1988 Volvo 740 GL Goes for a Drive
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- Reviewing my own car again - the 1988 Volvo 740GL saloon, the classic Swedish brick with the B200E 4 cylinder engine.
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I love VOLVO’s. Have done for many years ….. over 50 yrs now. First one I ever bought was a 1964 model 164. A beautiful little car with great driving characteristics. Gave it to my eldest daughter when I bought a 1970 240 Diesel, followed by an Audi 5000 which was a major disaster. Cost me lots of money. Went back to a Volvo 740 for lots of trouble free driving. Added a 740Turbo wagon to my fleet of drivers as well as a 240 Limited Edition that i acquired from a friend who had quit driving due to old age. In 1998 I acquired a near new 1996 Volvo 960 with less than 30,000 Kim’s on the odometer. Another beautiful car any way you look at it. When I bought it, I told my wife it would be the last car I would ever buy. At the age of 89 yrs, I have given up driving, but y wife is still driving me around. She loves the 960 & has no problems driving it. I’m so glad I bought it. It’s now 26 yrs old & still looks & drives like new.
I hear many people complain about cost of repairs & gasoline. I myself feel this car owes me nothing. With the little amount of driving we do, I have it serviced once per year for oil & filter. Every 3rd year, I have them change all fluids. Gas mileage I don’t worry about, we don’t drive far anyway. I just use 87octane which suits it just fine. I get a lot of folk ask if I want to sell it but I don’t think I will. At least until we are totally done driving. I’ll probably hand it off to a grandson ….. IF he wants it. If not, my eldest son is into “old cars” so he will get it.
One of these volvos saved my wife at the time and my life when I was in my 20s. When I was stationery and hit by a lorry doing 50 mph. I went out and purchased another one.
wtf is a lorry?
A truck
Yes, it is always much better to be in a car - any car - when hit by a lorry!
Erik69 are you high? Your obviously American 😂😂😂😂
Erik69 its a “big” “long” “massive” “car” that “looks” “a” “bit” like a “van”
This is by far your best car, absolute quality in every detail 👍🇸🇪
Wonderful. This car is the symbol of solidity, no bullshit made to last and function. Pre modern consumption culture where everything is design to be replaced in two years. It was always the intellectual choice, not a superficial life style product. Your best car! Even better, a late 940 with a tad more refinement.
You have been bitten by the Volvo bug, the enthusiasm in your voice speaks volumes. I have owned a wide variety of cars in my time and the Volvo one of my all time favourites (along with the P6 but thats another era and story). The Volvo 740/760 is now as a retro classic gaining the attention of a younger age group to when it was new so being enjoyed by a whole new generation, how many cars truly do this. Keep the videos coming Matt and dont even think of selling the 740, its a car for life. lol
I think that was there advertising moto: Volvo. For life.
david souter Isn’t that just how he talks LOL
Lorry drivers love them! Lol
Yeah, I really didn;t like this car when new. However, it is now really growing on me. The shape is so different to modern cars; it's solid and long-lasting. Seems well-designed too, with many practical touches. I do believe many Volvo 700 series owners, (as well as 200 series owners), keep the car for many, many years. I'm sure they have very good reasons for doing this
@@mattylamb9194 yes, we have many reasons for keeping them. You would be surprised how often I am stopped in parking lots by someone telling me they had a 240 like mine and have always regretted selling it. I plan to keep Arthur for the rest of my driving life. By the time I'm done, the car will be 60 years old with over a million miles on the clock. Someone else can take the old boy past the 2,000,000 mile mark.
Gosh I miss that car, my dad scrapped his 740 and it was great. He never had a major issue with it, just replace brake rotors per inspection. It never had bad rust despite he let it outside every day and vacationed in Norway, twice.
We had a Volvo 740GL estate in 'signal red', with a 2.0L 1986cc 121bhp engine...!!!
Nice car with comfortable seats!
