This car, the Volvo 245, is the essence of Volvo. Whenever someone mentions Volvo, whether in mixed company or among fellow gearheads, this is most likely the image floating in everybody’s heads. This is Volvo distilled into its most functional form. Volvo has lost its way a bit in the last fifteen years. If it wants to get its mojo back, it could do worse than using the original 245DL as a template.
Now, the 240 was a boon for Volvo, and was incredibly long-lived, lasting from 1975 to 1993 with relatively minor changes, but it was certainly not an all-new car. The Volvo 140 Series, introduced in 1967 to eventually replace the venerable Amazon/120 Series, was the platform upon which the 240 built. Crumple zones, adapted from the Volvo VESC safety cars, were added to the 140 platform. The 240 Series also received a brand new front end, incorporating a new MacPherson strut suspension. Rack and pinion steering was also new, improving handling. All 1975 240s also received fuel injection, as featured in 1974 US bound 140 models.
Naturally, a five door wagon was available along with the 242 and 244 sedans. Wagons received vinyl upholstery instead of the sedans’ cloth trim for easier cleanup, whether hauling kids or provisions. All 240s were powered by the fuel injected B21F four cylinder engine, producing 104 hp at 5500 rpm and 114 lb ft of torque. A synchronized four speed manual was standard, with a three speed automatic available as an option.
In 1976, a 265DL joined the 245DL in the North American market. While it was not as luxurious as the top of the line 264GL sedan, it did receive the same PRV B27F light alloy V6 and the 264′s unique nose, albeit with a black grille instead of the 264′s chrome version. With its higher price and the PRV’s less than wonderful characteristics, you were better off with a 245.
My Dad apparently thought the same thing. When he started working for my grandfather in 1972 as an insurance investigator, he was told to go on down to Bob Neil Ford in Rock Island and pick out a company car – something practical.
As he had driven a ’65 Mustang convertible, Triumph TR4, ’70 Boss 302 and currently had a ’60 356 Roadster as a weekend car, he was rather restrained in picking out a 1973 Gran Torino sedan in metallic copper. To this day, I just can’t picture him driving a car like that. It is seen above in what is probably the only picture of it.
At any rate, in 1977 he got a 245DL wagon as a company car. My Mom was already driving the ’73 1800ES, so they became a two Volvo household. It was dark blue with a blue vinyl interior, and had optional integrated fog lights built into the grille. Except for the fog lights, it looked just like the one shown above.
His job took him all over the state of Illinois, investigating dram shop insurance claims. Generally that meant investigating bar fights and alcohol related car crashes – not the most fun thing to do. However, the Volvo carried him wherever he needed to go with no fuss or muss.
He didn’t have it long, at least as his car. My Mom was having a hard time driving the 1800ES with no power steering, and when Lundahl Motors was unable to fit a power steering unit onto it (no room in the engine compartment, for starters), he bought the 245 from the insurance company and gave it to Mom. He received a new company car, this time a silver-blue ’77 Monte Carlo. The 245, seen in the background in this photo from about 1986, just kept on running.
The Monte Carlo was driven until 1979, when it was replaced with a 1979 Pontiac Bonneville. My Dad was not sentimental about his company cars back then, so this photo he took for insurance purposes when it got crunched is just about the only picture of it.
The 245 was a very good car, and it was also the one I rode home from the hospital in. It must have made an impression, because in 1981 the Bonneville was replaced with a maroon 242DL, and my Dad never went back to Detroit iron, save for a Grand Cherokee Orvis edition in 1995.
As for the 245 itself, it was still in its early years in the late ’70s. The 265DL was a one-year wonder, replaced with a more luxurious 265GL wagon in 1977. In 1978, the 240′s flat hood, dual headlights and wide grille were replaced with the 260′s quad lights, domed hood and square grille.
Our featured CC, shot in front of an oh-so-Eugene home by Paul a while back, has the restyled front end so it is at least a 1978, but could also be a ’79 or ’80. 1981 DL models received another mild facelift, including rectangular headlights, flush wraparound tail lights and new hubcaps.
It’s funny that this example has sheepskin seat covers, as our ’77 had them too. I’m not sure if the seams started to split or it was just the fact that the dark blue vinyl got really hot in the summer. Our DL lasted all the way to 1986, when the 1800ES was traded in on a new cream yellow ’86 240DL wagon. That color is the hue my Dad picked for the ’51 356 Cabriolet when it was being restored, as can be seen in the photos further up. As for the 245, it was sold to a friend of my Dad’s who was notoriously hard on cars. True to form, that poor wagon got driven into the ground, although I think it took him a little longer than usual to wear it out.
