Description
Full recommissioning just completed!
Ready to show, drive, enjoy.
Welcome to our listing for ‘Sven’… an amazing ‘Time Warp’ classic Volvo 244.
With just one owner from new for over forty years the genuine mileage is just 38, 000 miles.
Whilst the build year is 1978, this a 1979 model with the rarer ‘square’ headlights.
The car now enjoys DVLA classic status and is exempt from road tax or MoT tests… although he has a current MoT until mid August 2020 and will have a full 12 month's MOT at time of sale.
I have owned the car for just over four months during which time no effort or expense (over £4, 000 of receipts for parts and work done) has been spared in improving the condition from very good to near concours.
A YouTube car enthusiast ('Alt- Cars') has made a video from the 'dealer' images taken just before I bought the car (at the asking price of £8, 000) and this can be viewed at...
- details above
This shows the truly excellent original condition of the 244 before I bought it.
Subsequent to our further and extensive recommissioning, ‘Sven’ is now in perfect mechanical and cosmetic order with not a hint of rust from top to bottom. He drives superbly and is ready for the next forty years without any further work or expenditure.
I am a private seller not a dealer: a modern classics enthusiast and recently retired. I was in the process of reducing our wee ‘fleet’ and the plan was to buy a Volvo estate to serve as daily workhorse whilst I renovate our crumbling pile. It was on a hunt for a good estate that I met Sven and was smitten.
The bodywork in glorious and very rare Cimarron Brown is simply amazing. The car looks a bright terracotta in sunlight and a rich red/ brown in the shade. All of us who have been involved in working on the car over the last few months believe the paintwork is entirely original. We’ve even run a paint thickness meter over the panels and there’s no sign of any bodywork having been done. There are no dents, dinks, scratches, stone-chips… or rust!
I just had to have this car BUT… you can perhaps imagine my homecoming reception when a saloon arrived rather than a ‘wagon’. Yes… the game was up and I was in the ‘dog house’. To duck a divorce, I have just given in and bought a run-about estate car. So sadly, Sven now needs the care of a proud new owner.
Nevertheless, we just love the car and have been happy and willing to commit to all the works we felt would bring Sven back to showroom condition and ready to drive to the French Riviera at the drop of a hat. In summary, the works have included…
- A first full recommission service by renowned Volvo Independent specialist Brian Jump (Jump Leads) of St. Annes – on - Sea. This included… cam/ timing belt & water pump, brake service, carb service, plugs, points, ignition leads, filters, engine oil & filter, auto box fluid, rear axle oil change, rear exhaust/ silencer section, new quality battery, drive belt AND… other bits and bobs that Brian felt necessary before Sven and I ventured north to Dunoon.
- Since here, my wonderful pals at Balaclava Garage have (with only a little hindrance from me) performed the following works… replace front chassis cross-member, completely renew ALL front & rear suspension components - coil springs, shock absorbers, drop links, front wishbones, rear trailing arms, new bushes throughout, front ball joints, track rods and track rod ends. Further brake system improvements… new calipers, discs, pads, back plates and new brake system safely valve. Camber and tracking were then reset after a thorough road test.
- During the running gear strip-down and rebuild, there were a few small weld repairs to non-structural areas underneath, the entire sub-structure was cleaned, treated with ‘Aqua Steel’ rust converter where necessary, and then finished throughout with Dinitrol 445 Drohnex. In my experience, this synthetic resin/ plastic based product is far superior to ‘rubber-based’ underseals and give excellent long-term protection against corrosion from road salt.
This is one clean and solid car with the underneath every bit as good as the top. It was very good before we started... it is now as good as new!
All door interiors have been stripped, window and door mechanisms cleaned and lubricated, door cards refurbished and finally the inner panels treated with Dinitrol 1000 which provides penetrating cavity corrosion prevention.