As a young lad I worked at Volvo. I moved on not long after this model the 740 & 760 appeared. I still have a soft spot for the big old Volo's but I never took the plunge and bought one and really do wish I had.
The iconic Swedish brick! They where so common here, but they are almost all gone. I love your enthusiasm about the car, I think it stole your heart. This one need to be preserved for the next generations of car enthusiast. Piece of automotive history.
Its safe for a while now, should be in good enough shape to last a lot longer now
What a great car this is. These really were everywhere round my part of the world. We have a well established Volvo dealer in our town who are still in business today and have been Volvo for over 50 years. They are very different cars today though. 740’s were really popular and there are still quite a few about, especially the huge and really useful estates. My boss had a H reg 740TD saloon in the early 90’s which was fitted with the 6 cylinder VW diesel, they sounded wonderfully agricultural! A friend of mine who is a funeral director owned both an S90 (the last version of the 700/900) based Hearse and 6 door limousine and both used the in line 6 cyl petrol. A few years ago I had a drive of the limo, a lovely car to drive but very thirsty. Both were replaced with later S80 based 5 cyl petrol cars. Old Volvos just keep going!
I am currently driving a 1989 740 GL with 250k miles and it brings me great joy
Well done Matt, glad to see her out and about, and looking splendid.
Now see if you can get hold of a 360 or 740GLT to do a comparison.... that would be good!
I let a friend of mine, (in his late 50's) drive my 940 Wentworth Turbo at night on a Motorway. 10 minutes later he was doing over 120 complaining of how many bends there were on the motorway itself and why he was taking the racing line. Apparently he was so bi-focal he couldn't read the dials and didn't realize how fast we were really going.
Old Volvo's and Rover's, brilliant........ all the best.
Morning. Coffee on the table, a lot of paperwork but first... Furiousdriving !
I had a Volvo 740GL as my first car. Such a great machine. I paid £100 for it with 204,300 miles on the clock. It took me to nearly 250,000 with no real issues before bearings failing in the back axles got to it. The only car I really miss and regret selling, even if I sold it for slightly more than I paid for it.
F965HAM. Best car I owned.
The fuzzy lined compartment was home to a graphic equaliser on posh models - soooo retro! Great video Matt of an honest, loveable car. None of the fancy tech and it just goes to show how it lasts too and how Volvo has always been about people and safety, not image and profit. One of reasons I love the brand.
I remember my brother having a very rare 1984 760 Turbo saloon with the 2.3 litre 4 cylinder turbo lump which had 180 hp and had huge miles on it when he got rid of it only to replace it with an equally rare Volkswagen engined 2.4 litre straight six Turbo Diesel 940 estate which apparently had the same engine that was fitted to the Volkswagen LT35 van. The power output was more than the van configuration, but was still totally gutless having only 120hp but again, he managed to rack up 270,000 miles in it! These were great cars.
I took a new '84 740 Turbo Intercooler with the 2.3 liter out for a test drive. With 180hp that thing was quick & probably fast, too!!! I had it up to 112mph in no time. It was pouring rain at the time, so that was plenty fast enough. But I could tell it had plenty more to go!
@@bobjohnson205 we had a base 2.1 litre estate from 81. With its side draught carburetor, it put out a whalloping 97 HP. I once got the old girl up to about 120 mph, even with the 3 speed automatic. It took time, but it did it.
@@michaeltutty1540 120 mph! That must have been down hill with a tail wind! lol In '78 I bought a '74 142 with the B20 engine and the dual Solex carburetors that put out 90 HP. I got that car up to 95 - tops. (No tailwind. No downgrade.)
In '79 I bought a '77 264GL with the B27F engine - 127 HP, 153 lb-ft of torque. I owned that car for 13 years and the best I ever did on level road was 105 mph or so.
My present Volvo has the B230F engine with an output of 114 HP and 135 lb-ft of torque. I've owned that car for 20 years and the best I have ever done is about 103 mph.
