Fjord 5.0: 1983 Volvo 245 GL Wagon

The Volvo 200-series was penned with a straight edge and forged with hammers — and it is equally slow, hip, and cool in 2-door, 4-door, or 5-door wagon…except that the wagon is the best for shoving a Ford V8 up front.  Find this 1983 Volvo 245 GL Wagon with Ford V8 offered for $4,321 in Norfolk, VA via craigslist.  From Cory.

 From the seller:

As Han Solo said, “She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts, kid.” This V8-powered 1983 Volvo 245 GL’s patina belies her capabilities as one of the fastest cargo carriers in this part of the galaxy. I hate to sell it, but after 30 years it’s time to pass the torch to the next adventurous soul.

The good stuff:
– Ford 5.0 HO V8 engine (from 1989 Mustang GT); SVO GT40 aluminum heads, Crane 1.7:1 roller rockers, OEM Cobra intake manifold, 65mm MAF, custom cold air intake
– Compression (cylinders 1-8): 125/125/126/128/127/128/125/128
– Rebuilt AOD transmission with Transgo heavy-duty shift kit, kevlar overdrive band, Alto Powerpack clutch kit, new A-servo overdrive piston and cover, heavy-duty sprag, F-52 torque converter
– 130-amp 3G alternator
– Volvo/Dana 3.73:1 final drive
– Volvo GT front springs, and upper and lower chassis bars
– ipd 25mm front and rear anti-sway bars
– Bilstein HD (yellow) front struts and rear shock absorbers
– Mazda RX-7 Turbo 4-piston aluminum front brake calipers, Volvo 940 turbo rotors, new master cylinder, new brake hoses 
– Volvo “Hydra” 16-inch wheels 
– Marchal E-code headlights; Marchal 750 foglights 
– New blower/fan motor
– Rebuilt front seats (OEM blue velour)
– Cruise control
– New rear mud-flaps (hey, it’s a Volvo)

The not-so-good stuff:
– #2 cylinder burns a little oil (not sure why, heads and valve train have < 19,000 miles, compression checks good [see above]) 
– Small transmission leak from shift lever bushing
– Paint/clear-coat is starting to shed (you say “potato,” I say “patina”)
– Rust* (passenger-side rocker panel, base of “C- and D-pillars,” driver’s floor [replacement floor panels in place])
– The AC needs a recharge
– Old school Alpine radio/CD player–it works, but it’s not “au currant” 

Just think, for a measly $4321.00 you could drive a true sleeper– and be the envy of your retro-loving hipster buddies knowing full well there isn’t another car out there capable of hauling this kind of “cargo.” 

Thanks for reading!

*Neil Young says “rust never sleeps.” Actually, rust sleeps like a baby; it’s iron that’s the insomniac . . . .

See a better way to drive a V8lvo? tips@dailyturismo.com