The outstanding condition of the car even prior to any of our improvements is testament to Volvo’s build quality and factory corrosion protection. I do, however, think that the car may have had ‘Ziebart’ (or similar) treatment from new. The lack of rust is amazing and there are capped holes in some body sections. I have used these for further Dinitrol cavity treatment… sills, posts, etc.
Other works include... new radiator, restoration of the headlight washers and wipers (now working perfectly), new (genuine Volvo) fuel tank sender, upgraded headlights, etc,
Indeed, all parts used have been genuine Volvo or quality new items and most supplied by Brookhouse Volvo who have been superb. The car is truly genuine and original throughout.
Finally, because not all the heated rear window elements weren't working, we set about searching for a genuine '244' factory-original rear window (without the centre rear brake light feature). After three months of searching everywhere, National Windscreens in Glasgow came good and found one of (they believe) just two windscreens in the UK. They have professionally fitted this brand new Volvo 'old (original) stock' heated rear screen. It is gleaming new and, of course, the heating elements work.
Given all the above work, the car starts, drives and stops like it’s just rolled off the production line. I took a wee spin in Sven today. The autumn sun brought out a number of local classics, including a ‘RR’ Silver Cloud. As we waved and passed each other I pondered on how any car could be more comfortable, quiet or stylish as this wonderful classic seventies Volvo… not even a Rolls Royce! This superb 244 entirely befits its description as a ‘saloon’ or ‘sedan’… cosy, quiet and comfortable.
My only niggle with Volvo’s designers was the legroom in the front seats. I’m 6’2” but still prefer a high driving position where I feel in control of the car. When you raise the seat in a 240 it moves closer to the steering wheel and pedals… too close in my opinion. I searched for a solution to this and found it in California where Volvo Independent specialists ‘Wagonmeister’ have designed and now manufacture a seat adjuster extension kit. I’ve ordered and fitted one to the driver’s seat and it transforms the driving position options.
The cabin is a wonderful place to be as you waft silently along. All upholstery and carpets (protected by rubber over-mats) and headlining are unmarked and superb. There is no damp or water ingress anywhere.'
The windows raise and lower effortlessly and all controls work precisely as they should. The original radio (just MW & LW)/ cassette is superb and I have fitted new speakers in the front door apertures behind the original grilles.
The engine bay is as clean as a whistle as is the boot which has both the original jack and tool kit. There are two full sets of keys.
The engine is strong with very willing pick-up from stationary and the Borg Warner auto box is a smooth as silk. The steering is light and positive with a turning circle as good as a London taxi! It’s an effortless joy to drive.
You’ll see from the images that the car has just been fitted with four new M+S Stamped Goodyear Vector 4Seasons tyres. These ‘all season’ boots are always in the top three of tyre reviews/ tests and I’ve found them to be an unbeatable choice on my other cars.
And so… Everything works as it should and NOTHING whatsoever needs doing. ‘Sven’ the Swede is ready to cruise, show and enjoy. Timeless retro style and proper Volvo Quality.
The car’s provenance is well documented and I have all original documentation… Volvo Owners Handbook, stamped Service Book, old MoT’s, and documents from the supplying Volvo Main Dealer (Pinneys of Harpenden) whose number plates are still fitted to the car.
Sven will come with a top-quality outdoor waterproof car cover (Coverzone ‘Stormforce') which has only been used for a handful of days and is ‘as new’. 'Sven' also has a good quality 'stretchy' soft indoor cover in 'as new' condition.
UPDATE... 17th November... The car has just been 'put away' to weatherproof storage for the winter and will not be used on salty wet winter roads. The low mileage will therefore be preserved.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any more information. I have many more photos available.
I would prefer direct personal contact with any potential buyer before an offer is submitted so please call or message me first.
I’m open to helping with hand-over/ delivery so please don’t let distance be a worry.
A deposit of £500 is required please with the balance payable on handover.
My thanks for looking and HAPPY 'classic' MOTORING