You must lead a charmed life! lol :)
@@michaeltutty1540 that clearly had a very optimistic speedometer.
My dad bought the final run 240 in 86. It was the 1987 model. It was that year they added the brake light in the rear window. Both my parents and many of my relatives worked for Volvo in Torslanda at one point or another. This is such a trip down memory lane.
It's a great car. I bought mine in 1988 in Stuttgart, Germany, still have it with170k miles. No accidents and the original clutch. I love this car.
Ah yes. My first Volvo the 740. Currently driving a ‘93 940. I’ve enjoyed all your 740 videos. Keep them coming.
Got two 940 estates I keep garaged and alternate on the road. Lovely cars and a surprisingly pleasant drive.
I absolutely love my '88 740 GL as well. Every time I take a seat on my so called couch on wheels I got a big grin on my face. I agree with you on every point you mad 100%.
Stay happy and safe in on of the best automotive experices out there.
Driven by choice !
Nice review! I have two 740's! one automatic and other with manual gearbox.The manual gearbox car had an engine problem, it seems that the rings were very worn or water entered and bent a connecting rod. I could not be without driving my Volvo and bought another one because I knew it would take time to get spare parts to repair the engine. It's waiting to come back to the roads! they are just lovely to drive. It's all pleasure. I'm from Argentina, regards!
I can confirm that the impact absorbent bumpers on these cars can really do their jobs well. Back when I was around 18 I had a clapped out 740 turbocharged rust box with the boost cranked up and the diff welded solid. One cold snowy morning on the way to work a particularly inviting roundabout was completely empty and I couldn't resist doing a bit of hooliganism. The ensuing skidding and sliding got out of hand (which I blame entirely on the ice and snow on the ground and not on my own inexperience and poor judgment) resulting in me stuffing the front of the car diagonally into a guard railing at about 20-30mph. The impact was significant and as I pulled over into a bus stop to inspect the damage my heart was filled with dread at the prospect that I had ruined my first car, but as I stepped out to behold the damage I was quite taken aback to discover that the only damage was a palm-sized scratch on the plastic skin of the bumper. Thorougher inspection at a later date confirmed that there was no structural damage at all to the car, just a scratch on the bumper skin.
I had to park extremely close to the garage door for about a week to hide the damage from my parents until I could buy a "new" $10 bumper at the local scrap yard.
I have a 1990 740 GL and love it. I have owned eight Volvos over the years and the 740 is my favorite. I've had my 740 since 2005 and have done most of the maintenance myself because it's so easy to work on. I also have a 240 and an XC70, but I prefer to drive the 740.
The Volvo looks so good shining in the sun. Great to see her going for a drive 👍🏼
I've noticed lots of Volvo's on American movie's.
This is a stonking car. Always had a soft spot for the Swedish tank 👍
@Charles Walliburton Yep, that was Jason Robards. His 240 wagon saved his life! ;)
My 740 has the 2.3l b230e
An excellent and thorough analysis of the car by a very knowledgeable and extremely fast-talking presenter. Possibly due to the latter, I may have missed it, but I don't recall any mention of power-steering, seat-adjustment options or the fact that the rear seats can be folded down - which I believe they can?!?!?! The rear armrest wasn't shown folded down either, admittedly a very minor point. But overall, it was a most enlightening and entertaining 25+ minutes, top-notch!
We here in the US got this as the 740 GLE. More standard equipment. I think it was categorized as a large vehicle by the EPA. And I believe this could be equipped with a 2.3 litre intercooler turbo! Great vehicle, great video Matt! A great start to my day!
Sherman is an appropriate name for this extremely likable vehicle!
Of I am not mistaken, we here in the US only got this as a GLE, but with different engines (760 for the V6, for example). I do remember these were quite expensive, but, because it is a VOLVO, you bought it because of its reputation; safety, reliability, durability. You are used to small vehicles there in the UK 🇬🇧, we like BIG, SOLID VEHICLES.
