Thanks, Dave, now that you mention your 242, I think I did see a 79 242 while prowling the junkyard that sported a complete label, like the one shown in the volvoworld site. By the way, that 242 was a nice car inside, leather still in good shape. I'm quite certain I saw an '80 four-door like mine that had one. A '77 245 (I think) had a VIN plate like mine but had a paper/plastic sticker on the sheet metal near the hood latch receiver.

On my 244DL there is no hint of the existence of a label in the trunk, like the one on my 83 and 84 244s where you can find out which alternator, steering gear, etc. they used.

The door labels on my later cars only give VIN and date of mfr, but there is only the adhesive remains of such a label on the '79; if that is where the paint code was placed, then that's my answer.