Our neighbor is finally selling his 1975 245. I'd have snapped it up, but my wife insists we'd have to clear some other car out.

We're in rural downstate Illinois, about 90-120 minutes south of Chicago, just off I-57, between Kankakee and Champaign. The car is just outside a town called Paxton, exit 261 from I-57.

As a service to fellow Bricksters, I went over and checked the car out yesterday. Here's what I can tell you:

-First of all, he only wants $300 for it.

-It runs, and runs fine. Slow as molassis, as you might expect, but the engine and tranny purr as they ought to. The automatic transmission kicks down as it ought. Brakes felt fine.

-For those who don't know, 1975 was the first year of the 240 series. It's the only year to use the old B20F motor from the 140 series. It has mechanical fuel injection.

- It's very clean. Interior is black vinyl, and in amazingly good shape. The exterior is some weird green color, which was one of those unusual Volvo colors from the mid-70s that they later discontinued (along with Safety Orange).

- There is some body rust, but a lot less than I'd have expected. Mostly the rocker panels. I did not get under the car to look for undercarriage rust.

- Everything seemed to work, including the BLOWER FAN. Yes, it was the first thing I checked.

- The engine temp gauge runs hot. Not all the way up into the red, but the needle is definitely pointed upward. Owner says this has been an ongoing problem, and he's tried various solutions, but nothing's fixed it.

- The motor has an old dead air pump that I'd immediately remove. It also has an old AC compressor.

- No roof rack or third seat.

Contact me via email and I can send you his phone number. ccblunt@aol.com