I also noticed you driving through a new housing estate! Incredible! And, it looked like a very warm, dry day. I was admiring the scenery as well! Oh, and before I forget, I also think most Volvo models of this era in the US 🇺🇸 had air conditioning standard. My memory isn't what it should be.
And I also think they were adver as "Volvo. For Life." For which this is a perfect example!
I do know that these are rare in the US.
Love this car Matt 😍 Way back as a child in the 70’s I was obsessed with the big bumpers on my neighbours bright orange 240, which in turn resulted in a lifelong obsession with Volvo’s 😀🇸🇪🚗 I must be in the minority, however, I aways preferred the saloon versions of the 700 series. That rear window profile - ooft! 😂
As for the speaker grills.
Yours got the upgraded speakers. Base model has the same molded plastic grill front and back. And they should be colour coded.
Nope. Those plastic grilles were placeholders until speakers were fitted. Nothing behind them, as the Volvo head units could only power one set of speakers without an additional amplifier
Hold on a minute, they decided to fit more aerodynamic wipers to a box 😂 lovely to see a nice volvo, so much nicer than the mini you've been working on!
Probably one of the best cars in the world
Lovely Jubbly, a nice way to spend half an hour, thanks for another great video.
I own a 91 740 wagon turbo heavily modified a 88 740 sedan naturally aspirated and a 86 760 sedan turbo mildly modded and I love all of them dearly!
Needed a van for business and a car for family, had an Astramax and an Astra, sold both and bought a new 740 estate around 1989
What a car, did everything and did it well, comfortable and roomy,
Going to work 5.30am one morning and a car pulled out, t-boned it at 50mph the 2 week old Ford Orion was a wreck, total write off, driver hospitalised.
My 740 had a cracked grille and broken number plate! Emergency services were astonished.
Traded in two years old, had paid £13k new on a dealer promotion.
Got £11.5k trade in against Cavalier SRi as I no longer was running to cash and carrys
Wish id stayed with Volvo.
This truly amazing model. I was in love with this at the time it came out and always love it. No curves just straight lines . That is Volvo . Safety.
I've loved these cars from afar for many years - bricks they may be, but practical, well-built, dependable and, ultimately, safe. My friend's life was saved by being in one of these (albeit the estate version). I am currently an owner of a V90 and would drive nothing else.
Great video, Matt. You mention the way these cars corner. Thing is, they take a set and go. Granted they look outrageous, but keep your foot down and trust the car, and they will carry much more speed than seems possible. In 30 years and 400,000 miles, I have yet to hear tire squeal out of Arthur, and I do not corner gently. When it comes to the ride, fit a set of Monroe SensaTrack struts and shocks. The difference is astounding. The ride is as comfortable but without the float. More performance oriented tyres make a huge difference, too. On the 240, the spare tyre stands upright in the left quarter panel behind the wheel well. Makes for a more usable boot/load space.
Your GL is not the base model. The entry level, at least here, was the DL (Deluxe). GL (Grand Luxe) was the one up. Top trim was GLE (Grand Luxe Executive). We did not get the SE in Canada, but did see the GLT (sport seats and suspension, base 2.3 litre engine) and TURBO, which had the same suspension an interior as GLT, but with the turbocharged 2.3.
There was no 740DL in the UK or Europe. You could get a 240DL, but not a 740
Always loved those Volvos, especially after the facelift they had later. My neighbor growing up had a silver 1992 Volvo 740 which I always thought looked sharp and conveyed a sense of indestructibility that no other car did.
This model is still today popular as dailys in the northern half of sweden where covering vast distances of woodlands, more than half of the year in darkness, snow , sleet and temperatures well below zero, requires a cheap comfy and well heated snowcruiser. The RWD provides icy road fun as well for entertainment. In scandinavia the 7 series are gaining a status of something like "cultural heritage" together with dala horse, surströmming, knäckebröd, and midsummer celebrations...
