Here is a survey to determine the newest and oldest 780's represented on the board.

I'm trying for the newest with serial # 011750. There were 79 made after mine (according to the info I have) but I haven't found any yet.

I guess for oldest we could go with 1986's for international and 1987's for US versions.

(The serial # is the last 6 digits of the VIN.)

I would also love to hear from all the 780 owners on the board. In addition, please post exterior and interior color and any other interesting data. We really need to push for our own forum!

Blessings!
Patrick

Hi, I have a 91' Coupe. The last 5 digits of VIN are 11496. It is a real nice car and I have been very pleased so far. I had a 240 before and also a 245 wagon so this is my 3rd Volvo. This is by far the nicest I have owned and the only real thing in common with the 200 series models are the Volvo nameplate.

One thing to make sure when looking for a 780 is that the interior be in excellent condition. Mine was pretty much, as interior and exterior parts are way expensive. One bad thing though is the gas mileage which is nothing to write home about even with a fully tuned vehicle.

My 780 twins (matching black/beige exteriors and interiors) have the following chassis numbers:
#04663 is my 1988 Volvo 780 B280F (PRV-6)
#08847 is my 1989 Volvo 780 B230FT (Turbo-4)

I did get the opportunity to see the vehicle info on my '88 from the Volvocars database during a trip to my local dealership. I inquired if the car still had any outstanding recalls, and they were nice enough to hit the "Print-Screen" button on the keyboard while it was displayed. I'll transcript it as best as I can:

Model Year: 1988
Model: 782
Chassis: 004663
Variant 7, 8, 2, 69, 66, 4, 7, 1
Retail Date/Dlr: 071988__7510
Demo Date: 000000
(the following text was listed in large capital black text standing alone on the page)
B280F, AW71, With Sunroof USA, 780, LH Driven (end stand alone text)
Market Code: 31
Colour Code: 01900 Solid Black Limited
Upholstery: 291000 Grey/Black-Leather
Key Code: (I'd rather not disclose this)
Boot Code: (I'd rather not share the trunk key numbers either)
Radio Code: (blank field, since radio lockout codes weren't used until '90 or '91 when the TD-6141 radios were replaced by the CR-814 which offered both theft lockout and remote CD changer controls. -which are compatible with the Alpine M-bus system)

---Next Page---
Claim type:
Recall Campaign 51 - Complete, ROdate 092199, Main op 88092, Failed Part 0271930-0.
Claim type:
Recall Campaign 82 - Complete, ROdate 092199, Main op 85293, Failed Part 0699856-1.

That's it for the information available via the Volvo database, and I believe that the two mentioned recalls were actually a single event (the 780 power seat wiring harness issue). I actually have the original letter sent by Volvo to a previous owner of the '89 Turbo and if I remember correctly is was mailed sometime in September of 1999.

As for the mystery of how many 780s were actually produced, I think I can help clarify some questions. While I don't know the actual production numbers themselves, I can tell you that it is not unusual for production serial numbers to jump by several hundred units to the next significant character (typically 100, 1,000) during the turnover from one model year to the next. For example, the last vehicle to roll off an assembly line during a model year might be #25462, but for simplicity sake and easier paperwork filing, they may round it up to 25500 or 26000 for the start of the next model year.

Regarding post-production 780 imports to the US, I have heard from 2 sources that many additional 780s came to the US after remaining unsold in other markets. While the official close of the 780 production was 1991, there were vehicles that entered and were sold in the US after the 1991 model year, but they should have retained their original production year 1989, 1990, etc. As far as I know, 1991 production vehicles were only sent to the North American market (between 500 and 600 vehicles), and 1990 is the last model year available to non-NA markets.

God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
--
'87 Blue 245, NA 231K

Wow Fitz!
That's a lot of info. I have been checking out the Bertone board that you mentioned and there is very little activity. Do you thing we should post about it and see if we can draw some people over there so our posts don't get buried so quickly? This is a great site for the mechanical since there are many commonalities between models. However, the uniqueness of the Bertone bodies makes a unique bb advantageous.