When the 245 came out, I’m sure even Volvo didn’t know just how long it would endure. With the exception of another freshening in 1986 and a driver’s side airbag added in 1990, the 240 carried along all the way to 1993. It was THE Volvo, and whenever someone mentions how tough and reliable a Volvo is, I bet they’re thinking of one of these. So, Volvo, how about a retro 240 for 2012? I would be among the first in line.
There are only two bad lines on this car. First, the droop in the rear upper door. I understand this one, because it is just a manufacturing tradeoff to allow use of sedan doors on the wagon. The second is the rear wheel opening. It may be an optical illusion, but the shape of it seems somehow off. Other than these two niggling points, this is a brilliantly styled car. Almost timeless.
When my son was looking for a car last fall, I came across a later model 240 wagon that had been owned by a Volvo enthusiast. It was a little pricey, but was a beautiful car. Jimmy couldn’t get past the wagon thing (wagon-love must have skipped a generation). If I had not just bought the Kia minivan, I may have gone to look at it myself.
It is also interesting that your Dad’s Volvos always seemed to be in the background of photos of other more desirable cars. That was the (now missing) essence of Volvo to me – an ultra-competent car that was content to stay in the background. A Volvo had no ego, it was all about taking care of business. The modern Volvos seem to have lost this spirit. Now they are all about calling attention to themselves by their great looks while costing their owners great wads of repair cash at regular intervals.
i can’t agree. the rear door droop, as you call it, adds character. sort of like the cindy crawford’s mole
Tom, speaking of the 1800ES, I met a very nice young lady this past weekend at the Import National Show in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She had with her a 1972 ES that she had purchased a few months ago. She is all of 23 years old and knows her way around cars, as she knew that vintage Volvo in and out. Needless to say I was impressed with her knowledge!
The quad-round headlight 240s from the late 70′s are an absolute favorite of mine.
Parents had two 240′s – a ’76 wagon and an ’81 2-door sedan before moving on to a 700-series and a 900-series. They blew fuses more often than was reasonable and chomped through overdrive relays, but were otherwise pretty durable and both were driven to well over 100k miles and gave generally reliable service.
My brother drove a 240 sedan, dark blue with a dark blue cloth interior, for years, from 1987 until 2003. Solid as a rock, never missed a beat. He cared for it well, it still looked showroom fresh when he finally traded it on an XC-70, which, btw, he is still driving today. The ultimate plain as vanilla vehicle, I don’t recall that he ever had anything major go wrong. Detroit should have taken notice. You couldn’t miss the droop in the rear door frame on the wagons, obviously a transplant from the sedan, your eye would catch that little fillip right away.
I’m still trying to figure out why we never had a Volvo wagon; if I could re-write history, it would include at least one or two.
We should have bought one instead of the Cherokee in 1985; I’d still be driving it today, and quite happily (even with the automatic). It would have made the perfect replacement to the Peugeot 404 wagon, which was giving Stephanie carpal tunnel syndrome because of its non-assisted steering.
Just thinking of all the money we’d have saved…….
It’s not too late, Paul. Scope out a really nice one then put the XBox on Craigslist!
“Volvo has lost its way a bit in the last fifteen years. If it wants to get its mojo back, it could do worse than using the original 245DL as a template.”
Couldn’t agree more. I would definitely buy one of these.
THEY DON’T EVEN SELL A WAGON.
What a damning thing, to abandon the essence of a brand, the THING you stand for.
Volvo: Have fun flailing around with Lincoln in brand limbo
Not all 240′s were powered by the B21F; in ’75, North America only, the 240′s had the B20F pushrod engine. Volvo wanted to keep the OHC engine out of the N/A markets until it’s durability was proven closer to home. I had a ’75 245 myself, B20F powered.
The 240s with the B20 were something of a slug.
Yes they were but IPD helped me cure that!
I want one. In fact, I’ll take four…one for every member of the family.
Here’s our baby. While it’s not a 70′s brick its an amazingly serene, comfortable and tank-like ride. We’ve had it for 3+ years with 65k on the ODO but the AWD does take a massive bite of your wallet.
After 2 yrs ago when I was doing a quick scan of used autos for a 150 mile commute, i was looking at a 70s brick as I’d always loved their sensibility, like a comfortable shoe. However, I could not locate one in my $3k wheelhouse at the time.