Finding this channel gave me the same feeling as finding a late 80s early 90s car in pristine condition! Lol. Definitely telling all my car friends about this!💪🏽❤️
I used to deliver Tv:s and AV equipment for customers in an Estate version. Unfortunately, I have to admit I never liked these old Volvos, even if they are from my native country. Just not my cup of tea driving wise, at least when I was younger. But as you said, viewed though the right lens they are wonderfully practical, comfortable and reliable cars. What really won me over on them, was when I started driving more on small swedish gravel roads with lots of snow banks. Just plow through the 3 feet snow with the big bumper, good luck doing that with another car without breaking something expensive.
Plenty of admiration for the estate version, which was always a very practical design for loads and large families - but less for the shape of the saloon which I never thought very much of. I'm sure they were good cars though, even though there were horror stories of engine destruction when the cambelts were not maintained properly. A colleague of mine (with 6 kids!) back in the early 90s adored his old estate and was reduced to tears when he had to scrap it due to the aforementioned problem.
Wierd, the red block engines are of non-interference design thus a snapping cam belt is not a problem. Happened to the B230F engine in my car, just align it to dead center and put a new belt on. However this is not true for the engines which have the K-suffix, which have a flat cylinder head.
The 8 valve Red Block is a non-interference engine. There should be no damage if the cam belt breaks. The 16 valve Red Block is an interference engine, so damage is likely. Then again, Volvo says to do the cam belt ever 60,000 miles. It is generally a 1 hour job if you do the engine seals at the same time. The parts are cheap to do the job, too.
@@haardkaar the carburettor fed B230K (such as fitted to the 1986 GL and GLE) was an interference engine.
@@DavidEverson77 Yep the K is an interference engine by design, due to flat head. It's uncommon in Sweden. High trim levels as the GLE usually had E engines, which demotes mechanical fuel injection. Although most 240 and 740 had either A (low spec) or F engines in Sweden. The latter denoting electronic fuel injection with Lambdasond. Catalytic converters became mandatory in 1988 but most cars already had them since 1986/1987.
Thanks for the video, great to see the saloons getting a bit of love, they've always been a bit overshadowed by the estates.
That space under the radio used to have a Graphic Equaliser on the higher spec models. Great video, brought back many memories of the C-Reg 2.3 GL and then the E-Reg 2.0 GL that my Dad had. He always said the 2.3 unit was far better.
Yes, Volvo sold a lot of options that you could install later if you wanted to, the front speakers seems to be a later install with the different grills as the original usually fits over the different models they sold. The places for extra buttons where handy as Volvo sold switches with different sets of signs you could plop into the upper part and different coloured signal lenses to put in the switch. Useful when installing extra headlamps here in Sweden, or front foglights. There was an three point roll uo seatbelt for the mid seat in the rear as well, I still have mine somewhere, the bracket that you install under the hat shelf I had to modified because the previous owner had installed front headrests in the back seat on my 1986 740GL with B230A. But it still worked, and the only thing I kept when sending it if to the scraps after two crashes. (No one was using that at those accidents)
Easy to work on which is great, unlike modern Volvo's which are a nightmare. At 70 mph you would not be revving at 4,000 rpm. No way. Perhaps in 4th but not in 5th. I love the seats. I'd have not say they look like the best seats I have ever seen in any car. Love the gear shift too. Even the gearshift boot looks nice. Incredible condition. A credit to it's owners. I was in Sweden in 1990 and on my way into Stockholm from Arlanda airport just about every car was a Volvo. It was amazing. Few Saab's though which was curious. It's obvious you love your car. Happy motoring.
“Drag race a moose and crash into a elk...” that really cracked me up 😂
I used to own a 1991 estate 740 gl loved her so much-the electrics were the death of that car in the end but the body was rock solid
The doctor my mother worked for in the early 90s bought one new. My mother says it sounded like truck to her. Mind you, she also says that about the V8 engined BMW X5 of the neighbour.
