Ah, yes – the classic Volvo 240 station wagon. It’s impressive how many iconic long-roof models came out of the 1980s, both foreign and domestic. The GM variants are obviously well-loved on these pages, from the Roadmaster to the Crown Victoria and everything in between, but if you had to have an import, the Volvo 240 was your go-to. Bulletproof and highly durable, the 240 wagon like the one shown here was built for years of abuse and even to this day, it’s one of the safest bets for a vehicle you can get running again after dragging it from a barn. Fortunately, this 1987 model hasn’t been left to the elements and presents quite well with its triple blue color configuration.
Now, when we come across 240s, there’s almost always a universal appreciation for them. But these are not what you would consider particularly collectible vehicles, as there wasn’t much deviation in terms of trim packages and options: Volvo was looking to move inventory, not create the next generation of collectible wagons. However, this 240 has a few things working in its favor that most long-roof Volvos do not, and that includes special order paint over an optional leather interior. If you wanted to get the best of the best out of the 240 model catalog, you likely had to ask your local dealer to order it – and this appears to be such a car.
Most every 240 you see has some hard-wearing interior featuring cloth or vinyl seating surfaces, but this one has an optional “Royal Blue” leather interior. I can’t remember the last time I saw leather in a Volvo of this vintage, and the upholstery appears to be in fantastic shape. The seller also notes that the exterior paint job is fairly novel as well, as it is a special order color code known as “Chinese Aquatic Blue” which pairs nicely with the interior. Obviously, someone really liked blue when this Volvo was configured, but it still looks quite handsome today – and is a nice change of pace from the usual silvers and whites that the 240 tends to show up in.
The engine and transmission were hardly exotic, but you also couldn’t very easily kill a Volvo from this era. Equipped with a 2.3-liter, B230F inline-four, the naturally-aspirated powerplant was good for a decent 114 horsepower. It was never fast but it could keep up with traffic and certainly would outlive other cars with more sporting drivetrains. According to the listing, this 240 benefits from many new parts, including a “….battery, new alternator, new starter, new fuel pump, new fuel filter and feed line, new ignition switch, new neutral safety switch,” and more – and with under 138,000 miles, it has plenty of life left in its wheels. Bidding is currently sitting at $8,100 in the listing here on eBay, and it ends later today – so give it a look if a 240 with a limited-production paint scheme rubs you the right way.
I’m a Volvo tragic, lock me up, lol.
My very first car was a 145, and trust me, you DO walk away from a serve crash. A few years later, I got married, then the wife got pregnant, I owned a 2 door RX2, not suitable for a family, so we bought a 244, 2.1L, slant 4, mechanical injection and a 4 speed manual., it would wheel spin in all 4 gears, and the only car I’ve ever owned that would redline in top gear. Sadly like my 145, it got written Off, by red light runners, but again I walked away, not so for the others.
The wife, then banned me from owning Volvo’s again, lol. Maybe why she’s now my ex.
My dream is a 262C.
Lost my 760 Volvo wagon last year in a head on crash, Jerk had no headlights on at night driving left of center 45 MPH. I had a sore shoulder. Died with it’s boots on. Sitting next to the garage now. Can’t bring myself to junk it. Bought a 145 to replace it. Would like to put the turbo on it from the 760.
Wheel spin, in high gear, in a Volvo???
Amazing what snow and ice can do to traction.
Dude, I’m from Australia, sunny Queensland to be exact, no snow no ice, and on dry bitumen.
I have quite a few people who can vouch, that it wheel spin in all 4 gears.
Dude,
I’m from Australia, sunny tropical Queensland to be exact. No snow, no ice, and dry bitumen.
It’s quite simple, drop the clutch, then change gears just prior to redline, the only movement of it was sideways,
Dude,
I’m from Australia, sunny tropical Queensland to be exact. No snow, no ice, and dry bitumen.
It’s quite simple, drop the clutch, then change gears just prior to redline, the only movement of it was sideways,
Dude,
I’m from Australia, sunny tropical Queensland to be exact. No snow, no ice, and dry bitumen.
It’s quite simple, drop the clutch, then change gears just prior to redline, the only movement of it was sideways,
Only driven 1000 miles in the last 24 years. I guess it’s possible yet seems unlikely
Wheel spin, in high gear, in a Volvo???
Amazing what snow and ice can do to traction.
Dude,
I’m from Australia, sunny tropical Queensland to be exact. No snow, no ice, and dry bitumen.
It’s quite simple, drop the clutch, then change gears just prior to redline, the only movement of it was sideways,
Wow that’s not much mileage.
Nine years ago I bought my GF an 86 VW Cabriolet that lived most of its life in California. She has put 122 miles on it since then so who knows.
You must have to drive with a light right foot to control wheel spin in that VW!
Lusty. Only thing more fun than the toy is the box it came in.
As a former Volvo dealer and sales manager, I don’t ever remember being able to special order colors. Might be my fading memory, but I started with the 140’s and ended with the XC90’s and just don’t remember that being offered
Not a dealer but I seem to remember this as being a fairly common color on late-model 240s.
Perhaps we had a less than honorable dealer in north Houston but at the time, 1986, my wife wanted the same car in dark blue non-metallic paint. The brochure showed the color was available, but the dealer told me they didn’t have it. Further, The dealer said the color was available in Florida, but not here in Texas. I said I would be happy to order it from Gothenburg and wait many months, but they were not willing to do so.
I should’ve walked away but instead we eventually compromised on the lighter metallic blue color. Always left a bad taste in my mouth regarding the dealer being unwilling to accommodate the customer request.
It was a good car and I did all of the maintenance myself, including valve lash (shims) adjustments. Purchased the tools to do so and after our divorce, I sold the tools for more than I paid for them. It was a win-win, as I got rid of 145 pounds of ugly fat and a couple of tools and no longer needed.
This wagon would make a sweet donor for a V-8 swap. Kits are available for most popular V-8 engines. Make mine an LS.
I don’t claim to be an expert on the 240, but I once was, and it is possible my memory is faded. I’d really want to see the trim tag riveted to the RF strut tower before I make accusations.
However, every Volvo 240 leather seat I’ve seen – and I’ve seen plenty, I used to be a specialist dismantler – was button-tufted. I’d bet $11 that these seats are 100% pure vinyl.
It would be nice to see some documentation for that special order color. If you google Volvo “Chinese Aquatic Blue,” this article and the ebay ad are the only things that come up across the entire searchable internet.
I had a 245 when the numbering convention was simple. My 245 was a 4 cylinder station wagon, so 5 doors. A 242 was a 2 door with a 4 cylinder engine. A 264 was a 4 door with a 6 banger. then, at some point they were all 240s. My Volvo was a great car, but it came over from Kauai and the tin worm had sunk its teeth into it pretty badly so it didn’t stay in my driveway too long.
Looks better than the picture I saw today of a CyberSquire.Yup fake wood sides and fake vinyl headlights on a Cyber truck.
There is nothing special about this Volvo. First it’s a base trim car being the DL or what I call the Dull model. That is vinyl seating not leather which could be had on the GL spec cars. Also that color has graced a many of Volvo cars in the past. Low miles and good condition do however make this special in its own right.
I’m no expert, but I don’t think that GM built Crown Victoria wagons.