Now is one of those times. And man is it a good example this time.
I always thought Volvos were cars people secretly hated but drove because they felt safe. Why else would anyone subject their garages to such 'bland, boxy' styling?
In the white suburban neighborhood of my childhood and adolescence, Volvos were ubiquitous, but they were just as often driven by teenagers as adults. This didn't help the impression of Volvos in my mind. The Volvos owned and driven by the teenagers I knew were dinged up 850 station wagons or the ultra-utilitarian 240 sedans.
I didn't fully appreciate Volvos until the internet age. Then I was able to read rave reviews, fully digest the vast cult following, and see how their values held pretty reasonably, especially for the now-legendary 240.
Turns out that they were actually pretty decent cars. Those teenagers were pretty damn lucky (in many ways beyond what they drove, too)!
Like a lot of European cars from the late 80s to mid 90s, Volvos were extremely durable, well-built, ergonomic and reasonably fuel-efficient. And yes, safe.
But what a lot of other Europeans cars had that Volvo lacked was some semblance of a sportiness.
One of the first cars to change perceptions about Volvo was undoubtedly the 740 Turbo.
In 1990 the vehicle was given a facelift, replacing the ugly U.S.-spec quad square lamps with larger and more uplifting single-unit pieces and smoother once-piece bumpers.
Also new for '90 was the Turbo, which featured a 2.3-litre intercooled turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that produced 165 horsepower. Styling wise, swept-star alloys and a stealthy blackened front grille signify the Turbo model. On the rear trunk lid, the badges, in typical 1980s manner, are wonderfully informative, denoting "Volvo" then "740 Turbo" and then beneath that "Intercooler". Why thank you! Fortunately, all badges to wear proudly.
And while the styling may have been once considered stodgy and dull, today it feels delightfully minimalist, conservative and handsome. The angles are crisp and clean. Lines end where you expect them too. The shape just makes perfect sense. Given Volvo's post-millennial shift towards completely uncharacteristic shoulder curves and wild taillights, their memorable, now "classic" look from the 80s to the mid 90s is aging just beautifully in the minds of many, yours truly included.
With only 88,441 miles on the odometer, this 740 was either driven sparingly over the past two decades or was driven frequently at first, then stored for a long time. The seller mentions the vehicle only had one owner, another plus, so either scenario is plausible.
Whatever the reason for the low miles, assuming they are accurate, the vehicle qualifies as a survivor. The body looks straight. The seller claims there is no rust. The car was obviously washed and detailed prior to photographing so the tires look slick, the alloys crisp and the black plastic dark and clean, again another plus.
The all-black plastic and leather interior is just as good.
On a whim I actually googled the VIN and found a vehicle with the same VIN for sale as salvage. I guess that means it was either an insurance loss or donation at some point prior to its current offering. The odometer was reading 88,435 then.
The dealer probably bought it for dirt cheap and now intends to flip it for maximum profit. That's all fine and well, but I'd make sure to question them thoroughly on the full history and what repairs they did, if any.
How many can be left? And in this good shape? For under $5K you get a solid, low-mileage turbo Swedish sedan. That's so much more car for so relatively little money than most new cars today.
Find it here on ebay with only a buy-it-now price of $4,500.
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