Description
For sale my 1975 Volvo 244DL, lightly modified to be eligible for historic regularity rallies.
78, 117 miles, backed by the MOT history to 2019. After that I registered the car as MOT exempt.
The Volvo was first registered in North Wales and still has the rear window dealer sticker (see images). There are 5 former keepers on the V5. I have the original handbook and service booklet. The car also has its original 8 track Volvo 8 radio stereo.
2, 127cc ‘red block’ engine running on a single Stromberg carburettor. Four speed manual box. Smooth, dependable and surprisingly easy to use in modern traffic.
Always raises a smile - how could it not in this original colour, described in the V5C as yellow, but very 1970’s orange! Volvo 240’s seem to be the Classic choice of many a film maker - Stranger Things, Spiderman, Luther, Sopranos - something about the ‘box’ shape being instantly recognisable.
I bought the car in 2018 after it had successfully completed the 2017 LeJog historic rally with its previous owner. This HERO rally event is widely regarded as the toughest UK regularity rally and attracts entrants from across the globe.
For the previous owner, historic Volvo specialist Amazon Cars prepared the Volvo for Le Jog, including suspension (new Bilstein shocks and bushes), a sump guard, mud guards and an alloy radiator. The engine was left as standard; it is not high BHP but is torquey and tractable.
Coming into my hands, the Volvo was absolutely sound but I continued the maintenance and preparation work. This included tidying the body in a few places, a new Jetex exhaust, a rebuild of the brakes with Mintex pads and the making of some further rally preparations;
- Brantz International 2 Pro tripmeter and Brantz rally timer (fitted in glovebox opening, but glovebox lid retained). The tripmeter has two pick up sensors, to have a back up.
- Map reading light
- Hella Rallye spots on a bar and wired to a genuine Volvo Aux switch on the dash (dip with main beam)
- Front and rear towing eyes
- Secured hand held fire extinguisher
I also sourced four vey rare genuine Volvo alloy wheels from a Volvo 242GT. I had these shipped from Queensland Australia, professionally refinished and fitted with Vredestein Quatrac tyres. The five original Volvo steel wheels come with the car.
During my seven years of ownership the Volvo has successfully completed LeJog for a second time (2019) and has competed in a number of other HERO events as well as turning out for local classic tours and shows.
The car is kept serviced for me by a local garage, with the most recent work being a carburettor rebuild with new seals etc. No leaks underneath and no known issues.
With the rally modifications being discrete the car is equally suited for touring and shows. It presents very well with the paint being a mix of original and new. There is some sun fading to the original paint, but this adds to the patina/ charm. Some surface rust shows under the bonnet and underside, but nothing of concern. The original Volvo brown fabric trim, carpets and headlining are all intact clean and very good. The car is not trying to be concourse, just an attractive, sound usable example.
If you are a cyclist, go online and check out Team Eddy Merckx support vehicles - these were all orange Volvo 240s of this era - this could make a brilliant tribute car with a few correct period stickers!
At this price the car will come with some rally spares - alternator, coil, distributor, wiper blades.
The car is great value for what it represents. It has inevitably cost me much more than the asking price. So, please no lowball offers.
Thanks for looking.