Lovely to have an extensive view in and around your brick. Your adventures with it really have awakened my interest in them.
Oh, Mr Richardson, the sound of the red block engine and some good old induction roar too...
that fan sounds like a HGV is coming along!
@@furiousdriving, it's the sound of my childhood, brought back by this and a 240 Estate I drove recently!
Great way to start a Friday morning, working from home, coffee and watching the great Volvo 740! Great Channel and great content :)
Great vid Matt! Love your enthusiasm. My dad had a GL similar to yours but was an '84 on a B plate. Keep fit windows all round and steel saucer wheel trims. His first saloon after 3 consecutive estates (a 245, a 265 and then a 240). I don't think we ever loved it as much as the estates but it was a fine car and a great way to cover miles. Ours was silver too with the same pinstriping on both the outside and inside (thankfully not blue though, sorry!). One thing I never liked though was that centre console. Cheap, creaky plastics that never fitted together properly, a real mess I thought, partially sorted with the 1988 facelift. You're right about the wallowy handling, this has just reminded me that our 740 was the first car I ever drove on my 17th birthday when my dad took me for a driving lesson! Definitely a wallowy old barge and a baptsim of fire threading that through country lanes on my first outing behind the wheel of a car. The 940 that followed it wasnt much better but it was an estate. I used that to camp in at Leeds festival in 2000 which was an absolute washout. Well, it was for those in tents, it wasn't for me... you couldn't do that in a saloon. As an aside I once borrowed the 940 to lug over 300kg of gravel back from B&Q one time. It rode better loaded than it did empty....
That’s a lovely lump of a car. There’s something very reassuring about an 80s Volvo, you just knew they were made to last.
Had one just like it , simply the best and when i reluctantly parted with it it had 280k on the clock and it still purred along , always miss it but lovely to see you have kept this gem going , well done you 👍
Charming old bus. I'll admit I checked to see what they go for on Car and Classic...
Top work bringing her back to top condition Matt.
700/900 Series interior door release levers are great fun. A lot of people I've had as passengers in my 740 over the years have been unable to find them when they've wanted to get out of the car and have had to ask me how to open the door :)
Dad had a 86 model GL but the estate with the 2.3 auto. Lovely car so well built and reliable. Huge boot far more practical than a suv. Auto box eventually started slipping after 12 years and huge mileage so sold it. Before that he had another huge estate car the citroen cx safari 2.4 which was amazing when it was working. Huge boot I think even bigger than the Volvo and the most amazing ride of any car felt like hovering above the road surface. But wasn't as reliable as the Volvo and parts were really expensive. Would like to see a comparison review of both cars as they were amazing cars and proper load carrying estate cars.
What a beauty! I love this car and I love especially your car since you have saved it and repaired it!
Hi, those changes to the scuttle panel and the multi-link rear suspension is a 760/960 thing, the old axle design and prominent windshield wipers stayed on the 40-series all the way to the last 940s. :)
The 940SE also came with the multi-link rear suspension.
@@bobjohnson205 Multiple different cars around the world have been named Volvo 940 SE.
In Europe the 940SE was just a regular 940 (B230F with or without turbo) with some extra's.
In the US the 940SE badge was used for what was actually a 960 Turbo in Europe, so only the US 940SE has multilink rear suspension (and the more streamlined bonnet and windshield wiper situation, a slightly different dashboard...) because it is actually a 960.
@@Candisa So glad you agree that the 940SE had multilink rear suspension. :)
It's amazing so many of these are still around, and still in daily use. Most of them don't look like they've had loads of restoration done on them either.
I had the estate version. For some reason, I was always being asked to move big furniture for people.
Me too...hahaha
I was mentally screaming "armrest, the armrest" as you exited the rear! Interior looks great with the new headlining and through valet. Great car!
Many years ago i had a 1989 Volvo 760 Turbo and that too was as wollowy as i don't know what, but the comfort and speed was incredible. They're not cars you buy for economy, but they really grow on you. I'm not a fan of the modern Chinese Volvo's as they just don't feel the same. Great Video as always! It would be nice to see you do a roadtrip to the Volvo factory in Sweden.
