Over the last few years, I’ve been fortunate to own a series of wagons from different manufacturers. Sadly, I have sold them for legitimately good reasons, but I find myself missing the unmatched convenient of a wagon you can drive every day. The car shown here is an excellent example of the good wagon life, a 1985 Volvo 245 GL with the desirable and somewhat rare manual transmission. The seller has made some sensible updates to improve both the driving experience and the aesthetics, but there’s still some relatively minor room for improvement. Find the Volvo here on craigslist in Iron Horse, Texas for $7,500.
Truth be told, I’ve been looking at wagons again, now that I’m over a year out from selling my last long roof, a 1995 Audi S6. But the one that still gives me some regret is a 2011 BMW 328xi wagon with the coveted six-speed manual that I sold to a nice gentleman a few years back. I just ran a Carfax on it for the heck of it and saw it was sold at auction this past August, almost two years to the month he bought it from me. What’s shocking is he paid a very top-of-the-market price during the COVID surge that was more than I paid for the car several years earlier. It seems like a sudden and sad end to a vehicle he seemed very interested in owning. Regardless of my past regrets, the seller of this clean 245 is apparently ready to move on, despite rebuilding the brakes and installing a slick Bilstein/Lesjofors suspension setup, along with wheel spacers.
The 245 is one of those cars that you simply live with the limited engine performance (unless you find a turbo) and focus on what you can easily improve, like the suspension. The interior is ridiculously comfortable on a Volvo of this era, with seats that offer little in the way of bolster support but will keep your back in good shape for hours, if not days, of driving. The seats show some wear but nothing I’d worry about. The seller notes he performed the difficult job of replacing the blower motor but that the A/C compressor will need to be replaced. If it’s anything like the struggle I’ve had to find a suitable replacement compressor for my 1987 BMW 3-Series, I’m not surprised he hasn’t attempted to source a new one. They’ve gotten hard to find.
The engine is mostly unkillable, a 2.3L inline-four good for around 114 horsepower. These cars were never about speed but rather safety, utility, and long-term reliability. The cavernous interior will swallow more junk than you ever thought possible and the car itself will also give you entry to a wonderful community of enthusiasts. The seller lists out a variety of other issues which are generally small in scale but his disclosure offers a fair amount of confidence you’re buying from an honest seller. The asking price seems fair for a clean wagon with lots of recent work, and thanks to Barn Finds reader Jack M. for the tip.
I always thought that the push button overdrive was a neat feature on these. I got to drive one years ago and loved it. To me, when people use the term “Bank Vault” a picture of a Volvo should come right up. Must of these had an automatic, I’m wondering if the original owner enjoyed driving and ordered it with the 4 speed overdrive. It looks solid, someone is going to grab this.
Nice 245! I was a Volvo dealer tech in the 80’s, and automatics were already taking over.
A stick in the more luxurious GL was a rare bird indeed. I remember a couple of them where the Volvo was the family car and the owners also had stick shift sporty cars.
Don’t let the a/c compressor scare you off. Rock Auto still has these compressors in stock. Pretty reasonably priced too.
And even if a direct replacement compressor isn’t available, a contemporary efficient Sanden unit can be easily retrofitted resulting in an even better operating system, particularly if a contemporary condenser is installed at the same time.
4 speed? 4 speed with OD? 5 speed? Perhaps I missed it….
I had an 82 240DL that had a manual transmission. It was a beast and always ran. It was almost peppy with that stick.
Unfortunately I lost it in the divorce along with my pickup, my wife, the kids and my dogs.
Kinda sounds like an old country western song.
30 years later, I still miss my pickup.
You left out the gun, jail, and mamma in your country western song…… :)
The blower motor is no small detail. The mechanic who cared for my wife’s 242 said they must have set the blower motor on the assembly line and then built the car around it!
My first brand new car was a 245 Turbo with the 4MT + overdrive. I totally agree about the difficult blower or replacement. I used to say they built the car by hanging a blower motor by a wire and assembled the car around it. We put on 320,000 miles on it, mostly trouble free before the New England rust dissolved it.
Absolutely! Very poor planning on fan motor location! My techs had zippers on them. (Be able to beat book time) But it was still a thankless job that nobody wanted to do.
Is it an interference motor?
No.
looks like the ’82 I owned 20 yrs (silver, 5 dor, but came w/roof rack).
Spoiled me. Fooled me (into nother wolwo purchase, the 850 waggy).
2nd was not 1/2 the other car, I’ve not gone back to them since (altho 1 of few wagon makers still).
Sprinkled well w/IPD parts I enjoyed it (not to the Flying Brick extreme) just as described above “bank vault”- durability, safety, reliance, comfort, utility.
You are correct. Not been a good Volvo since 1994.
