RE: No-reserve, manual Volvo 850 R | PH Auction Block

RE: No-reserve, manual Volvo 850 R | PH Auction Block

Tuesday 8th July

No-reserve, manual Volvo 850 R | PH Auction Block

Sounds pretty great already - and there's a '90s car phone


It’s happened to all of us. You know the kind of car that you’re looking for in the classifieds or auction listings, perhaps even just casually browsing, and you know what the dream specification is. It isn’t anything outrageous; you know that paint option is probably never going to come up, and those seats are impossible to come by. But there are a few boxes that ought to be ticked to make a good car into a great one. 

And does it happen? Does it heck. The car in question will have an auto when it really should have a manual (or vice versa!), it’ll be a weird colour, the history will be iffy or the price daft. So many are so close; precious few ever qualify as ideal candidates. But just listed on PH Auctions is something that really should appeal across the board: a Volvo 850 R

How can it, you’re thinking - it’s the saloon rather than the estate. Well yes, that’s true, but if you want to talk about touring car history it’s worth pointing out that the 850 wagon was, to be frank, a sub-par race car - and the saloon was much, much better. In 1994, Rickard Rydell was 13th in the BTCC with an 850 estate; with a four-door for the two following seasons, he was third in the championship. Here’s a proper tin-top tribute. It’s a manual car, too, which for the 250hp R meant a standard limited-slip diff from the factory; so many of those fast, five-cylinder Volvos are sullied with autos. Sure, the next owner might want a fresh gearknob (the original is looking a tad tired after however many millions of shifts); the important thing is having the manual. 

Need more good news? Great, there’s plenty to come. This 850 R has been with its current owner since 2000, with plenty of history for their time with the car. It had a new cambelt last year, which will be a big job out of mind for the next owner. There isn’t a single advisory on this year’s MOT ticket, and there isn’t a reserve. You read that right. This will sell for whatever the world is willing to pay for it, rather than some overly optimistic asking price (as so often happens with cool modern classics). 

Some may see the mileage (of 176,000) and the non-standard mechanical spec (the 850 is now around 300hp strong) as concerns, but come on. If ever there was a car to take miles and a bit more muscle, it’s a turbocharged '90s Volvo. The power boost has come from nothing more intrusive than an ECU tickle, and the miles have been steadily accrued over the years. Indeed the R has only covered a couple of hundred miles between MOTs recently, so must be overdue some proper drives. Just look at the conditions of that driver’s seat - it’s more than fit for many, many more miles yet. 

See, told you - all the boxes ticked. Right colour, bodystyle, gearbox, history, everything. It feels like whoever submits the winning bid for this one is going to be a very happy PHer indeed. And the Volvo 850 R is 30 years old next year; best get planning an anniversary road trip… 


See the original listing



Author
Discussion

pSyCoSiS

Original Poster:

3,894 posts

220 months

Tuesday
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That is rather sexy, although I still prefer the looks of the wagon.

Geoff-Griff500

61 posts

44 months

Tuesday
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SOooo many buttons, WhooHoo

LotusOmega375D

8,704 posts

168 months

Tuesday
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Looks like the dog has been chewing on the gear stick. NB that’s not a car phone, is it?

86wasagoodyear

728 posts

111 months

Tuesday
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Sorry but for me this would be yet another of those frustrating ads where one thing about the spec isn't right, and it's a dealbreaker. An old 850 like this has just got to be an estate, no discussion.

The Pistonsdead

5,253 posts

222 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
At those miles and she's got a few more before throwing in the towel !!
Lovely thing, and what a thorough history and maintenance record to boot.
A blast from the past. thumbup

Maccmike8

1,343 posts

69 months

Tuesday
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I do rather like these but got to be an estate.

