Volvo 480 Club Europe

Some of you will recall that back in 2020 I bought a 440 that was in need of some considerable tlc (see here: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=36262).

With a lot of work and help from some on here, Wilhelmina as I called her turned into quite a good car. However, there was always going to be a limit as to how far a 26 year old car with some 145,000 miles on the clock and a serious case of tin-worm was going to get, without spending some serious money in the body-shop that for me was simply not worth it.

Well, following a classic instance of "being in the right place at the right time", there is now a replacement 440 sitting here. At first glance you wouldn't notice, as she's the same colour and same interior. However this one - Philomena as she's been called - is a completely different ball-game. One of the last 440s (registered in February 1997) she has only ever lived in London, where she has clocked up just 38,000 miles. Auto gearbox with the 2.0i engine. And a full Volvo main dealer service history, done yearly regardless of the limited mileage covered.

I have swapped over the best bits from Wilhelmina (who survives locally with a loving new owner, I should add!) including her bumpers, rear spoiler, fog-lights, NOS headlights, electric windows and mirrors, mudflaps and the Cetus wheels that I far prefer to the original spec Canis. And here are a couple of photos of the result:

Unlike Wilhelmina, Philomena has perfect rear arches

A couple more gratuitous shots, of the interior:



and the engine bay:



All in all, an excellent daily driver. I have done a first change of the ATF, with another lined up for the near future. I need to service her - wondering whether to do the normal and do it all myself, or maintain that Volvo service history...is she ever going to be worth a fortune as a classic car, I ask myself? That's the determining factor, I feel .

So last week she had probably the shock of her life - we put her through her paces (over about 600 miles) on a trip to Shropshire. Really pleased with how she performed - and I'm convinced she's appreciating the chance to stretch her legs at last!

And in case anyone is wondering why such a good car was let go by a devoted owner, she is another victim of the ever increasing ULEZ in London, which has effectively stopped her carrying out the role she has done for the last 25 years.

David

that looks a really good buy D C.

Another excellent car ! I would keep the Volvo service history going. If the car over last few years had been serviced by a local mechanic then I wouldn't bother but that 440 is so smart its worth it. As having a Volvo service history is part of the cars character and story. Look forward to seeing it at a car show or on a YouTube channel someday.

An amazing 440 DC!

Allow me to do the "How Many Left" thing...

Model recorded with the DVLA as "Volvo 440 LE Auto"



Hit a peak with 185 registered.

2021 Q3 DVLA data shows just 2 taxed, 3 SORN.

That is a very rare car!

Thanks Norman, Richard & Jay-Kay-Em

I'm really pleased with her. I suspected she would be a rarity but I hadn't got around to checking just how rare!

The LE was one of the limited run "special series" models produced at the end of the 440/460 life, the GS and the ES being the other two. Wilhelmina was an ES, which was effectively the GLT replacement but without things like the info centre.

The LE was the most basic of the three, but Philomena has upgraded very nicely courtesy of Wilhelmina, effectively gaining all the optional extras that could have been specified to Volvo when new by her original purchaser (but which would have been pointless as doubtless it would have made for a more expensive car than just buying a higher spec model in the first place...).

I hope to get more "on subject" and have my green 480GT back on the road during April, but I might bring the 440 to the next meet just to introduce a bit of variety and let others look over the 480's nearest cousin!

I have also decided I will have Philomena serviced by Volvo - I'll do all the extra bits, but they can do a basic service, just to keep that history intact

David

dcwalker wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 06, 2022 4:54 pm

I hope to get more "on subject" and have my green 480GT back on the road during April, but I might bring the 440 to the next meet just to introduce a bit of variety and let others look over the 480's nearest cousin!

I have also decided I will have Philomena serviced by Volvo - I'll do all the extra bits, but they can do a basic service, just to keep that history intact

David

/Pedantic mode on

Surely 460 is closer to 480 than 440 is?

/Pedantic mode off

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 07, 2022 12:18 pm

dcwalker wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 06, 2022 4:54 pm

I hope to get more "on subject" and have my green 480GT back on the road during April, but I might bring the 440 to the next meet just to introduce a bit of variety and let others look over the 480's nearest cousin!

I have also decided I will have Philomena serviced by Volvo - I'll do all the extra bits, but they can do a basic service, just to keep that history intact

David

/Pedantic mode on

Surely 460 is closer to 480 than 440 is?

/Pedantic mode off

Someone needs to get out more...