Later 240s are a marvel of starts n runs. I keep one around like a box of safety matches.
OK, here we go. I’m an old line British car guy who has owned bunches of Volvos over the years. I’ve owned 142’s,145’s and V70’s when I needed more than two seats. Now that I’m getting old, I’m looking for a sedan to replace the B that has been my driver for the last 25 years. I’ve been looking for a good 2 door or 5 door Volvo now for about six months. This car is a great example of why I’m still looking. Nice straight body, worn drivers seat, A/C needs work, engine warning lights disconnected, O/D works intermittently, needs suspension work and glass (after the rust repair). What am I missing? With a list of issues like that, at the retail numbers he’s asking, I won’t even drive the 150 miles to look, and this is what I’m looking for! I understand that doing your own maintenance is necessary on these older cars, I’ve been driving a 67 MGB, but this is a car with several big issues that, when corrected, will leave you with a middle of the road wagon that you are into for too much money. I really dislike it when folks here say “Too Much Money” for an old car. But here, I have to point out the difference between a desireable model that brings good money and is a good example of the marque, and a car like this that a fellow has had as a part time project, put aftermarket wheels on, and let the basic mechanicals slide. With the list of things that are wrong, this is more of a project car than a “get in it and drive to California” car. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good project. I’ve got a 67BGT that I’m doing now, in addition to the SU rebuilding service that I offer for old B’s (Jesse bought a pair of my carbs). But IMO, the market for a Volvo wagon isn’t as high as the seller thinks, especially one with as many needs as this one. Many of us have great stories about the Volvo in our life, I’ve got plenty, the wagon I liked so much I bought it back, the 142S that I drove cross country until I ran out of road at the ocean, the V70 that looked like it was going 50MPH just sitting there, but this isn’t one of those.
OK, rant over.
I love 240 wagons, and am in the process of having a 1977 restored, manual swapped, turbo added. Has the engine wiring harness been replaced on this wagon? It’s a well known failure point for the early 80’s 240s. 1988 and newer have the improved harness, possibly 1987 too. Apparently the A/C on these are of limited utility unless you get the 1993 upgraded version. Just assume the A/C will not work well. Check Dave Barton for the A/C deep dive – he’s from Texas too & has been an avid 240 community member for decades.
What’s the deal???
I just spent 30 minutes writing a well thought critique of the market and this car in particular, posted it, saw it in the feed, and now it is not here. Are we culling comments?
Nope, it was just pending moderation and we took a few days off for Christmas.
Thanks for the follow up.
I’ve had two 245s. Both 4 speed with overdrive. First was a 78 , then a 84. 78 was my favorite. Still regret letting it go. Thier surprisingly fun to drive. And yes the amount stuff it holds is amazing
Nice!
Lovely looking car. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember when Volvo cars looked like this. Compared to today’s Volvo cars, I find this the best looking, with the Volvo 740 the other best looking Volvo car.
This wagon has potential to be a great one.
As Rufus mentioned needs too many fixes and is more an ongoing project than get in and drive though. Rebuilding the rear end alone will set you back close to a grand. Asking price is steep for the list of fixes needed.
Great wagons when sorted. I’ve had 3 of them, all wagons, over the years. 4 spd w/od, then with a slush box and lastly a late 80’s 5 spd. The auto was the worst, the other 2 both continually put a smile on my face. They kept up with and beat traffic just fine.
If I hadn’t stepped up to s124 mercedes wagons, now on my third one, I’d probably be driving another 240 wagon. But only with a stick.
The turbo rear differential is an upgraded unit. Don’t repair the unit. Find a used turbo unit and swap it out.
If the stock 4-cylinder isn’t enough, a Ford Windsor 5.0 is a common swap.
CC, You are correct. I installed a 5.0 in my 265 wagon in 1988. A virtual bolt in. Even used the Volvo automatic floor shifter to shift the AOD Ford. By shoving the engine almost up to the firewall. (No way to install as trans/engine unit. Transmission goes in first with rubber bands holding trans to engine bolts. And then drop engine in from the top. ) Every one who saw the installation said it looked factory. It was fun wailing on turbo Volvos and BMWs! Had to switch to a turbo rear differential as the standard one did not stand up to the V8 torque. With some suspension goodies from IPD and a set of Bilsteins it was a great canyon carver also. I wish I still had it. A close late friend who had to have it. (A dyed in the wool Volvo fanatic.) Bought it from me, pulled the engine, installed it in a Ranchero and it sits parked on his property waiting for some day when his son will decide what to do with it. I would love to have it back.
Always wanted to do that swap, but with a 5spd. Hadn’t thought of the turbo rear but that should also be on the list.
With a 5spd, the swap would be easier, as both the 5.0 Fox bodies AND the Volvo use clutch cables.