife managed to throw a rod through the block on the Interstate, and being cited by the Highway Patrol as a "public nuisance" on the roadway, I finally got fed up with it and sold the car.
I kept it from 60,000 through about 200,000 miles. We took it on our honeymoon adventure through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and many times from the Mexican border (where we live) to the Canadian border (where my family is).
The first time the engine melted a piston top, and I had a shop rebuild it. I remember being outraged at the $811 invoice. And they made me buy new spark plugs! when the old ones were perfectly good and only a month old. After that, I just bought junkyard engines and transmissions and rebuilt them myself and swapped them in -- as one does when young and poor.
Over the course of our ownership the Volvo had two paint jobs, a new interior, two engines, three transmissions and a new rear axle.
Sadly, it didn't end well. After my wife managed to throw a rod through the block on the Interstate, and being cited by the Highway Patrol as a "public nuisance" on the roadway, I finally got fed up with it and sold the car.
There was a decade-long interval when I switched my loyalty to French (Citroen DS and Peugot 505) and American (Ford Taurus) station wagons but in 1998 Volvo's V70 Cross Country was too appealing to resist.
I'd gotten a bonus from one of my clients and paid cash for this new XC wagon - which we promptly took exploring in the deserts and mountains of Southern California
and down the Baja California peninsula in Mexico.
At that time I also had two other treasured possessions - 2 car garage NOT filled with junk, and my first Lotus Elan
and down the Baja California peninsula in Mexico.
At that time I also had two other treasured possessions - 2 car garage NOT filled with junk, and my first Lotus Elan
I can't exactly recall the circumstances of turning over the first Volvo XC to a friend at church, but I can recall seeing my "Volvo Ocean Race" special at the San Diego Auto Show in 2002. Six months later I went to the dealership and while insisting I would never buy such a pimped-out car (dog fence, refrigerator, trailer hitch, subwoofer, leather, etc etc) when the dealer was willing to sell it to me for less than I paid for the white one, we made a deal. That was 16 years ago.
I thought it was "ruggedly handsome" back then, and I still am content with its looks.
And its on and off-road performance.
Panamint mountains, towering over Death Valley
Now that the Fiat is gone we are just starting to think it's time to consider a replacement for the Volvo too - we have no vehicle newer than 12 years old and 85,000 miles.
But it's still ruggedly handsome...
Cazalea
A bit more Volvo-love
Inspired by Nico, I dug up some photos of my Volvos. The first was this 1966 122S 2-door sedan, which I bought after graduating from college in 1973. Practically a new car! Sorry for the photo quality but I think it was near the time of the invention of t...
That's one of five I've owned (so far)
It will take me some time to compile the post on Lotuses I have known and loved This will have to do in the meantime ...
Fabulous …
It would be great to hear more about you times owning Lotus cars. Thanks for sharing with us.
Fun post.
I've had one Volvo and think there may a second in the not too distant future. M4
Great story Mike....
....love Volvos. My second was a 340 GLE 1.7. Bought in the early 2000's for the princely sum of £375!! (Built in 1989) One owner, 4 new tyres and a new exhaust. I ran it for 11 years and it let me down only the once. Shame to say rust underneath killed i...
Ah the fun days of five cylinder turbos...
Here’s a picture of my trusty 850T-5R. Been in the family since 1995 (from new) and we still have it, even if it hasn’t barked in anger for some years now ...
Great post
I don't know how many B18 & B20 I have rebulid in the past. And don't ask me how many 140's I have send to the junk yard. Sometimes I miss my 1969 164 I have in the start of the 80's.
I drive a 13 year old Volvo XC70 and I still love it.
I've put on 138,000 miles with no problems and it shows no signs of reaching end of life. I did look into buying a new car but the fools at Volvo stopped production of XC70's. I test drove possible replacements BMW 750 and Porsche Cayenne but the Volvo XC...
So much smaller (on the inside at least) and why has the styling look like Audi?
The rectangular garden sheds on wheels are the epitome of Volvo. Build like a tank. Stylish. Timeless. I hope they will figure out a way to get those qualities back in a modern design.