You should fit a vintage air system (ac) and maybe improve the radio reception and it will be perfect cruiser
She looks bloody wonderful! I remember a few months ago, he was so different!
Great video, my dad had a 940 turbo that never died! In the U.S we had the ugly headlights but at least we got a standard driver airbag on the 88 models
I grew up with this car. I love it. Always thought the front design was a bit intimidating but in a respectful way. While the insides are nice and comfy.
I discovered how floaty they were when I spun mine on a road about, also hit a neighbours back door trying to stop in snow, down hill, It cost me a new door for their MK 2 Cav. Volvo was "Was that the best you could do"
Had a 940, loved the low door edge, really gives an airy feeling to the cabin.
Every video you make is always a pleasure to see... Very relaxing and interesting. The car is that one we all love, i don't have to spend words on it
Yeah having the horn fully working is a good safety measure especially when at speed when people need to hear you sooner, first thing I did to my first car is fit a two tone air horn it didn't take me long to realise the advantages, I believe the French used to fit two different loudness levels of car horn !
The horn has two electric blasters with different tones, only one seems to work on this car.
@@Bratfalken Yes I have the same problem with my skoda everyone's looking for a noddy car when I use the horn ! 😃😂😁😀
Would love to see a late 90s Vauxhall Vectra Sri to look at the shark like design language of the wing mirrors etc. It captivated a young me.
Also would love to see you hoon around in a TVR with all of their odd interiors to review.
Great review of a fantastic car. I love the 700/900. i have a 91er 940 saloon in the work.
Bit like my S Class which is in Daily use, old Volvos can jump into daily service no matter how harsh at a moments notice without fear of complaint. The ideal 2nd car for somone who needs a car with plenty of space and is self employed. I've had 2 Volvos 1 S40 saved my wifes life the other a high miles S70 is still going with 190k and 2 owners.
I love Volvos, you've done a great job with this one.
Thanks Mr Furious. I want one of these for cruising about when we need the 4 seats or space. I need one like you have now though rather than when you started ;) Your car looks great I bet you are proud of the results of the effort that went into it!
that was such a good film when you replaced the head lining!!!!
that day was a headache!
I always remembered the intercooler badge. Seriously cool back then
Another great video Matt. I used to have a lovely 1988 760 GLE automatic estate, which I adored. It just went on for ever and ever in supreme comfort, and had a vast amount of space. In fact with the rear seats folded down it was perfectly possible to lie down and go to sleep, and I often did, using it as a makeshift camper van on weekends away. Mine had leather seats, which although very comfortable offered little support in corners, and there was always a sense that if a corner was taken a little too quickly one might slide off the seat ! Despite its vast size the one thing which always amazed me was its superb all around visibility, which made it far easier to park that one might imagine. All in all the 700 series was a superb car.
I love how boxy this car is 😁
My father had a 760 GLE estate and a 740 ES saloon. The 760 was noticeably nicer riding and more comfortable. He also had a 265 GLE, and used to marvel at the ‘expensive’ (!) gearbox whine at low speed.
gearbox whine is the mark of luxury!
Those old cars have such character having survived a lot. They will dictate what speed they want to rumble along at and trying to rush them takes more out of the driver than them.
Great video to enjoy my Friday morning coffee to. Superb car!
I’m quite sure you got the black line trim. It was a special trim in 1988 that on the inside came with electric windows in the front, electric mirrors and those blue seat with white stripes.
On the exterior they had black painted trim round the windows (chrome underneath the paint) and a black stipe on both sides. Basically the tame looks as the GLT trim. I’m not sure if they were all white. I have only seen white examples.
I had a white 1988 black line for 10 years before I bought a 1997 S90.
