Let me start this off by apologizing if this gets long. I had to find a place that could appreciate the joy of my new purchases.

A few months ago I sold my 1998 Grand Prix with 224,000 miles and figured I'd try out a Volvo since they invented the High Mile Legend. I ran across a 1991 740 that the original owner's son was selling. The story is that his mother is 85 years old and purchased the car new. She unfortunately was placed into a nursing home and they sold or disposed of all of her belongings which included the Volvo. The bad part is that they could not find one shred of any type of service record, owner's manual or anything on the history of the car. But, the car's condition spoke volumes. It has the low mileage of 133,000 miles and shows practically like a new car. It could easily pass for a two-three year old (if not for the body style). Its original silver paint has a beautiful shine with no evidence of any paintwork ever and no clear coat problems. Which in our Florida sun is a miracle. I was told it was garage kept and I believe it. The interior shows no signs of fading anywhere. It has the steel gray cloth interior. I'm sure the tinted windows helped to preserve it.

My wife's 2002 Focus SE that we special ordered new and now has 70,000 miles on it was having some minor problems that needed my attention. So while I took care of the problems I loaned my wife my beloved '91 740. She'd been itching to get her hands on it since the day I brought it home. Two days later I had her car serviced and was ready for her to return my baby to me and she said, "ummm...how about you drive my car for a little while."...uh oh. I saw it coming. I had lost my baby..to my bigger baby. After a week I approached her again. This time I got the..."well lets do this. Lets let you drive my Focus and I drive the Volvo. My car is newer you'll enjoy it." So I knew something had to give if was ever going to get my Volvo back.

Today I picked up a local paper and lo and behold what beckoned to me from the pages, nothing but this: For Sale 1990 Volvo 740 books and records. Keep in mind finding an older RWD Volvo around here is virtually impossible. Let alone one with books and records! I called. The guy tells me that he has had another call on the car earlier and the woman that called is going to come by when she gets off of work at 12:00. So I figured I'd better run on over and check it out before the woman gets a chance to look at it. The guy tells me he bought the car four months ago from the original owners with the intention of letting his employees use it as a local beater and maybe he and his wife would drive it occasionally when his primary vehicles were being serviced. Problem is...he didn't check with his wife first or his employees second. His wife hated the car and his employees refused to drive it. Ha! some people have no appreciation for an aged classic. Anyway, he had owned the car a total of 4 months! But, he claimed the car was immaculate. So I thought what the heck I'll take a chance and go look at it at least. OMG! thank goodness I did. This car is incredible. Yes it has a few more miles than my '91 but it makes my '91 look like its been abused..lol. It has 161,000 miles, but then that is less than 10000 miles per year.

The guy pulls out a bag that is stuffed to gills with receipts, letters, books etc. I was absolutely blown away. Now lets get this straight people..yeah I know some people keep their records but this is amazing. The car was purchased new by a couple who were each 69 years old when they bought the car. This fact is supported by the original purchase invoice that actually has each of their birthdates on it..obviously this was prior to any privacy laws...lol. This couple kept every single invoice or receipt for every oil change, tire rotation,battery,tag receipt..blah blah blah. They also had the original service book with the dealer stamps all the way to the end of the book. Who dealer services to then end of the book? But here's the amazing part they even stapled every receipt with what was done to the car for the service stamps to the book. Every thing you can imagine has been done to this car. These people in the last couple of years have spent a few thousand dollars servicing this car. It is evident that this older couple truly loved this car. The paint is flawless as in the interior. It could easily be 61,000 miles instead of the 161,000.

So after inspecting all of the records I bought the car. The guy wouldn't come off the price but $125 because he knew what he had. The guy asks me if I wanted to let my wife see it since I told him I was buying it for her. I said no because if she didn't want it I knew that my cousin would buy it from me since my cousin has been drooling over mine every since the day I got it. Besides my wife is out of town and I'm going to surprise her with it on her return. I did at least let her know I was buying it.

After we completed the transaction we were chit chatting and he laughed and said the lady that had called had missed out,he mentioned her by her first name. I thought hummm thats odd my cousin's first name is that and I know how much she loves my car. So I asked him what the woman's phone number was. And guess what!? It was my cousin..lol. I immediately called her and told her she needn't worry about going to look at that Volvo she'd called about. She was in shock. She couldn't believe I'd beat her to it..she hung up on me...lol. Of course I called her back and we had a good laugh. She is sick though. I told her she should've taken the day off..lol.

So now we are a two Volvo family. They are both Silver. But mine has grey interior with a sunroof and my wife's has blue interior with no sunroof. Boy do they look great sitting in our driveway. I've talked to my wife and we think we are going to sell her Focus. Can you believe that she'd give up a 2002 model for a car that is nearly 18 yrs old? Well of course you can believe it...you guys are Volvo lovers.

P.S. I've attached a pic of my '91 I didn't have time to take any pics of my wife's '90 today. I'll add some of it as soon as I take them.