To me, this is such a crying shame. While I’m a big fan of salvage yards and finding “gold” within them, you still never want to see an otherwise save-able car end up there. The Volvo 262C is an oddball in every regard, a strange concoction produced by a company known for making sound, steady product decisions, and because of the unexpected arrival of this chop-topped, high-luxury creation, the Bertone-designed coupe remains an intriguing footnote in Volvo’s history. This example listed here on Facebook Marketplace is primed for parting out but looks like it could be restored.
What’s still somewhat amazing about this unusual model – of which only about 1,000 came stateside – is that in inflation-adjusted dollars, it cost about $60,000. Can you imagine Volvo rolling up to its typical U.S. customer and asking them to pony up that sort of cash for a car that was typically seen as a “sensible” purchase? The 262, however, was met with a positive reception from customers and dealers alike, with the latter purportedly offering above list prices to get more allocation. This is covered in a period Road & Track review of the car, so those anecdotes are all but lost to the sands of time; however, it’s still wild to think about such a forgotten model being sought-after.
Like so many other manufacturers at the time, Volvo was trying to out-luxury the stalwarts of the industry: Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln, and others, all of whom enjoyed an established reputation for being top banana in the upper-crust car market, even if their products weren’t all that remarkable. The 262C went to town with high-end features, including genuine wood trim, leather seats with endless adjustability, a decent stereo with a cassette deck, and other high-end touches. The car shown here is remarkably clean insider, right down to the factory floor mats.
The “landau”-style roof covering was clearly an attempt to appeal to the loyal American car shopper, but I’m not sure anyone noticed when looking at the dramatically chopped roof. The lowered roof line may have actually been a stroke of brilliance, because we’re all still talking about it decades later, and I can’t think of too many other manufacturers that have taken a chance like that to create a memorable design. It looks like the original title/registration documents are still sitting on the dash, further emphasizing how original this car was before the seller decided to part it out. Hopefully, the PRV V6 will find a new home as well in a deserving DeLorean or Peugeot product, bringing this junked 262C full-circle in its retirement.
I was instructing at a track day event when one of the drivers showed up with one of these. I was picked to work with him and was really surprised at the power and handling of the car. Unless the underside is toast I would think a total restoration would be worthwhile.
The Achilles heel in this model was the 6-cylinder engine
crated by Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo, mostly Peugeot.
The 4-cylinder Volvo engines were bullet proof. This V-6
was new and had multiple problems.
The other car that US buyers will be familiar with that used the PRV V6 was the DeLorean. ‘Nuff said.
In 1983 I was working at the local Peugeot dealer. In the lot was a 1975 504 with a blown 4 cylinder and a wrecked 264. We transplanted the V6 engine with trans. into the 504. I bought it drove it for years NO engine problems.
Surprised it hasn’t been picked up for an LS or SBF swap, which is quite popular. (Such as Tom Bailey is doing to a wagon for the Sick Summer cheap car challenge against the Cleetus crew.)
excellent shape? then why is it in a junk yard? leave where it is it right where it belongs
Given the PRV reputation, could be just a blown engine, which would make it a good candidate for a V8 swap if everything else is present and generally sound.
we call it the Bertone (geovani) round here. A 240 really, no?
Just like we see non-certified Apple/Mac stores that might as well be (really no other sales or repair) we have a wolwo-guy (huge building, 2 brothers, vast experence ‘back east’ w/exotics) that has the ‘Flying Brick’ this model. Those are the bent8 converted 240s (not sure if other models too).
Here? never see a wolwo ina junk yard, MB same. Ppl just keep runnin them.
Body appears to be mostly clean never really been a fan of Volvo but this almost has me wanting to buy it just to drop a V8 in it because I need a car to get me some speeding tickets . When I was a teenager the Granite falls Washington police department had Volvo cars for their fleet nd they were fast
Back in the early 80s, my wife really wanted one of these, but they were just too pricey. She settled for a 260GLE 4-dr, with the same PRV V6. It turned out to be a terrible car, mainly due to the cursed PRV engine. Those engines were so bad, some Volvo specialists refused to work on them, fearing the customers would blame them for repeated major failures. She dumped it quickly and replaced it with a (way better) BMW 5 Series.
As for the junk-yard car for sale here, getting it to decent original “driver” condition would probably cost more than its worth.
There is currently a red 262C, in presentable condition for sale near me. The current owner re-powered it with a 2.5l 4cyl & matching 4spd auto trans from an ’87 240. He is asking $4K US.
It should be parked next to the oldsmobile junk that is cluttering up our roads with their garbage
What?
Echo is the sound between your ears…..
Interior looks really good. Any of these I ever saw that weren’t garage queens had a trashed interior. Be cool if it was saved and v8 or turbo swapped. About that poor little 128 next too it.
This is the Volvo that Volvo enthusiasts RUN from!!!
As the internet expert says….🤨 Not at the shows I visited recently.
Really, I’ve never seen one out of a junkyard.
This car is the reason Pehr Gyllenhammer lost his position at Volvo.
Tooderbird,ja!
As I have stated before. When these would have been “period used cars” just like all the other V6 Volvos. Value was half of what a 4 cylinder was. A Ford small block is the easiest swap. Been there and done that with a wagon. It is practically a bolt in. Anyone contemplating doing one. I will be happy to provide tips. One of these with a V8 swap showed up at an autocross in Reno one time. It had large tires on all four corners and looked realitivly decent on the course. But it suffered some mechanical problem. The slick 4 passenger Volvo to have in my opinion is a 780. Very pretty car with 740 underpinnings. It was available with the PRV or the turbo 4 cylinder. (,the one to have) I almost was able to snag one that had the PRV engine. But was too late. Google a Volvo 780 to see a very nice 2 door coupe.
Years ago, there was one sitting on a used car lot, I thought it looked pretty cool. Eventually stopped by to look it over more closely. Viewed the inside and really liked it. Decided to take it for a test run, discovered that there was insufficient headroom for my 6’2″. Left disappointed. A few years later I did end up with a 1968 122S. That was a great car!
I had both Bertones back in the 80’s and 90’s, a silver and black ’78 262c like this one and an ’87 red over tan 780.
The 262c was probably one of the most comfortable and cool looking Volvos ever made, IMO. Like many of the these early PRV motors, the cam shaft oiling passages were small and seemingly designed to fail. Two years after buying mine ($5k in 1985) it had significant valve train noise so I sold it… I had been warned before I bought it by a Volvo mechanic, but I just loved the car. The guy that bought it knew these cars well and pointed out that it had a lot of hidden crispy bits under the vinyl top all around the rear window. I sold it for a grand.
I always keep an eye out for them and would like to find another one someday and do a Buick small block swap, which was the go to solution for these back then. Very cool and rare cars.
I’m a big fan of this car. I wonder what the reserve is or the bin is.