Jeezy's 1976 Volvo 245

[Jeezy]

Eight years ago I purchased this car from a local Volvo enthusiast who had upgraded to a later model. Before that it was purchased new in Singapore by a NZ army officer who subsequently bought it back with him. At the time I had very little knowledge of Volvo’s (and cars in general) but needed a daily that would fit surfboards and drum kits etc. Over the next couple of years of really fell in love with it, travelled around the Coromandel, Raglan and across to Gisborne regularly when the surf was good. At this time it was in fairly good condition. 

For the Volbros it’s a B21(carb) with an M40 (4 speed) box. In my opinion the best looking of the 200 series. This car has a couple of unusual additions such as the plastic headlight covers, R-Sport Rally dash:

and a compressor that raises the rear suspension, presumably for heavy loads. Not sure how it works or if factory installed. Investigation pending. 

 

Due to a change of circumstances I was no longer in a position to be able to keep the car. I ended up selling it to a young guy who drove it down to Otago to attend uni and regretted it ever since. Fast forward a several years and three Falcons and I was never able to shake the Volvo bug. I restored a very tired 1995 850 and then a 1988 240 (below) but I still missed my bug eyed green monster. 

1988 240, B230E, M47, Black leather,  Heated seats etc: 

In a desperate move try and find the car in 2014 I uploaded a photo to carjam with the following comment:

“I would like to buy this car back, text me 022XXXXXXX”

A year or so later, to my amazement someone text me. That someone turned out to be Nelson Oldschool Rep Sidewayssickness. He was kind enough to save it from a demo derby and even kinder to dismiss his sleeper build plans to sell it to me. I will be forever grateful to this fine specimen of a man. Unfortunately the last eight years have not been kind to the old girl: 

With the car being in Nelson in myself residing in Tauranga, Sidewayssickness had a good look over it to determine wof eligibility/roadworthiness and I decided to put it on a transporter. At this moment its still in Nelson. The plan is to get it transported to my parents house in Feilding. I have been waiting for the weather to clear and before doing so as I want to drive down to be there when it arrives to ensure its stored well. Once there a friend has offered to bring it up on a trailer in October. 

 

Known issues:

Gauges don’t work 

Not running awesome

Brakes not awesome

Clutch not awesome

Exhaust Leak

No Drivers door glass (have replacement)

Numerous electrical issues

Rust to be determined 

 

I'm sure everyone reading this has regretted selling a car at some stage, but how often do you get the opportunity to get it back? 

 

Discuss://oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49418-jeezys-1976-volvo-245/

[Jeezy]

Almost forgot, someone added this incredible piece of engineering, presumably with the intention of building a tiny house on the roof. 

Decided not to keep, but will be replaced with a Swede spec Thule 555 Fairing like this:  

 

[Jeezy]

Thanks to Classic Towing the lolvo has landed in friendly Feilding, 14 times winner of NZ's most beautiful town.

[Jeezy]

Reunited and it feels so good. Feels weird tbh, happiness of getting it back/sadness of its state of repair. First job is done anyway, replacing smashed drivers door glass. I suspect the clips holding the lifter winder rusted out allowing the window to drop inside the door. Lucky I had spare clips. 

 

Something interesting I forgot about this car - It was rustproofed when new in Singapore by a company called Tuff-Kote. The interior of all the panels is coated with a tar like substance which is probably what has saved this girl. Still has rust however especially around windscreen. Will cross that bridge when I come to it, just happy to have it back.