Volvo owners of a certain age are the quiet enthusiasts that live among us. Perhaps we don’t notice them because their cars are not used in street racing events or being primped for the weekly cars and coffee segment. Their vehicles don’t get loads of loud modifications or ECU modifications to unleash new levels of power. No, their vehicles are simply cherished like members of the family because one day, they may very well go on to the next generation of family ownership. This shockingly clean 1986 Volvo 240 sedan listed here on craigslist is in spectacular condition and benefits from a long list of recent servicing. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the find.
This Volvo offers a combination of features and upgrades that speak to the quiet enthusiast behind its ownership. While we often associate turbocharged Volvos with the kind of owner who is obsessed with making the car better and faster, this standard commuter-grade 240DL also has some interesting tweaks that reflect someone who has studied the IPD catalog closely. While an automatic DL-trim may represent the bottom of the Volvo pecking order, it hasn’t stopped the seller from making this humble sedan as good as it can be. And when you learn he’s had a 40 year career as an automotive technician, it lends even more color to the type of TLC this Volvo has received.
What I love about this 240 is despite it being a base model spec, complete with cloth seats and an automatic transmission (I get that the manual was the true “base” option, but we all know the automatic isn’t nearly as desirable), the seller has lavished it with improvements. The list includes a fully-serviced A/C system, all interior bulbs tested or replaced, original carpeting beneath OEM rubber mats, and removing the door panels to tighten up and eliminate rattles while lubricating every possible mechanism. This doesn’t even get into the actual mechanical refurbishment, which is just as detailed.
The timing belt and all related components were replaced, along with spark plugs, ignition components, and more. The seller notes the rear brakes were also serviced and the differential fluid flushed. This didn’t stop him from making several upgrades, including an IPD muffler and exhaust pipe meant for a turbocharged Volvo, along with polyurethane bushings and an IPD rear sway bar. The Volvo produces 114 b.h.p. and 136 lb.-ft. of torque in stock form, so the exhaust upgrade likely makes that feel more sporting. Overall, this is the one to buy and the owner to buy it from if you’ve been hunting for a clean 240.
Looks showroom-fresh. And speaking of timing belts, those are by far one of the easiest to do ever. The HVAC blower motor/squirrel cage is another story.
For a lark, look up the “Chainsaw Method” on how to deal with those.