Posts Tagged ‘volvo’

RustyButTrusty on the Street – Alfa, Mini, Mercedes, Volvo

July 19, 2014

Welcome back to RustyButTrusty on the Street, where we take a look at recent sightings of people using classic cars as they were originally intended. First up is the RustyButTrust 1977 Alfa Romeo Spider, which was a surprise participant in the 2014 Motherlode 400 Rally since the Alfetta was still down for repair. 40ish classic cars hit the small town of Hornitos, CA for lunch, and you have to wonder what the locals thought at being swarmed by that many old cars at once. In the background, you can see another participant’s 1969 GTV. The driving on this year’s Motherlode Rally was amazing as usual, with more technical driving than some other vintage rallies and two nights at the same location so you needn’t drag everything with you.

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Rounded – 1964 Volvo 544

July 3, 2014

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.

1964 Volvo 544 left front

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Sports Box – 1991 Volvo 740 Turbo

July 2, 2014

As 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.

1991 Volvo 740 turbo left side

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