Among the weirder car creations of the last few decades, there is the Volvo 262C Bertone. When you take a company like Volvo that has built a certain kind of car – in their case, a safety-minded vehicle with an indestructible powertrain – it is beyond nuts that the 262C Bertone even exists. The chopped-top two-door with its high-zoot interior is a failed experiment in stepping outside of your lane, and despite the dismal results, Volvo still managed to build 6,622 examples, many of which still pop up for sale. Check out this clean example here on Facebook Marketplace for $6,350.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Sam61 for the find. The fact that so many of these Volvos were clad in gold paint shows you just how far the company was willing to go to convey this image of luxury. The thing is, I’m not sure if it actually worked. After all, it still looks like every other Volvo from the era with the exception of the lower roofline, as the headlights and taillights were exactly the same. I often wonder what potential shoppers thought when they walked into a Volvo franchise and saw this in the showroom: were they intrigued? Or did they simply walk past, dead-set on buying the 245 wagon they agreed to purchase before visiting the dealer?
The interior saw some very obvious changes made with the plush leather seats, unique door panels, and a heated passenger bucket as Bertone-specific additions. You also got “Elmwood” wood trim, a power antenna, and cruise control. The seller’s car looks decent inside, but with the cabin of a Bertone being one of its most distinguishing features, it seems necessary to have the cockpit look absolutely perfect inside. Like most 262C’s, there is an automatic transmission hooked up to a “PRV”-series V6 engine that was developed by Peugeot. The engine was hardly a selling point, however.
For the abbreviated period in which I owned a Peugeot product, I had a 505 wagon with the PRV V6 swapped in, and paired with the factory 5-speed manual. It was an interesting car, albeit one I had no desire to keep after a few weeks of ownership. The engine was coarse and not particularly sporting, and finding parts was a bit of a trick. However, it seemed to run well enough, and the engine in the seller’s Bertone still fires up as well. The issues noted includes needing brakes and electrical work, along with a new muffler. This is the sort of car that will appeal to a limited audience, so the seller may have to adjust the asking price to generate a sale.
I do like them; I almost bought a black one that looked much better than this gold. I did however own a gold 780 Bertone with tu-tone leather and why the Italians designed a body looking so close to a factory car yet with zero interchangeable body parts is past me. Had it been gifted with the turbo 2.3 I might still own it.
Isn’t this site cool, however, how can a tin can like that Honda come after such a magnificent car like this. When I had my ’78 244 DL, naturally, you look at the similar makes you couldn’t afford, like BMW 2002 owners lusting for 30 CS. Volvo had come a very long ways from my humble 444, or 544, then 122, the 240 series is clearly what put Volvo on the map in America. This was the top of the line, and saw very, VERY few. As usual, it was the cost. I read, these cost an incredible $17,465 new, when a new Corvette was $4grand less and TEN GRAND more than a 244. For the cost no object crowd, that was slim in Milwaukee, this was a heck of a car.
Keeping in mind, that “tin can” remark, another of my half baked comments, they were okay cars, but not a Volvo 262, sorry.
Didn’t Irv Gordon put a bunch of miles on one of these in addition to his 3.2 million mile P1800?
I always wondered, did Irv live in his car driving nonstop and never sleep to get all those mile on his P1800 ? I saw his story years ago but forgot the details. Maybe I will look it up.
Normally I like the chop top Volvos, but the car looks horrendous in this colour. The bumpers seem to go on for miles!
I worked as the Collection Manager at The LeMay Museum and a low mile 1976 (if I recall) was donated to the museum. It was silver gray with a black vinyl top and a plush leather interior. Also, if I recall, the gray color was the only color available for that year and a different color was offered for the following year. It was a very nice driving car.
Volvo’s second attempt with the 1990 780 Bertone is a better looking car.
Like em both Sammy 👍 2 beauties.
Too bad somebody filled in all of the trim holes for the hip line moulding. Looks stark without them. Those white wall tires gotta go too. Maybe then those mesh wheels would look ok. Just can’t see one of these without the 20 spoke alloys with the rattly center caps, Turbo Virgos or the cool Ferrari Dino style Cromadoras the ‘78s had.
Remember scoping these out in the mall with the old man when they’d display new cars in the fall. One of these or the 242GT next to it?
I’d offer him 2500. Only due to the work it needs.
Body by Bertone, bumpers by Nader.
“Adjust the price”?? A recreated or recrafted interior, a swap out of the Peugeot motor (aka boat anchor) , and chasing the electrical gremlins as well? As a rabid Volvo fan with fifteen units under my belt it would be hard to justify any “adjusted” price above $500, maybe. Not snark, just facts.
Absolutely the only Volvo I’d ever buy. I fell in love with the 262C the first time I laid eyes one. Loved the chopped top styling. The best looking Bertone Volvo ever made in my opinion. And it’s drivetrain was all Swedish.
A Volvo LTD. How nice…
The PRV engine is not just a Peugeot engine. Was developed by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo, hence the PRV name. Many European Cars used that engine, not a bad one in its day. Even the DeLorean used it, although by the time was already outdated.
Bertone designed many, many beautiful cars. This Volvo isn’t one of them. Looks awkward.