Davie

5,566 posts

230 months

Tuesday
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86wasagoodyear said:
Sorry but for me this would be yet another of those frustrating ads where one thing about the spec isn't right, and it's a dealbreaker. An old 850 like this has just got to be an estate, no discussion.
I know exactly what you mean. I've had a few R / T5 Volvos and I still look daily, hoping that unicorn car will crop up and time and time again hopes are dashed when you realise it's a saloon being advertised... or when it is an estate, it's usually an automatic and that means disappointment. Of all the Volvos I've had, I only ever had one saloon and that was an S70R... automatic... and it lasted a matter of weeks before I couldn't live with it being neither an estate, nor a manual.

sharkattack

61 posts

121 months

Tuesday
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I'm sure these things were about £1500 about 5 minutes ago.

Also, I'd never buy an 850 that isn't a wagon.

Skaben

324 posts

156 months

Tuesday
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LotusOmega375D said:
Looks like the dog has been chewing on the gear stick. NB that s not a car phone, is it?
definitely looks like that old nokia is wired in! Does needs to be the estate, though

LightweightLouisDanvers

2,520 posts

58 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
86wasagoodyear said:
Sorry but for me this would be yet another of those frustrating ads where one thing about the spec isn't right, and it's a dealbreaker. An old 850 like this has just got to be an estate, no discussion.
Agreed

Wren-went

971 posts

53 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Car I always promised myself in the 90s when I could afford a 2 or 3 years old but wanted the wagon.

Only wanted the 950R or T5R . Shame when I wanted 1 I had no kids when I had them never got round to owning 1. Will always regret never owning 1.

Spidermoor

28 posts

22 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
The saloon shape has aged incredibly badly. It's like they designed the estate (Yes, estate. Don't try and make is desirable by calling it a wagon) was designed first and this was an afterthought. No thanks.

Missy Charm

1,136 posts

43 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Skaben said:
LotusOmega375D said:
Looks like the dog has been chewing on the gear stick. NB that s not a car phone, is it?
definitely looks like that old nokia is wired in! Does needs to be the estate, though
The kit in there is an old-fashioned hands-free setup that works when the mobile phone is inserted into the cradle (which also charges the mobile's battery). There will be a microphone mounted somewhere near the driver's side sun-visor and, somewhere, an auxiliary speaker to hear whoever is on the other end. I think everything else was done via the mobile itself, so probably not legal to use, these days.

Not a car-phone proper, then.

the-norseman

14,266 posts

186 months

Tuesday
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Surely they could of got a proper genuine Nokia fascia for the 5110.

Bladedancer

1,448 posts

211 months

Wednesday
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Geoff-Griff500 said:
SOooo many buttons, WhooHoo
I'll take buttons over stupid screen controls any day.

like

4 posts

Wednesday
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I feel like this car is an oldtimer, it has a very long history

Baldchap

9,150 posts

107 months

Wednesday
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The most service history I've ever seen was on a T5 C70 I bought.

Literally tens of specialist invoices for everything you can imagine.

Least reliable car I ever bought. Really put me off.

CronxDriveBy

19 posts

128 months

Wednesday
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It'd be a terrible business model given the niche interest, but a company focused on resto-modding these would be superb.

Davie

5,566 posts

230 months

Wednesday
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Spidermoor said:
The saloon shape has aged incredibly badly.
Granted, a saloon wouldn't be my first choice but I'm confused by this statement... haven't all saloons aged badly given they have all but died out in the UK (mainstream) market. It's nigh on 30 years old now so I'm not sure how it'd age well? Does the same apply to the interior or the way it delivers it's power? I think it's still a smart looking thing, proper saloon car and the fact that TWR did rather well in the mid 90's BTCC with 850 saloons gives it some well deserved bragging rights and kudos.

Rat_Fink_67

2,723 posts

221 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Davie said:
Granted, a saloon wouldn't be my first choice but I'm confused by this statement... haven't all saloons aged badly given they have all but died out in the UK (mainstream) market. It's nigh on 30 years old now so I'm not sure how it'd age well? Does the same apply to the interior or the way it delivers it's power? I think it's still a smart looking thing, proper saloon car and the fact that TWR did rather well in the mid 90's BTCC with 850 saloons gives it some well deserved bragging rights and kudos.
I'm a saloon fan, and think it still looks wonderful! Different strokes for different folks!