5k: I-Roll In My V8lvo: 1985 Volvo 740 Wagon w/ 5.0V8 and T-5
Anyone familiar with early 90’s hip hop artist Robert Matthew Van Winkle (aka Vanilla Ice) will know his ode-to-the-Mustang single “Rollin In My 5.0” and anyone familiar with Volvo history will know the genesis of the company’s name comes from the Latin “volvere,” literally “I roll”. Mix one part 5.0 and one Volvo…ergo, I-roll in my Volvo. Painful explanation of the bad pun complete, we move on to the car. Find this 1985 Volvo 740 wagon with a Mustang 5.0 V8 and T-5 manual transmission for sale in Mount Vernon, OR for $3,500 via craigslist. Thanks to reader Arthur C. for the tip.
The Volvo 740 wagon is a favorite for V8 swaps, particularly the Converse Engineering swap kit made famous and recounted by Late Show host Dave Letterman. Apparently Paul Newman convinced Letterman to buy one of these 400 horsepower monsters back when they were faster than a new Corvette.
As famously recounted by Letterman, Newman said: “I tell ya, from 20 to a hundred you can chew anybody’s ass.” The chewing is achieved with teeth from a 1991 Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 engine that has been significantly massaged. An aftermarket intake, cam, and exhaust upgrades this engine to 300 horsepower according to the seller and that is a fairly easy to achieve number on a 5.0 that isn’t smog choked.
The Volvo 740 interior isn’t luxurious, but it is functional and will seat 7. The two jump seats in the rear are only big enough to fit small children and require some dexterity to get into them, but whatever, this is 1000 times better than a minivan.
Personally, we’d remove the 5.0V8 badge that lives on the rear hatch door, but that is an easy 10 minute job with dental floss. Leave the roof rack on top for the ultimate sleeper. This price seems to be well below what recent V8lvos have been trading around, and the car itself looks in great shape…what gives?
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| From wikipedia |
Just in case you never had a copy of Vanilla Ice’s Rollin’ In My 5.0 CD – here is the cover art work for your viewing pleasure.
See a better V8lvo? Email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
~ before i read the copy i must shout the virtues of this car for all to hear. of all the hudreds of vehicles i have owned my Converse 745 is the one i like as well as anything else, including Porsche, Lamborghini, Maserati, Corvette, and everything else. it does all things in all situations while being completely invisible, efficient, fast, roomy, inexpensive, cargo-capable, and when i open the hood no one thinks it was not factory built exactly as they view it. there are few cars with all of the features this type of car contains. be back after i read the post. now check this post from jalopnik earlier today. (yes it was Paul Newmans car)
jalopnik.com/5540957/the-ford+powered-volvo-wagon-paul-newman-built.
definitely ditch the stinking badges!
~ what ! a ! steal ! ! ! $3500? i should double down !
i doubt the build could be accomplished for less than $8000 +/-.
. i spent $1200 to make the a/c work properly and another $400 getting the cruise sorted.
Hey that's mine! bring me a 89 and newer Extended cab Toyota (5 speed 4 cylinder) and we can just trade.
~ hey Russ, absolutely love it. did you do the build your self? can't believe you would cut it loose for this price! but worse, i can't accept i don't have the cash to close the deal immediately.
youtu.be/4bHXMogzEm0
I bought it from a small Volvo shop with the engine and trans installed. its very well done.the rest of the car was piled into the back and there was a lot of sketchy wiring to fix. the clutch set up they did was rather "backwoods" so I found a t5 kit. I do love this thing, but its not what I need. a fuel efficient dirt bike hauler is all I want. I've gotten a few lowball offers and some hilarious trade offers, but nothing I would take. I dont have to sell it, so I can try to get what I want.
Nicely done. The dog-leg shifter looks like it could be stock.
This thing is so stinkin' cool!
If were are talking Volvo songs, this one comes straight to mind:
youtube.com/watch?v=tKOVF1qwPzI