The trusty Volvo 240 may not be a classic yet, but it’s hard to believe that one day it won’t be. This 1989 Volvo 240DL is available here on eBay, and it represents an astonishingly clean example of this stout workhorse.
Located in Oak Park, Illinois, this 240 is a 2-owner vehicle that has been maintained at Volvo of Oak Park since new. The seller claims that it is rust-free and has original paint, with the owner constantly waxing the garage-kept sedan.
The miles on this boxy sedan are high – its odometer reads 206,191 – but you would never know that from looking through the photos of it. Additionally, the engine recently received a full tune up with new fluids, spark plugs, wires, cap, and rotor.
Save for some minor wear on the driver’s seat and a single crack in the dash, the interior of this car is in showroom condition. The cloth seats and other cabin features are truly impressive to look at.
In July of 2018, the sedan received a new clutch, and various other maintenance items. This includes new brake pads and rotors, new exhaust system, and even some IPD swaybars.
Overall, this Volvo is in truly remarkable shape for a 30-year-old vehicle, especially one with north of 200,000 miles on it. After viewing the plethora of pictures in the listing, it’s safe to say that this clean Volvo easily has a long life ahead of it, and one can only hope that it ends up with a similarly meticulous owner. What do you think of this lovely silver brick?
COOL.
Looks like maybe it had (ski) roof racks mounted on it, hence the marks up there.
I’d buy it at the current price. Someone will want it more than me though.
I bought one for my sons first car, its exactly the same colour combo and drivetrain (originally) but a wagon which I think is cooler
I paid $600 for it and then bought a 740 turbo intercooler with an electric locker and a huge tree dent in the side of it for $400 which all went in the 240.
I can’t believe what this has bid to as I wouldn’t dream of paying that for a sedan but to each his own.
I does look incredibly clean but you’d think they coulda at least sourced some taillights what weren’t cracked.
It is the electronics you need to worry about with this Volvo. I have had 4 and especially a 1992 960 that looked showroom condition too. Unfortunately, even with low mileage, gremlins started to take over after 14 years and I had to let it go. It was just one mystery problem after another and wore me down. I wouldn’t expect to depend on the Volvo reputation to keep this car healthy. Age and mileage on these cars is a deadly combination, but the paint looks darn good even when it is broken.
I had a 2007 V 70 wagon bought used in 2011 and kept just till 2014. Loved the comfort, drivability, and features however electrical glitches were an unsolvable issue and what a gas hog it was! Minor issue, you could set door locks not to lock automatically however one back door always locked anyway. More serious problem was that when parking car and leaving it, we would later return and find the blower running and sometimes air conditioning. Routine oil changes were never just oil changes. No matter whether I went to a Volvo dealer or an independent Volvo shop, they would always find some expensive bunch of parts that needed replaced usually at a cost of $600 to $1200. Had enough of that. Bought a new 2014 Fusion Hybrid, still driving it.
The blower motor running after shut off was the after blow feature which is designed to clear condensation off the evaporator surface. It can be shut off via Volvo computer. Clever design feature huh ?
I do beg to differ on that statement. 20 year Volvo Master here. The 87-88’s were the ones that has gremlins with an unobtainable engine harness. 89-93 were one of the best ones made. This car would make someone very happy.
Hey Roger,
I’m thinking that I read somewhere that the 87-88’s had an aluminum wiring harness that was a nightmare . . .just wondering if I’m thinking about the correct vehicle.
Absolutely true! Also 1989’s were the last year of no airbags or cruise control, so much more tidy under the hood and easy to work on. I just picked up an ’89 240 DL wagon with “low” 182k on the clock for $600, the deals are still out there.
In Scandinavian countries any 240s even this new have been classics for years already! Being all over the place and featuring FR layout they were extremely popular rally cars and teenagers cars, often with highly modified turbo engines.
70s 242 cars are hardly seen any longer, so both 245 and 244 cars pop up in massive numbers at track days and drifting shows.
The Swedish hardware chain store Biltema more or less built their business on pushing parts to keep those 240s on the road for decades.A grey-head gearhead up my road daily-drive a 244 identical to the one featured here;obviously his is a far cry from being this pristine!
I owned a 1986, and a 1988. Both were excellant cars. Before an accident, the 1986 had over 600k miles on it. All original.. Could never ask more out of any car. The 1988, was purchased as a used car to replace th 86. It was just OK, and it probably would have been a better car, had previous owner taken care of it better. Later, I purchase a v70 wagon. Volvo was not near as good when they decided to go to front wheel drive. I didn’t see a price in the car listed, but I doubt that I would pay I re 6 or 800 for it.
perfect cars for teenagers because they are slow and crashworthy.
we had 6 over a 30-year period.
loved ’em.
this one will sell high because of the uncommon stick shift……
240s in proper tune with up to date suspension & of course factory a/c run down the highway at 80mph just fine. Quiet & comfortable as a new Volvo just 50 years older.
Wayyyy too flashy for the wife Hildebrun and me. I’m out.
These cars always appeal to me. This one in particular. I really don’t know what either.
What We call in Norway,a Tractor…….not very smoothly,but dependable
One thing to always look at on a 240 is the trip odometer. Anything sitting on all zeros would be suspect of a broken plastic gear. The speedometer will keep on working for YEARS, but you’ll never know actual mileage. This one could have 306k…
I’ve been driving one of these since 1993. That’s 26 years! Wow. Has been one great car! Lots of parts replaced throughout the 26 years but original engine. Now clocking 396,467 miles
I have an ’82 244 Turbo that was great fun to drive and had the best seats I have ever sat in – including furniture in my home! Corduroy fabric, heated, incredibly supportive. Really liked that car a lot. I bought it from my father-in-law, then sold it to a brother-in-law who drove it for several years.
Heated seats in 82? I had no idea…
Well, it’s a Swedish car…. Long winters there!
My ’82 240Turbo 5 spd was over 200,000 miles and needed a turbo rebuild. I didn’t have the cash and sold it on telling the kid “Don’t drive it until you get the turbo rebuilt”. He drove it anyway and blew it up. On the open road with Pirelli P7s it was one of the nicest cars I’ve ever owned. Now I wish I’d kept it and rebuilt the turbo. With the turbo wound up with the 5 spd they weren’t underpowered. This one looks very good.
Was yours a 5-speed? Mine was the 4-speed with electric O/D.
I have owned a 122S, a 240, and my father had a 1991 one-owner 960 V6 which we inherited.
The 960 was the only one with dodgy electrics- and a humungous fuel thirst.
It was always garaged well-serviced and carefully drive, but the electrical glitches in everything from various permanent warning lights, to air con and radio killed it off in the end.
Unsaleable scrap value in spite of a great body and reliable engine.
Sold for $6800, which seems like a lot for this car.
Certainly appears to be in good shape and cared for, and was very well presented.
I agree Alan, clean rig but I would not pay the coin for this.