Model/year I left as ALL/ALL for a reason. With the acquisition of the P1800 ('63) the world's nicest parts car, Mike W. tells me the current family collection is probably unmatchable on the 'board. Anyone care to comment on diversified Volvo collections?

1963 P1800 complete, probably restoarable, probably will be parted
1979 242GT near mint, going turbo soon?
1983 242Ti "flathood" near mint, VX3 cam, a total blast
1985 244Ti (nicely restored to reliability)
1990 780 (mint) VX3 cam
1991 245SE K cam (greatest all around car in history)
1996 850T-5
and a handful of 240 DL workhorses

I can't really say I prefer one car, but the 780 is definitely a most impressive car, once it starts to grow on a 240 guy. Not sure but the 850 might be fastest, edging out the 780 and the flathood. All are putting out V8 level power. For pure G's though the 240 turbos from 3000-6000 rpms are unsurpassed. The 850 and the 780 are very similar to drive, wrt smooth power and handling, although the 850 has a touch of torque steer.

This would all be insanity, of course, if I ever needed a pro mechanic, or frequently needed a dealer, or retail parts supplier, but with the Volvo standards of durability, conservative model changes, and ease of repairability, together with the huge supply of used parts, it is actually quite economical.

We currently own:

1984 760T w/M46 The son's car.
1986 745T w/M46 The wife's car.
1987 745T w/M46 My car.
1988 760T w/AW71 Project car to be sold. Bought with broken connecting rod.
1979 242 w/M46 Test bed for 240 strut tower brace project. Daughter may drive

--
john

Bob,

I seem to remember an 89 240DL (white) in your stable not so long ago. Has it been cast off or is it just not considered part of the collection?

Randy

Randy-
The wife's personal prize, she won't part with it no matter what I try. "I finally have a car that is all mine"....blah, blah. She is also the gal who informed me breathlessly that the neighbors "paid almost $200 to get their car fixed....how can families afford that!". Seems she lives in a protected environment regarding transportation costs. So do the kids.

......"Seems she lives in a protected environment regarding transportation costs. So do the kids."....

That rings very true at this house!
--
john

Wish my collection was so diversified. Then again, it's far from done. As I find a new toy that I can actually have, I get it.

85 744gl n/a manual (cam, shaved deck and head, ported & polished (wife's car))
86 744gle n/a manual (over built B230F that was NOT done right & is getting replaced)
86 744 gle n/a (once had a tight b230f and ZF trans, now it's what's left of a parts bucket)
86 764 tic (loaded w/ the works from Volvo & will remain stock)
87 744 n/a (zf trans) highest final drive ration I could come up with for the highway, this one's my baby. Not pretty, but she's a horse.
88 745 tic (AW72) (this is my current project car. I've re-upolstered the seats with full thickness Western leather, door panels are now suade, head liner's pat leather. drive trains in process of complete resto / upgrade. 240 turbo donated the 15" 5 spoke rims. She's quite a ways from complete)
89 744 (or 780 "Freaktone" according to my daughter) Ford 351 (w) police interceptor engine, mildly huffed & lenco mod 9 trans. She's certainly fun.
88 745 tic (no longer a turbo, now sports a modified (to fit my car) v-tech blower kit w/dual pop offs, water injected (the water inj's not right yet) & some mods to accomidate it all that's going to remain my own info till it's done.
87 744 tic (becoming the same setup as the 745)

That's it for now, there are other 7 series cars that I've yet to get to, but all 7's :(
Not a single 1 or 2 series yet :(

I admire the diversity of your collection and the apparent jewels of each production type are yours. After paying my annual insurance premium last month, I think I've hit a wall with the hobby cars. How do you do it?
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Two cars are on antique auto insurance. The rest, and you are right, the bill is substantial (bigger than my mortgage) is paid for by relentlessly hunting down and harvesting salvaged auto parts, and selling on Ebay. And I mean relentlessly, as in every weekend of the year.

I'm wondering why a 63 P1800 is such a desirable car, with
(probably) old style rubber suspension bushings, early B18 engine
and D type overdrive, etc. I'd think the 71 1800E would be a better
choice for the same body style.

I note a conspicuous absence of the following in the collection:
PV (444 or 544)
Amazon (122, 132, 222)
Early Brick (142, 144, 145)
Luxury Brick (164)

As long as you're into insanity, might as well make it total.
I've been accused of suffering from a mental condition.
Actually I enjoy it a great deal.
--
George Downs, The "original" Walrus3, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

I really like the 544 but so far nothing has come my way. I thought I really liked the Amazon but when it came down to it, I drove the 780 over to look at a local pretty nice one and it is just not good to have a perfect and reliable 780 in sight when looking at another car. I mean, I just thought, "look at the beautiful 780 and all it has to offer (at roughly equivalent values), why am I looking at the 122????". The comparison was so blatant, I was surprised. My first Volvo was a 142 and I loved it, but no room and no reason to get rid of a 240 for a 142. The 164 I coveted decades ago, but not since. There is a guy here on the East Coast with a really fine Swedish military Volvo VALP. Now that....