Too bad & not too bad.
That 5 month commute might have killed that car and I was able to find a true gem in my 93 Corolla– a true ‘under the radar’ mobile.
Finally, my car on Curbside Classics. Mine is a ’79 actually, but its the same generation of the 240- the ‘chrome’ models. I honestly cannot think of any other 30+ year old car that is capable of 20K annual mileage, and still allows owner servicing. Mine is very durable- not always reliable, but it has always given me a few days notice of a failure. They tend to break the same ways- fuse connections, alternators, oil leaks, heater cores, speedometers, but once you know the foibles, you keep spares on hand and get adept at swapping parts.
These Volvos are resolutely average in every way except longevity. European models are even better, as we got carbs which eliminated many of the wiring issues.
I get my Volvo oil filter at the same family run garage every 4000 miles. The salesman always asks when I’ll buy another, and my answer still is that it will be when they bring back the 240. Sadly, I doubt that there are enough people like me to create a market.
sorry if this insults anyone…and I know it will but….
these things are turds!
Reliable, sturdy, bricks…whatever it is you want to call them but they never seemed much better than driving a truck to me. These and Saab 900′s were the “thing” to have in my High School back then…I never ever understood it. Needless to say my Fiero GT and GP SE didn’t really mesh with cars the “cool kids” got from their parents to drive….ugg
in reply to fastback – i agree. as an owner of a 2002 v70xc, i have to say that although it’n no brick, it’s a solid ride.
btw, i love that the 240 series had overdrive on both the 4 spd. manual and on the 3 spd. automatic. i remember being confused and thinking it only affected the ratio of the final gear and not understanding why they didn’t just add a gear! it’s a much simpler and more elegant solution then the crazy 7 and 8 spd. automatics on the market today.
As I’ve mentioned before, I had an ’80 Volvo 242DL (2-door sedan) from 1982-2003. It was definitely durable, but there were things that had to be repaired or replaced from time to time. Junkyards were great for replacing plastic interior and trunk trim bits. The tin worm and electrical issues got to it at the end, but I was able to sell it for a small amount of cash. It had about 245K miles when I parted with it (estimated because of intermittent odometer failure toward the end).
BTW, the 2-doors kept the single headlights, flat hood, and wide grille in 1978-80, after the 4-doors and wagons went to the quads and upright grille. My year was indeed the last for the chrome trim around the window frames.
I’m now working on a new long-term keeper: a basic 1998 Nissan Frontier pickup that will soon pass the 14-year mark under my watch.
The 240 series cars are the ultimate Volvo in my eyes. I’m 90% ’60′s – 90′s GM freak but having been around these a lot in the past (ex-boss, ex-girlfriend, ex-best-friend) I’ve really grown fond of them.
I particularly like the slash grille, boxy styling, and nerdy dash layout. There are so many variations of gauge clusters in these cars. The center dash with all the rectangular switches exactly the same size just does it for me. I wonder if there was ever a 240-series car that actually used up ALL the available switch pods…
Oh yeah, I like the fact that they painted those 4-cylinder engines red. Looks cool. They must have fluid filled motor mounts or something because the engines shake like mad while they’re cranking.
You say that I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one. LOL. My ’79 Trans Am has the exact same sticker on the rear window, applied by one of the previous owners. The 245 pictured above is the only other vehicle I’ve seen wearing one of these.
Thanks for writing that up Tom, quintessential or perhaps even archetypal indeed.
I have owned 7 Volvos, going back to 1969. Started with a new 122S red 2 door Volvo Canadian (should have never sold it); then a powder blue 142 which I sold to buy my first of 3 240s. Bought a new ’76 244 and drove it until 1999….put 325,000 km on it. Finally, I picked up a 1980 245 very similar to the one pictured above and a 1982 244, which now has 345,000 km on it. Tanks…. every one of them with excellent heaters. My 2 latest Volvos are a 1996 850…a girlie car….. and a 1988 744,which introduces a whole new level of “tankdom” to Volvos.
None of these cars has ever let me down…..Never had an engine, transmission, or major power train issue with any of them. And you can work on them…..Only serious problem with the 240 is the heater fan motor burns out and is a nightmare to change out. The 122 and 142 were prone to rusting and had finicky dual SU carburettors and a pain in the butt to tune. Although gutless on the highway, they are excellent around town; get decent gas mileage, and what workhorses!!….
If Volvo is listening, bring back a retro 240 with the 2.3L four banger……I’d buy one tomorrow….