| 1989/F Volvo 244 GLT: Timeless and classy colour scheme of Dark Grey Metallic with black buttoned leather upholstery. The grey paintwork and GLT dechrome scheme gives the car a more contemporary and sporting air and is a refreshing change from the ubiquitous silver or fading red paintwork.
This is a timewarp specimen that belies its mileage and quarter of a century vintage with consummate ease. This is the best 244 GLT on sale in the UK.
Low mileage (for a 23 year old 240) at 124,000 miles, low owners and total service history, full Volvo main dealer history up to 110K. HPI clear with certificate.
Standard GLT Specification: 2.3 litre fuel injected engine, 5-speed manual transmission, metallic paintwork, sliding steel sunroof, central locking, PAS, electric windows x 4, electric mirrors, tinted glass, leather upholstery, heated front seats, satin black dechromed trim, satin black coachline, 15-inch “Virgo” light alloy wheels, low profile tyres (195/60/VR15), front and rear mudflaps, Volvo digital radio cassette stereo and electric aerial, headlamp wash/wipe system.
Extra-cost Optional Equipment: Rare Volvo Accessory Bosch Halogen front foglamps, rare Volvo voltmeter gauge, Volvo centre console cassette stowage unit, Volvo floor trays.
With its fuel injection and large four cylinder engine coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox this car has more of a turn of speed than its bluff aerodynamics would convey. With its enhanced power to weight ratio it will also in real driving be more economical than the lowly 2.0 carburettor and injection catalyst models. Why buy a poverty spec DL or GL when you can have the range-topping and sporting GLT model?
Either you love the boxy saloon 200 series or you don’t. Whilst the majority of the estate cars have led hard and unloved existences, only getting the bare minimum carried out to scrape through each MoT test, I find that the saloons tend to have stayed in the same ownership for longer, have been much better cared for and crucially have been maintained correctly.
Due to the bodywork being extremely honest and virtually rust-free, and as the car came with the all important stamped up service history, something that cannot be bought retrospectively, I felt this car worthy to be rescued before it slumped to being beyond redemption as so many have sadly. Despite being a Volvo, and being made of the thickest steel you will come across in car manufacture, a 240 can still rust away merrily on the sills and the rear arches and front wings. My car was not exhibiting anything even remotely significant in this respect so I set about sympathetically refurbishing the car and bringing it back to a very smart condition.
Mechanically I have spent quite a lot of money getting all the jobs done to ensure the new keeper can just jump in and enjoy. All work has been carried out by my performance specialist. I must stress, only the rear bushes, exhaust and brake jobs were essential, all the other parts are part of my thorough refurbishment to get the car running as sweetly and smoothly as is possible. The car has had a major engine service using the best quality OE components including: new Scantech full timing belt and tensioner kit, Bosch oil filter, Shell Helix semi-sythetic oil, Bosch spark plugs, Bosch wiper blades, Fram air filter, Fram fuel filter, Hella ignition leads, Bosch distributor cap and Bosch rotor arm.
Additionally there has been a replacement clutch slave cylinder, new LUK 3-piece clutch kit, new gearbox oil. New brake discs and pads front and rear. A replacement steering rack has been fitted and the steering column UJ’s have been fully unseized and lubricated. Brand new centre and rear exhaust silencers and connecting pipes have been fitted and finally a really expensive job, the replacement of the rear trailing arm bushes, this takes over 2 hours a side in labour to complete.
New premium brand Dunlop Sport 01 195/60/VR15 tyres have been fitted to the front wheels and the rears are Firestones and have 6mm plus of even tread remaining. I also tracked down a new and correct “L-shaped” Volvo tailpipe which is what the GLT should have fitted which exits the rear valance in a straight line, not like the GL “S-shaped” tailpipes which are the only items available now.
Nowhere else will you find an enthusiast dealer who has lavished so much care and money on a humble 240, but I happen to know what special cars they are!
Cosmetically I have dismantled the headlamps and fitted brand new headlamp reflectors and carefully greased the adjustors and thoroughly cleaned everything. Now my Volvo has said goodbye to its sad “black-eye” look which afflicts most 240’s you’ll see. There are brand new genuine Volvo headlamp wiper blades fitted too. As the rear light lenses and front indicators where looking dull and tatty after 23 years as they all will, I have treated this car to what I call the “Euro-look”. Flat cap-wearing anoraks may disapprove but this exercise has transformed the look of my car by fitting brand new red/clear rear light units and clear front indicators which I imported from the USA and Germany respectively. Clear front side repeator lenses have completed the treatment. The Euro-look whilst looking totally integrated just makes people take another look at the car, all of a sudden it is a rather cool looking retro Volvo. If you are really despairing at my tasteful and subtle enhancements, then you can of course fit standard light units and flog these sought after items on Ebay.
The original “Virgo” alloy wheels which are the signature touch of the GLT models have been professionally shotblasted and powdercoated, a couple of the centre caps have been replaced with new, and now obsolete, items and the chrome wheel nuts have been polished. Smart anodized-look finished brake calipers sit discreetly behind the deep dished spokes so as not to put the shiny new brake discs to shame.
Driving a 240 GLT in this fettle and cosmetic condition is always an event and a delight. Many admiring glances are noted from oncoming drivers, furthermore you sit higher up than in modern cars and feel very safe and secure in what always feels to be an extremely safe and strong car. Speak to any retired fire officer and he will have a story to tell about people walking away from serious accidents in a Volvo 240 whereas in any other car of that era, Cortina or Cavalier, there probably would have been fatalities. The buttoned leather seats may look twee but they are supremely comfortable and were one of the first genuinely orthopaedically designed seats. If you do suffer from back or mobility problems you will like the fact that you sit up into a 240 rather than lowering yourself into a thinly padded modern seat, and that the seats are most supportive and cosseting, meaning long journeys are a pleasure not a pain.
The car comes complete with original master key, and the original spare, and one key operates all locks. There is the original toolkit and jack, a brand new spare tyre on an immaculate spare alloy wheel. The Volvo wallet contains the owner’s manual and accompanying booklets and the stamped up service book. The car was still sporting it’s original Volvo main dealer number plates front and rear (now replaced as were tatty) and the dealer decal is still present in the rear window. It is these touches which differentiate this car from the tired and worn examples that one sees on Ebay typically.
The car has just flown through the MoT with no failures, so is tested through to June 2013. You will not find a smarter or nicer driving GLT in this price bracket. At 124,000 miles this is a stripling by Volvo standards - - in the USA there are 240’s with in excess of 500,000 miles on the original engine - - so don’t fall into the trap of thinking that a 240 with a scant 60,000 miles on the clock will drive any better, in all likelihood it will be worse as must have sat unused for long periods which does a car no favours.
SOLD to 1st viewer. |