On another front, check out my profile Fitz...we have some common reading material.

Blessings!
Patrick

Mine is a 1990, white with beige interior. Shipped up from Texas (to Mass.) last spring, currently off the road and waiting on the weather.

Prod. #9200.

I didn't realize there were almost 12,000 made, I had thought it was less than 10,000.

I have a photo but can't upload to change my profile, server error. Happened late yesterday and again just now.

It would be nice to have a place to get 780 info. This 700 board is so active the 780 posts get lost pretty quickly.

I would like to update the transmission swap (AW71 to M46) with a little additional info and some more pictures, assuming I can get my wife to acquiesce on my "wasting" time playing with my toy :) I'll let you guys know if this ever happens. I have most of the parts I need already.

Later...
Scott

hey Scott!

Production numbers I have seen vary... I think the 9200 number is from Eric's site (which he is no longer keeping up) http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/6570/

The Dutch Bertone site http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/F.D.men/volvo262c.html says either 11402 or 11645. If the serial numbers were all used sequentially, that leaves mine out at 11750. And according to Eric, the last ser# was 11829.

So, as you can see, this gets very confusing. I have an email into Bertone now to see if I can get an answer from them. Some were also sent to the US from 92-94 apparently. Mine was not titled until May 1992.

If anyone has further info, please share.

Also, we might want to consider this board http://volvobertone.proboards9.com/index.cgi for our unique postings. The mechanical parts are good here because there are so many similarities with other 700/900 series cars. However, our body is unique and those things are often lost here. This other board is little used and uncluttered.

DISCLAIMER: I have no connection to that site other than registered user.

Blessings!
Patrick

Just found your post :o) . I have a 1987 780, Black exterior, tan interior. (Will try to link some pics when available). It has, of course, the PRV-6 in it, 220,458 miles and still going. The production number is 2152.

Hope to be a part of the 780 forum soon.

Nick
Salt Lake City, UT

I did come across a Volvo Bertone discussion board for the 262c and the 780.
http://volvobertone.proboards9.com/

I'll post back later with my serial numbers, and a few others that I've seen recently.

God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
--
'87 Blue 245, NA 231K

Thanks Fitz!
I have posted to that board...I asked about how to remove the wood dash trim, then came back and answered my own question.

I noticed that most of the posts are at least 5-6 months old. Not much activity but we could publicize it. I would rather have one here. There is a 780 link off the 700-900 FAQ but it has very little on it. I feel like Rodney Dangerfield..."we get no respect!"

somewhere in the middle, 072745 1987, champange ext, biege, brown int.

Good luck with your project, maybe include 262c's for a bertone duo?

Merci

Yvan
--
65 122s/73 1800es/80 262c(350ci v8)/89 745t/87 780/89 740/89 740t/ 86 745 and too many parts cars and projects to list

Hi Yvan!
Glad to hear from you. I am puzzled by your #. According to the Bertone site, http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/F.D.men/volvo262c.html which covers the 262C and 780, the serial (or chassis)#s for 1987 were from 001200-003299. Could you check your number again? Maybe we have uncovered something here.

Including the 262C is a good idea but beyond the limits of my time right now. I think that should be a 262C owner that takes on the project. It seems like so many of them are being converted to Ford and Chevy V8s.

Blessings!
Patrick

I will check my serial # tomorrow, I got that one from my insurance papers(they may be wrong). As for V8 262C's the reason for this is the PRV V6, they simply are not worthy of a volvo ( 200000miles at best' a 4 cyl volvo is just finishing it's break-in at that millage:) ).

As you say time is short, I will do what I can to aids your noble cause.

Merci

Yvan
--
65 122s/73 1800es/80 262c(350ci v8)/89 745t/87 780/89 740/89 740t/ 86 745