A Volvo rarity
Discussion
Never been fond of auto 'boxes and why would anyone buy a LHD car in the UK.
Looking back over the 54 years of owning cars, it would seem that I tend to go for the unusual rather than run with the crowd however back in 2004 I swopped TVRs for a Volvo 740 Estate in readiness for a house move. Previously I wouldn't have been seen dead in an old persons/antique dealers car.
That 740 was followed by 5 x 940s and a 960! I was hooked by RWD Volvos.
It was 2022, on holiday, in the last of the 940's that a 780 with a Belgian reg overtook me and never having seen one before I was fascinated. It parked up in Findhorn and I had a good look around it. Ever since I've kept an eye open for one for sale in the UK.
A couple of months ago, one did, the other end of the country to me but I made an offer based only on a few photos. Sadly it was refused. But it didn't sell and next I saw it up for auction at Ascot. Bidding was slow and it was reaching my limit, knowing I had fees to pay both for the auction house then for transportation and storage until collected as well as the cost to get it. But I made one last bid and won!
It was going to be a 5am start, 5 different trains then an 8 or 9 hour drive home, in a strange car, in the dark and I bottled it and arranged collection.
The car arrived yesterday and I'm well chuffed. It isn't perfect, there's a few jobs to do but already the 780 FB group and a couple on PH have offered advice and help, thanks guys.
I've a bit lacquer peel on the bonnet & scuttle top to sort, torn leather and stitching on one seat, a missing item and a crack in the dash top to attend to and a "thing" stuck onto the dash top needs removing but all in good time.
Oh and it's an auto and LHD.
It's a Volvo 780, made in Italy by Bertone.
The torn leather around the seat stitching.
The missing sensor and cracked dash top.
the wood has a little patina.
The thing.
Looking back over the 54 years of owning cars, it would seem that I tend to go for the unusual rather than run with the crowd however back in 2004 I swopped TVRs for a Volvo 740 Estate in readiness for a house move. Previously I wouldn't have been seen dead in an old persons/antique dealers car.
That 740 was followed by 5 x 940s and a 960! I was hooked by RWD Volvos.
It was 2022, on holiday, in the last of the 940's that a 780 with a Belgian reg overtook me and never having seen one before I was fascinated. It parked up in Findhorn and I had a good look around it. Ever since I've kept an eye open for one for sale in the UK.
A couple of months ago, one did, the other end of the country to me but I made an offer based only on a few photos. Sadly it was refused. But it didn't sell and next I saw it up for auction at Ascot. Bidding was slow and it was reaching my limit, knowing I had fees to pay both for the auction house then for transportation and storage until collected as well as the cost to get it. But I made one last bid and won!
It was going to be a 5am start, 5 different trains then an 8 or 9 hour drive home, in a strange car, in the dark and I bottled it and arranged collection.
The car arrived yesterday and I'm well chuffed. It isn't perfect, there's a few jobs to do but already the 780 FB group and a couple on PH have offered advice and help, thanks guys.
I've a bit lacquer peel on the bonnet & scuttle top to sort, torn leather and stitching on one seat, a missing item and a crack in the dash top to attend to and a "thing" stuck onto the dash top needs removing but all in good time.
Oh and it's an auto and LHD.
It's a Volvo 780, made in Italy by Bertone.
The torn leather around the seat stitching.
The missing sensor and cracked dash top.
the wood has a little patina.
The thing.
Edited by Skyedriver on Saturday 8th March 18:46
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