If you’re fed up of angles, folds, and corners, and would really prefer something a little more organic and rounded, consider a 1997 Ford Taurus. Or better yet, consider the Volvo 544 – an updated version of the ’42 Ford knockoff, with a one piece windshield, hunchback styling, and some actual sporting pretense. Fitted with Volvo’s B18D engine as of 1964, putting out 90-95hp through a 4-speed transmission, it was no rocket, but had quite respectable performance for a family sedan. 1964 also brought a 12V electrical system, and from 1963 North American cars were assembled in Halifax, NS (indeed, if you drive a Volvo 740 or 940 it’s quite likely your car was built here) to bypass trade tariffs. Check out this tax-evading 1964 Volvo 544 for sale for $2450 in Rodeo, CA.
Archive for July, 2014
Rounded – 1964 Volvo 544
July 3, 2014More Angles – 1979 Triumph TR7
July 3, 2014In case this week’s cars haven’t been angular enough for you, there’s more coming. The late 1970s and early 1980s produced many angular, folded-paper style designs. While Triumph’s last breath (other than the post-mortem Acclaim, which was a badge-engineered Honda Civic sedan) didn’t have as sharp creases in its design as the Volvo 740 or VW Golf Mk1, it was nonetheless was one of the first cars to democratize the wedge as a viable car shape, heretofore only known on exotics. Critics and pundits labeled it the wedge or doorstop, and Triumph themselves called it the shape of things to come, but 35 years on it’s a capable, still-contemporary sports car. Check out this 1979 Triumph TR7 for sale for $4100 in Daly City, CA.
Sports Box – 1991 Volvo 740 Turbo
July 2, 2014As discussed in the past, Volvo 740 and 760 series cars have never aroused the interest of enthusiasts the way many other Volvos have. So these cars tend to languish in used car purgatory, where somewhere around $2000 will get you a reasonably clean, well-kept if not very exciting version of designer Jan Wilsgaard’s box-on-wheels. Interestingly enough, Wilsgaard was born in New York, and was chief designer for all Volvos running from the 122 to the 850. And perhaps it was this simple design that was the blessing and curse at once, following the brand identity but turning off many enthusiasts. Nonetheless, some people just won’t be deterred, like the seller of this 1991 Volvo 740 Turbo, for sale for $3600 in San Leandro, CA.