By the way. The thick and durable bumpers are great! It happened a couple of times that other people crushed their brittle plasic bumpers against the bumpers on my 740. They got a hole in their wallet and I had to brush away their paint from my bumpers.
Its so good to see such a beautiful car. I can tell she's your baby just by the way you describe it. Love Volvos. Owned an 850 GLT once. Great car.😊
The horn doesn't sound like a proper Volvo horn.... maybe as you say something isn't working, or maybe it's been swapped out at some point in the past. It should have a much deeper tone. The styling was done to appeal to the American market
Love the effort you have put into this car Matt 👍
Matt great review, reminds me of my 1984 Volvo 360 2 litre. Little 13 inch wheels massive suspension travel so you sent it into a corner and it would grip but the body would role massively on the axles all controllable and safe. The 5 speed gearbox was as precise as stirring a bucket of rubber rubber balls. As you said of your Volvo not a hooligans car, not National Front more National Trust. looking forward to the next download.
Haha funny the rear wheel drive Volvo is the young drifters choice here in northern Europe. I've owned three examples for snow drifting. They drive just great.
Now I know why I've never owned a Volvo. I'm not educated and I haven't got any money! Many thanks Matt, good old Moby has got to be a permanent member of the fleet.
You might be surprised at how affordable a Volvo can be. When my mom bought her first one, in the autumn of 81, a 240 Estate was $50 LESS than a comperably equipped K-Car. Granted, hitting the options list could boost the price quickly, but they were very well equipped as standard equipment.
"You probably wouldn't find one of these in a car park at a National Front rally."
And in a car park at the Swedish equivalence, You would find little else. Now as well as then.
You seem to have mixed up the changes quite a bit. The 740 never got multilink, and neither did the 940. Neither got the aerodynamically shielded wipers either. It was the 760 that got those---and possibly only the saloon as the '91-'94 965 didn't have multilink---as well as a new front that looks very similar to the 960. In 1990 the 740---and not the 760 as it was due for replacement by the 960---got a facelift to look more like the 850, so I'm told, that was a bit of a hybrid between the 740 and 940. Beginning in '91 the dash was the same as the 940's, so by that time it was quite a partsbin special.
Also, your front speaker grills (and the speakers themselves) are most likely an option. What you have in the rear is what they look like in the front as standard
Its just what I found when I read up on them
"In 1990 the 740 got a facelift to look more like the 850" That's a pretty good trick considering the 850 wasn't even around until the '92 model year.
@@bobjohnson205 92 model year comes out in October 1991 in the UK and Europe..
@@furiousdriving he's correct though. No 740 ever got the multilink rear axle. That was on the 1988 760s, which had a facelifted exterior and interior. My dad had bought a 740GLE estate brand new in 1986, so we went to the dealer launch evening
My uncle got one of these but the estate version for £50 years ago. It was a proper tank of a thing. Not sure what engine was in it but it was very quick for what it was
It is such a shame that Volvo don't make cars this good anymore, I have owned 4 estates & 2 saloons, all of which had over 200,000 miles on the clock, in fact my 1987 240 GLE had 320,000 and ran like a swiss watch,
As long as you keep the rust at bay, these cars will last a lifetime!
Intelligent engineering is a strong selling point on any car. Just changing a lamp bulb on some cars now requires a lot of contortion, and loss of skin. As my old dad would say, a good all-rounder. Modern is not always better, just more expensive and sometimes, Shoddy. Cheers.
I had an '87 for decades, sold with 390,000k on the clock, and the only thing that ever broke was the wiper stalk. Not so robust after all. Mind you, a spot of Super Glue™ fixed it.
One of my favourite cars
One of the best cars ever made. Thank you volvo.
Hi Matt, brilliant review on your car,it's a nice big safe motor,for the mileage it's done well.great video.
A perfect review! I completely agree with what you said about the engine. The worst problem I've ever had with working on it is sheared bolts! And about the horn, it is a dual horn setup but it doesn't sound the best, for a car of this size I recommend a big air horn ;)