Well before Hurricane Sandy I left a note on a 1980 Volvo 240 2 door that I had seen in a supermarket parking lot. I rarely EVER see 2-door 240 in NY. This one was original and pretty clean. Oh, well, I didn't hear back from the owner.
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. I get a call from the owners daughter telling me that her father died recently and no one in the family wants the 240. They still had my note and gave me a call asking if I'd still be interested. Well... YEAH! A lot has happened in the years since I left that note, but I'm still a Volvo guy at heart (who had just a few days before picked up a 1992 240 Wagon, my first Volvo in at least 2 or 3 years).
So, after talking to the Wife / Mother, I find out that she wants to give me the car. I had figured on paying a few hundred bucks, but WOW! This just keeps on getting better. I asked her if there was anything I can do for her instead? Maybe a donation to a favorite charity in the Husbands name? No, no money, no donation, no favors. Just take the car when I can.
So, I stopped by on Sunday. No one was home but she left me the keys on the seat. I totally forgot that this car is a GT! (EDIT: It's not a GT. It has a GT grill (GT's were only Silver or Black). No stick, but at least it has the fog lights in the grill and (EDIT: smaller) sway bars! I'm very happy to see that the car was still in good shape and very original. It has 103k on the odometer and even the AC still works! Yes, it's a little low on Freon (bubbles passing the dryer sight glass), but hey, AC is AC! By the way, one town over from me is a guy with a 1994 940 Turbo that needs a head gasket ($500). I looked at that car and considered doing the head gasket and swapping the engine, trans, computer, and rear end (LSD) into this 240 to make a little sleeper. But, instead I'm figuring on keeping this 240 original for now. My first plans are to wash, polish, & wax (the hood and half the passenger door were re-sprayed and look it). Followed by a good going over (I know it needs tires already). I forgot about the CIS systems. I'll have to do some brushing up (the same constant spray system that was in my 1980 BMW 320IS).
Here are some pictures of another little project that came my way:
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. I get a call from the owners daughter telling me that her father died recently and no one in the family wants the 240. They still had my note and gave me a call asking if I'd still be interested. Well... YEAH! A lot has happened in the years since I left that note, but I'm still a Volvo guy at heart (who had just a few days before picked up a 1992 240 Wagon, my first Volvo in at least 2 or 3 years).
So, after talking to the Wife / Mother, I find out that she wants to give me the car. I had figured on paying a few hundred bucks, but WOW! This just keeps on getting better. I asked her if there was anything I can do for her instead? Maybe a donation to a favorite charity in the Husbands name? No, no money, no donation, no favors. Just take the car when I can.
So, I stopped by on Sunday. No one was home but she left me the keys on the seat. I totally forgot that this car is a GT! (EDIT: It's not a GT. It has a GT grill (GT's were only Silver or Black). No stick, but at least it has the fog lights in the grill and (EDIT: smaller) sway bars! I'm very happy to see that the car was still in good shape and very original. It has 103k on the odometer and even the AC still works! Yes, it's a little low on Freon (bubbles passing the dryer sight glass), but hey, AC is AC! By the way, one town over from me is a guy with a 1994 940 Turbo that needs a head gasket ($500). I looked at that car and considered doing the head gasket and swapping the engine, trans, computer, and rear end (LSD) into this 240 to make a little sleeper. But, instead I'm figuring on keeping this 240 original for now. My first plans are to wash, polish, & wax (the hood and half the passenger door were re-sprayed and look it). Followed by a good going over (I know it needs tires already). I forgot about the CIS systems. I'll have to do some brushing up (the same constant spray system that was in my 1980 BMW 320IS).
Here are some pictures of another little project that came my way:
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