What with all the emissions laws sucking the power (and filth, if you’re honest) out of our cars in the 1970s, manufacturers started finding ways to put actual performance and driving excitement back into cars after the initial blow. So you got cars like the Saab 99 Turbo, Fiat Spider Turbo, and the BMW 325i (six cylinders in a small sedan? what?) as turbochargers, fuel injection, and efficient catalytic converters made up for the Clean Air Act casualties. Somewhat later to the game, but absolutely credible as a 1980s icon, was the Volvo 244 Turbo. Unfortunately, many of the turbos have disappeared off the road, but you can still find this relatively low-mile 1983 Volvo 244 Turbo for sale for $3400 in Portland, OR.
Looks pretty good, eh? Said to only have 156,000 miles since its diplomatic purchase in Sweden, it’s had a lot of work and apparently drives quite well. It’s had new brake calipers and pads, a new heater core, and full fluid, hose, water pump and belt service. It’s also got recent tires, a restored dash, and new injector seals. These look great in silver, and who doesn’t like all that blacked out trim?
The front wants some European market headlights, but otherwise this car is really looking pretty good. The owner concedes that new paint is needed, and there’s a tear in the rear seat that needs attention, but otherwise it sounds like the car has been under the care of the kind of owner from whom you want to buy a car – fixing things with little consideration for actually making the money back, and more for the joy of bringing things back to working condition.
Too boxy for you? Well, here’s an aero car that’s also a great of its decade. Check out this 1989 Ford Taurus SHO. You get the then-revolutionary Taurus styling without the blah driving experience of a standard Taurus – what’s not to like? With the Yamaha-designed V6 putting out 220hp through the front wheels (doh! well, just hold on tight!), you’re unlikely to get many speeding tickets. And this car is said to have a recent engine rebuild, so some of the usual issues on a 25-year-old performance car (yes, check your calendars, 25 years) are likely to have been resolved.
You’ll want to get rid of these unattractive wheels, which, while original and found on higher-spec regular Tauruses, are not really that attractive. Which period wheels would you use? Perhaps something from another Ford product? Slicer wheels from later SHOs are a popular upgrade. Unfortunately, the seller does not provide more detail on the car, and the pictures are pitiful, but often this is where you find the best deals. Which car would you pick?
Tags: 244, american, Feature, ford, sedan, sho, swedish, taurus, turbo, volvo
Rusty But Trusty 
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