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Junkyard Gem: 1976 Volvo 244 DL

Volvo did well enough selling the PV444/544, Amazon and 140 in the United States, but it was the Volvo 200 Series that really launched Goteborg iron into the American big time. Introduced here as a 1975 model, the 200 stayed in production for nearly two full decades and remains the most instantly recognizable Swedish car ever made. Here's an early-production 244, found in a Denver-area car graveyard not long ago. The 200 Series could be considered an update of the late-1960s-vintage 140 Series, since it's essentially the same car from the A pillars back. The main difference between the two is the MacPherson strut front suspension in the 200 Series. Volvo went through several naming systems for U.S.-market 200 Series cars over the decades, with the initial one being the easiest to decipher: a three-digit number followed by a two-character trim-level designation. The first digit in the number represents the series, the second represents the number of engine cylinders and the third the number of doors. There were six-cylinder 262s, 264s and 265s sold in the United States from 1976 through 1981, powered by the same PRV V6 engine that went into the DeLorean DMC-12, so it's incorrect to refer to all 200 Series Volvos as 240s. This car is the best-selling member of the 200 family, with a four-cylinder engine and four doors. This is a fuel-injected 2.1-liter SOHC straight-four, rated at 98 horsepower and 110 pound-feet; the 1975 240s received the 2.0-liter pushrod engine from the 140. There were two transmissions available in the 1976 240s: a four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic. This car has the automatic. Even thought it's a base DL model, this car's first owner paid an extra $456 for air conditioning (about $2,580 in 2024 dollars), on top of the $500 premium for the automatic transmission ($2,829 after inflation). That pushed the cost for the car up to $7,551, or $42,717 in today's money. You could get a swanky new 1976 Buick Electra Limited four-door hardtop for just $6,852, but those sensible Volvo buyers knew it was worth paying a premium for genuine Scandinavian safety and build quality. European-market headlights were strictly forbjuden on American roads during the early Malaise Era, according to federal safety regulations, so Volvo had to install these unsightly sealed-beam rigs on their cars here.

Cyan Racing shows slightly tamer resto-modded Volvo P1800 GT

Cyan Racing, which was known as Polestar until Volvo purchased the rights to the name in 2015, has unveiled an evolution of its resto-modded P1800 that puts a bigger emphasis on comfort. Called GT, the coupe remains as attractive as its more track-focused sibling. If you need a refresher course, Cyan Racing branched out into street-legal cars when it unveiled a P1800 with classic good looks and modern performance in 2020. That was arguably the worst year to launch anything, let alone an expensive reboot of a relatively obscure classic, but Cyan was on to something: it didn't take long for the brand to receive its first orders.  Viewed from the outside, the GT looks a lot like Cyan's original P1800. It features two-piece bumpers, a front splitter, wheel arch flares and a racing-style fuel filler cap that pokes through the trunk lid. It's inside that you'll find some of the bigger changes: Cyan fitted more comfort-oriented front seats and installed a different roll cage, for example. The brand also notes that it installed more sound-deadening material. Power still comes from a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, though it has been tuned with a focus on drivability rather than on flat-out performance. How much power varies from car to car. The output of Cyan's previous P1800-based builds ranges from 350 to 420 horsepower. The turbo-four spins the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission, and the coupe weighs less than 2,200 pounds thanks in part to a carbon fiber body. The adjustable suspension system is specific to the GT and softer than the track-bound model's, too. Cyan notes that production of the P1800 GT will be limited, though it doesn't have a specific number of units in mind. Every build starts with a donor P1800, and production takes place in Gothenburg, Sweden. The process requires between 12 and 15 months of work per car. As for pricing, it depends on how the car is configured. Cyan told Autoblog that the average price of the cars built so far hovers around $600,000. That's a lot, but customers keep coming: Cyan notes the second car from the production run has already been shipped to the United States. Featured Gallery Cyan Racing's Volvo P1800 GT, official images View 9 Photos Aftermarket Design/Style Volvo Coupe Luxury Performance Classics

Volvo teases new electric SUV for 2023 reveal

At the launch of the Volvo EX90 flagship electric SUV, Volvo teased a new, smaller electric ute for reveal in 2023. At the end of the presentation (around 1:32:50), Volvo CEO Jim Rowan told media in attendance to look closely as animated graphics appeared on the screen behind the EX90. There, shrouded in darkness, we see the rear illumination of the EX90, with flashes of a smaller SUV appearing next to it briefly. Could this be an electric successor to the XC60, perhaps to be called the EX60? It looks like it could be smaller than the XC60, but it's hard to be sure in this dark image. We’ll have to wait until 2023 to know for sure. But Volvo has said it intends to release a new EV each year as it transitions to an all-electric lineup by 2030. Stay tuned. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.