Just to catch somebodies interest, but I'd read awhile back that former General, now State Dept. Cabinet head was or still is? a Volvo affectionado. Meaning he fixed up old Volvos. Obviously a classy guy. (btw, I am not a Bush supporter... but have to give 'im credit once in awhile.) Anybody know the details???

(also, a long time ago I had a African American friend (female) of Cuban derivation who drove a classic old Black curvy 60's era Volvo. A beautiful car which I helped her drive from Utah to Alpine, Texas and back. It was my first experience with a Volvo. It wasn't a fast car and very conservative and classy in appearence. I liked it but thought it was rather stolid feeling. (I was former VW bug driver and bicyclist with no car at the time I knew her.) I remember she'd drop an icecube down the back of my shirt when I started to nod off driving across Arizona or New Mexico somewhere at night. Anyway I didn't know Volvos much then... I suspect it was a 12-something. (and I knew another women back in the '70s who had a classic mustard yellow Volvo 1800 type "sportscar" which she drove from Utah to Montreal and back.... she had a thing for hockey players...) Anyway that's my experience with Volvos up 'til 3 months ago when I got my classic $500 Volvo 245... So much for Volvo's being a White Bread White Man's car.)

Anyway, I have much of this week off from work so I am patching the rest of my rocker panels and floorbds. Yesterday I drove a drill through my hose for my rear window washer. But that's easily fixed .. but what a shock to see fluid leaking copiously from my last epoxy and alum. repair... shorter screws and drill bits are in order (3/8ths instead of 1/2 inch self tappers)... Am discovering how easy it is to repair floors by removing carpets... but moving seats I am avoiding if possible. Previous repairs were merely 'bondo' and they lasted 5 years so I am not too worried about my repairs with epoxy and alum. lasting. Volvos are great cars in that they have easy access to the floors and can be rust protected with the many plastic ports where rust preventive measures can be taken.

Too bad most American drivers don't bother to open up the carpet and look for these ports and spray oil or rust converter and/or panel rust proofing in there. I am repairing other people's neglect. With a little car these cars can last well almost for ever!!

It is definitly worth our trouble to take off the sill plastic clips and open up the carpet to check out what rust is there and fix it before it gets too late!!! It seems much easier than some of the Japanese trucks or vans I've had.