The Volvo most people associate Volvo with is now 40 years old. It’s time to celebrate the Volvo 240.
On August 21, 1974, the 240 series made its public debut. And over 19 years of production, it didn’t change too much in terms of appearance. And it shared a lot in terms of looks and engineering with the 140 series that debuted eight years earlier, only with bigger bumpers and the trademark Volvo headrests. It screamed safety.
It screamed a little more performance when the 260 was launched that October, with a 2.7-liter PRV V6 with all of 140 horsepower. The Turbo didn’t arrive until 1981, and the Turbo Brick was cemented in history.
The sedan was the most common version, and who hasn’t seen a 240 wagon near a school before? Less common are the two-doors, including the vinyl roofed 262C Bertone, made between 1977 and 1981.
Volvo made a lot of them in that time though, as 2,862,573 240 and 260 series cars rolled off of production lines. And to this day, nothing says “Volvo” quite so well.
Zac Estrada
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