Page 1: My 1991 Volvo 240 - Body

Overall the body condition is excellent. On the driver�s side door there is a light scratch running almost the entire length. There are only a few very minor dents on the surface of the car that are hard to find. The paint is clean and there is no rust on the surface or under the car.

Over the 18-year production span of the 200 series, the basic body design on the car did not significantly change. While details like the grille, headlights, and hubcaps/rims changed over time, the overall profile of the car went through very few major changes. Despite the similarity of all 200 series cars, the 1991 240 owes a lot of its features to the 1986 240. In 1986, the 240 took on all the major features that would be carried through until the end of the 240 production line.

The late 240 seems renowned for its large and rectangular headlights. Originally Volvo used a single round headlamp cover on its original line of 240�s. From there they added a round headlamp when the came out with their DL and GL line in the early 80�s. In �81 and until the later-80�s, Volvo changed to 2 smaller rectangular headlights and continued this trend until 1986 when the Volvo 240 acquired its new look; the look that would last it through the rest of its production.

In 1986, Volvo added European style, semi-sealed beam headlamps to their 240 cars to keep their appearance contemporary. Not only do these lights provide excellent illumination, but they also contribute to better aerodynamics thanks to their front surface which leads the air smoothly up over the hood and out across the wraparound marker lamps. The grille, hood and front fenders are all lower, giving a slightly more wedge-shaped appearance and enhancing the car's ability to slice through the air. A spoiler beneath the bumper completes the aerodynamic package at the front. Despite the change of face, 240 sales remained very high. It is of interest to note that in 1986, Volvo announced investment in a new factory facility in Utevalle, Sweden, a factory built specifically to turn out new 240�s.

The front passenger�s side corner and the passenger�s side are all but flawless. There are no dents and no scratches that are visible unless you go over the surface with a magnifying glass. The car has a wide black rubber molding, which runs along the lower edge of the car, that protects the paint from flying stones and contributes to the softer leaner look. The roof area has a black and chrome drip molding for lower wind noise. Both these features were added in 1986 when the 240 took on its newer look.

The lining running the length of the car is a black plastic with a chrome strip. On some cars the trim was black. I have seen both and for a black car I wanted the chrome for some extra highlight and a more visible trim. The chrome trim is still in good condition and has not worn away and is still shiny.

The 1991 240 kept the 6 spot taillight associated with most 200 series sedans. The 240 wagon has a 4 spot vertical taillight but has the same features as the 240 sedan. There is a rear fog light on the drivers� side. Next to it is the back-up light and the rear turn signal. On the bottom are two taillights with the outer one being the brake light. Volvo used the center bottom space as a reflector.

All Volvo 240�s have mud flaps included. For a while during the 80�s the flaps were softer and had Volvo written on them. All late model 240�s are a hard plastic as is seen here. The flaps were a wise addition to the car�s design as they protect the undercarriage from road debris and salt during the winter. It�s easier to replace a mud flap than the chassis of the car.

The 240 series saw many changes in its hubcaps and rims. In 1989 Volvo pioneered the current design. The only difference is that the center has a clear Volvo emblem. As of 1990, the hubcap took on the form seen in the picture. All late model 240�s come standard with 14-inch wheels with the corresponding hubcaps. Alloy wheels were offered, but I like the look of the standard hubcaps.

And here is my brick's engine. Nothing impressive if you're looking for power, but this fuel injected SOHC 2.3 liter B230F engine is durable. It has about 114 hp so while I won't win any races with it, it has enough power to make the car run comfortably. Over the years, Volvo kept increasing the size of it's 240 engines, this one being the largest. The B230F became the powerplant for the 240 in 1986 and basically remained unchanged until '93 when the 240 was discontinued.

One of the other aspects of the car that did not significantly change over the 240�s production run was the suspension. Pictured here is the front passenger side wheel. The 240 came with power-assisted rack and pinion steering. Almost every model year incorporated MacPherson struts with coil springs and a stabilizer bar on the front and a live rear axel with coil springs and a stabilizer bar on the back. In 1992, Volvo offered a limited slip differential as an option on the 240 series but stuck with the live rear axel as a standard feature. My car also has 4 wheel power-assisted disk brakes. ABS was an option in �91, but my car did not come with this feature.