The iconic Volvo 240 is celebrating 40 years! 1974 was a big year for Sweden: ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo, an 18 year old Björn Borg trounced the tennis elite, and Volvo presented one of its most important models ever -“ the beautiful Volvo 240.
On 21 August 1974 the media got to see and drive the new car for the first time. The journalists were flown by chartered plane from Volvo’s head office at Torslanda to the little town of Borlänge, where a row of Volvo 244 GL’s were waiting for them – all painted in a shade of orange that was extremely fashionable at the time. The interiors were all an equally trendy shade of orange.
The Volvo 240 evolved from the Volvo 140 series, but with significant changes. The innovations were primarily at the front; the Volvo 240’s appearance was greatly inspired by the VESC safety car concept that was presented two years earlier. Most prominent of all were the large bumpers – the Volvo 240 was a full 13 cm longer than the 140 series. The characteristic lattice headrests were among the new additions to the interior.
Through the years, the Volvo 240 was produced in a variety of configurations. In addition to two, four, and five door versions, there was also an exclusive coupé version, the Volvo 262C. The Volvo 262C was built by Italian firm Bertone, and a total of 6622 were produced between 1977 and 1981.
The Volvo 240 has since become a collector’s car, with the turbo being in particular demand among enthusiasts. But more commonplace models in the Volvo 200 range are also increasing in value. The availability of spare parts is good, and it is still possible to buy many parts through Volvo, with the range of newly produced components steadily increasing.
Volvo CEO Pehr G Gyllenhammar handed over the keys to the last Volvo 240 to its owner during a special ceremony. Pehr G Gyllenhammar actually had several custom-built Volvo 240s as company cars, and at the ceremony he said: “We have had the world’s safest car, one of the most worthwhile cars to buy, and a car that is already living legend and will be even more of one in the years to come.”
The Volvo 200 series is to date the company’s most-produced model: 2,685,171 of the Volvo 240s were built, while 177,402 of the 260 derivatives were produced. In total, 2,862,573 Volvo 200 series rolled off the production line between 1974 and 1993.
