BF Auction: 1986 Volvo 240 DL Wagon

Seller: Frank B randon (Contact)
Location: Chinook, Montana
Mileage: 148,563 Shown
Chassis #: YV1AX8859G1682907
Title Status: Clean
Engine: 4-Cylinder
Transmission: Automatic

Regular readers may find this 1986 Volvo 240 DL Wagon familiar. We featured in an auction three years ago when Barn Finds founder Jesse Mortensen decided to part with a vehicle that had served as his daily driver. It went to a good home and remains in excellent condition. The Wagon continues to provide reliable, practical daily transport, though the current owner feels the time is right for this Volvo to head to greener pastures. Therefore, he has listed this Swedish classic exclusively with us at Barn Finds Auctions.

Volvo launched its 200-Series model range in 1975, achieving global sales of over 2.8 million vehicles before production ended in 1993. The success is understandable because the range enjoyed a well-earned reputation for safety and reliability. This 1986 240 DL Wagon has a known history, having spent its first 36 years in Boise, Idaho. It then spent 2½ years on the Washington coast before finally landing in its current location in Montana. Its presentation is very tidy for a survivor of this vintage. The vehicle recently received new headlight assemblies to turn night into day. The owner admits that the Medium Blue paint requires cleaning, waxing, and polishing. That isn’t a big job, and is one that the winning bidder would find very rewarding. The panels are straight, and apart from a paint chip with developing corrosion near the fuel filler door, this Volvo is rust-free. Other imperfections include a small windshield chip, some minor paint chips, and deterioration of the Black tape stripe below the side windows. However, if potential buyers are searching for an extremely tidy and presentable daily driver, this Wagon ticks that box.

I’ve always believed that you can learn a lot about the life a classic car has lived by its interior condition. Even partial interior retrims can be expensive, meaning that people generally consign them to the “too-hard” basket. Therefore, neglect and abuse are usually very obvious. There are no such problems with this Volvo. Its Blue leather seatcovers and remaining upholstered surfaces look excellent. Scrolling through the image gallery is worthwhile because I am particularly impressed by the back seat and the cargo area. Both are prone to wear and damage, but this Wagon hasn’t suffered that fate. The dashpad is cracked under the mat, but it hasn’t deteriorated during the past three years. The factory clock is unreliable, explaining the small digital unit near the gauge cluster as the owner awaits a correct replacement. The current owner replaced the factory radio with a Sirius/XM radio with a CD player, bringing in-car entertainment firmly into the 21st Century, and a new pair of front IDP floor mats protects the carpet.

Powering this Volvo is the company’s 2.3-liter fuel-injected B230F four-cylinder engine. This powerplant generates a healthy 110hp, which feeds to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission. Volvo’s four-cylinder engines are amongst the most notoriously bulletproof in the automotive world. This Wagon shows 148,000 miles on its odometer, and because it has been meticulously maintained, it could comfortably double or triple that reading without needing anything beyond appropriate servicing. The current owner replaced the rear brakes, the rack-and-pinion, the fuel pump, the sender unit, and fitted four new tires. It also received a new catalytic converter just before the current owner took delivery. The seller states that they have been averaging 25 miles per gallon. The vehicle runs and drives as well as it did in 1986 and can be considered a turnkey proposition, complete with a mountain of service records, invoices, and workshop manuals.

The 1986 Volvo 240 DL Wagon is a surprise packet. Its four-cylinder engine provides impressive performance for its size, allowing the vehicle to hold its own in any environment. The interior is exceptionally spacious, and the 240 is renowned for both its occupant comfort and its bulletproof reliability. This Wagon neatly ticks those boxes, which is why submitting a bid makes perfect sense if a practical daily driver is on your radar.