Does anyone know the rhyme or reason why some 700 and 900 grills are chrome in color and others black plastic? Seems less 900s feature the black plastic type, downunder at least
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JD - '91 940 turbo wagon on 84k and 225/50R16's (plus some Honda-land stuff)

You're talking about the horizontal-bar grilles? There are two of them alone, one is all chrome and one is chrome with black. Then there is the "egg crate" variety with the large cross hatch pattern. They're always black.

And as far as I can tell, there is no rhyme or reason why they equipped cars certain ways. Both are available straight from Volvo.
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Chris Herbst
1992 745, 68k

And others:
93 944, 150k
90 245, 110k
88 744, 160k
87 245, 185k

I believe that rhaire is correct. Starting in 1993 Volvo stopped marking the 940 turbos specially, all models simply said "940" on the tailgate, and there was no turbo guage on the dash. The only way to tell quickly is to check the grille, or of course pop the hood & look for the turbo ;). The turbo itself is a low-pressure intercooled unit, either Garrett or Mitsubishi.

Just bought a 94 940T. You are right about it being just 'VOLVO' on the back. It does have a guage, though.

Andrew in AL

Usually the black grilles are on turbo cars. There are black painted versions of the chrome grille. Not sure I have seen any plastic grilles in 700/900 other than the black turbo eggcrate type grille of the late 80's. More puzzling is the slight difference in grilles between fog light equipped cars and non-fog light equipped cars of the 90-on vintage. Both 700 and 900 affected there.

Usually the black grilles are on turbo cars. There are black painted versions of the chrome grille. Not sure I have seen any plastic grilles in 700/900 other than the black turbo eggcrate type grille of the late 80's. More puzzling is the slight difference in grilles between fog light equipped cars and non-fog light equipped cars of the 90-on vintage. Both 700 and 900 affected there.