Ever wonder why the corona wheels had so many spokes? Why it is so sturdily cast, with thick sections and generous radii on all intersecting surfaces? Why the 25 spokes form such a perfect, gentle concave surface? Why it isn’t a little wider? I know why. While replacing an parking brake cable, parking brake shoes, and rear rotors on a '92 240, I discovered that a corona wheel sans hubcap makes a perfect work seat for brake or suspension jobs. Not just good, but PERFECT!

My theory is that with characteristic Scandinavian attention to detail, Volvo engineers compiled reams of ergonomic rump data on the middle aged, males of European stock most likely to do these repairs, and used it to design the corona wheel to provide a comfortable seating surface. The result is astounding. The wheel width results in a comfortable seating height: low enough to get down to the work at hand, but not so high that joint fatigue sets in. The concave surface gently cradles the buttocks. The symmetry of the seat means that it is nondirectional. Spin around to fetch a tool, hide from the wife, or grab a bite to eat; the comfort level does not diminish.

If you true Volvo fanatics out there ever want a classy set of bar stools, just clean and polish an old set of coronas, bolt on legs, and sit on them while treating yourself to a pint of Nils Oscar God Lager. What better way to relax after replacing your blower motor, or resoldering relay solder joints, or repairing floorpan rust, or replacing the engine wiring harness, or cleaning the flame trap, or replacing the training arm bushings, or refurbishing the driver's seat foam, or replacing the water pump, or......
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'88 240GL, '90 240DL, '91 240