The “turbo brick” is an affection term for one of the first cars to disrupt standard perceptions of what a performance vehicle looked like: the Volvo 240 GLT, a turbocharged wagon available with a manual transmission, quickly worked its way into the hearts of gearheads everywhere. These days, it has become increasingly difficult to find examples that are in bone-stock or otherwise unmodified condition, along with excellent cosmetics. This 1982 Volvo 240 GLT listed here on craigslist appears to be an exception to that rule as it looks incredibly nice for a vehicle of this vintage.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rocco B. for the find. This wagon is listed for sale by the original owner in Mountain View, California. There was a time when you could reliably look to places like northern California and find vintage cars like this for sale all the time. The best part was, it wasn’t due to some collector hoarding them; they were simply the vehicles of choice for daily drivers that didn’t succumb to the perils of road salt and snow. This same car could be found in my former environs of New England quite regularly but were often near death due to rust. This 240 GLT didn’t stay in this sort of condition because it was being kept as a future collectible; it’s simply possible in places like the Bay Area.
While you can find a Volvo wagon of some variety with relative ease, finding one with the desirable combination of the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and a manual gearbox is almost impossible, especially in condition like this. Blue surfaces and upholstery abound, and those bucket seats are some of the most comfortable cushions known to man. They won’t hold you in place in the corners, but there are numerous aftermarket upgrades for that. However, you shouldn’t upgrade this wagon in any way, outside of some IPD sway bars, because it is absolutely pristine the way it is.
Finding any car of this vintage still with the original owner is pretty much near impossible to do. The seller notes that he has looked after the car per Volvo’s recommended maintenance schedule and that there’s under 160,000 miles on the clock. The 2.3 liter, 4-cylinder B23 engine is a member of Volvo’s famed “red block” series which are known to be incredibly stout. With just under 140 horsepower, it won’t knock you back in your seat, but you’ll still move out smartly and wagon enthusiasts everywhere will salute you for continuing to preserve such a gem of a long-roof. $7,000 is a steal!
Great seats 💺, nice power accessories, roomy wagon layout, roof rack, A/C, stick shift turbo ↩️ agree with you Lavery looks a good buy. 👍
Its hard to believe we are looking at a 43 year old Volvo wagon. I prefer the cloth seats which look like new. This whole car looks like brand new. If there was a 244 Wagon to have, this would be it, with a turbo, and a stick. Silver and blue look great together too.
I owned a similar brick long roof many years ago. Bought it for cheap and rebuilt the engine. Also went the route of IPD stabilizer bars, new Boge dampers, and European headlights. Truly a family truckster as mine did double duty hauling mulch and anything else that would fit in the back. Great cars and I think they are a timeless classic.
Back in the 80’s I did inspections and pre delivery prep for a Volvo dealership used car department. When I started,I was not a big fan of “imports”, but these cars changed my mind. Most dealers wouldn’t even think of retailing a car with over 70k, this dealer would send me Volvo’s with mileage in the 140k range and all they would need were brake pads and an oil change. These were tanks!
This one is a winner and IMO a good deal.
I’d buy one if I could find one in nice original condition. This and the 740 are my favourite Volvos.
This looks like a great deal. I’d be surprised if it isn’t sold before the weekend is over. If I didn’t already have a daily driver I’d take a hard look at this wagon. The manual transmission is a strong selling point.
Steve R
If I owned this, I’d have a strong desire to look into upgrading (upsizing) the turbo. I like the idea of giving it way more power than it looks like it has the right to have. I’m sorry, but rowing through the gears in a Volvo wagon and hearing a louder exhaust and turbo sounds would be too much fun to resist.
John,
With no muffler or cat and 110 octane, I ran a bunch of boost with the stock turbo. When you first started it, it had a loud rumble. Then I could drive it on the street. Then it was only really loud with full throttle.
GLT, DL were common in the US. I don’t remember what the turbo police bricks were. A Volvo shop in Milwaukee brought a couple here from CO. Turbo 244 with HD stuff including taxicab seat material.
This is a GLT, not a Turbo.
It sports a fuel injected engine but no turbo.
The turbo had 155hp (at least here in Sweden) or 143hp in smog form.
What makes you think it’s not a turbo?
It’d be a B21ft not a B23.
I had a 242 turbo same colors and seats.
It was modified enough to give many Porches fits on the track when the instructors were allowed to play. Stock seat wasn’t really a problem in the carousel or kink @ RA.
I parked it when the rust bug got too much.
I have a wagon to replace it.
I’m with Bjorn. Here in the UK, the GLT and the Turbo were separate models.
Still, loads of these still roaming our roads!
In the US market, the 240 GLT model was sold only in 1981 and 1982, and was available with either non-turbo or turbo engine. Either way, it carried the GLT badge. For 1983+ the GLT model disappeared from the lineup, and 240s with the turbo engine carried the Turbo badge. Volvo also sold various versions of the DL and GL models across those years, with either the non-turbo 4 or the V-6 engine.
Just lost a 25 year close friend who had 45 years of Volvos including a repair shop business, all of the various models for personal use to include an 1800ES and previous model sedan race cars. The cars never broke and the race cars won a lot. Nice “brick” here.
Lusty wagon. If you gotta drive something this would sure be it.
I wish I had time for a road trip. It’s a little far away from Atlanta and I can’t get away right now…But so tempting
Is it me but why has this not been sold yet? Seems like a stupid low price at $7k if this isn’t a scam.
I reached out to the seller yesterday and believe it is a scam.
I agree, the ad seems too good to be true on price vs. condition, and my red flags went up even higher with the “seller’s” reply.
What was the seller’s reply to you? Someone named Jim answered me today saying the vehicle sold today, the 17th, and thanking me for my interest in the car. I figured it was the original owner or perhaps someone selling it on his behalf that did not realize the market could command more.
Yes, a non wagon version sold for 25k on BAT, and I looked some up in Europe with similar miles, selling for 20k Euros.
What was the seller’s reply? Someone named Jim answered me today saying the vehicle sold today, the 17th, and thanking me for my interest in the car. I figured it was the original owner or perhaps someone selling it on his behalf that did not realize the market could command more.
I looked some up in Europe for sale and they are around 20k Euros.
How would one of these do hailing a 1500lb 16’ travel trailer?
Look for this one in about a month or to on B.A.T. Cynical yes but it seems like that’s what happens to the nice one owner imports that are priced realistically.
What is it with Craigslist ads and the complete absence of engine photos? I am not a Volvo aficionado but even I know what a Turbo Brick is. This car says Turbo on the tailgate. This would lead a casual observer like me to conclude that this car has a turbocharged engine under the hood. But there’s no picture of the engine in the ad! So which BF commentator is correct? Is it is or is it ain’t a turbo?
Not only that but you can roll one on the turnpike end for end and get out unhurt
In the US at least the GLT is a Turbo and this one has the badge on the rear hatch. I owned a 244 GLT in 82 before they beefed up the turbo with water as well as oil cooling but pre-intercooler. It was no slouch. The wagon is a 245 GLT btw.
I’ve owned numerous Volvos. The term I was familiar with was Swedish brick. The weak spots on the 240s was the fan switch blower motor and the odometer quit working and replacing the timing belt. I believe the wagon was their flagship car.
Lovely looking car. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember the Volvo 240. Compared to today’s Volvo cars, this actually actually looks nice.