Volvo 200 series
The Volvo 200 series is a range of large automobiles produced by Volvo from 1974 to 1993. This might seem like a very long production run for a company that prides itself on innovation, but don't blame Volvo: they had the replacement model, the Volvo 740, ready in 1983. However, the market thought otherwise, and both the 200 and 700 series were strong sellers for many years.
Essentially a facelift of the earlier 140 series, the 200 was available as the 4-cylinder 240 series or the 6-cylinder 260 series. As with its predecessor it was available in both two- and four-door sedan and station wagon bodystyles. In the late 1970s, there was an unusual 262C model (separate from the two-door 242) which had a vinyl roof and more luxury.
Key differences from the previous car were the use of the overhead camshaft B21-typeengine which replaced the older overhead valve B20 engine, and disc brakes at the rear. In addition to this, the "Douvrin" V6 engine, developed in collaboration with Renault and Peugeot was used in the top of the range models. Other improvements included a new dashboard, and more modern front-end styling, although they did little to disguise the 1967 vintage of the original design.
The 200 series incorporated many improvements over its predecessor, the Volvo 140 and 164E, including:
- Better crash protection with a very large front and rear crumple zones
- McPherson front struts for more room in the engine bay
- Rack & pinion steering for more precise steering
From the firewall back, the 200 was almost identical to the last two model years of the 140, 1973 and 1974, which incorporated many improvements over the previous model years.
In true Volvo style, the 200-series offered high levels of comfort and safety protection features, even if the driving experience was soft and ponderous.
The first models to reach the US shores were 1975 models equipped with the old pushrod B20F engine, but most other markets, as well as the US's 1976 models, got the new overhead cam 1983, the range was simply known as the 240-Series from then onwards. The 240 would become, in the 1980s, a frequently stereotyped and clichéd automobile?popularly being the preserve of large middle-class families, antique dealers and those with a nervous disposition about driving?so much so that the arrival of the Volvo 700 series in 1982 did not see the 240 go out of production, and it enjoyed a stay of execution right up until the early 1990s, although the sedan was dropped in 1990.
240 Specifications
- Produced 1974?93
- Production volume: 1,483,399
- Body style: 4-door sedan, 2-door sedan, 5-door wagon, 2-door coupe
- Engine: 4-cylinder in-line OHV, 4-cylinder in-line OHC, 4-cylinder in-line OHC turbo, 4-cylinder in-line OHC intercooled turbo, V6 OHC.
- Transmission: 4-speed manual, 4-speed manual with electrical overdrive, 5-speed manual or 3 or 4 speed automatic
- Brakes: Hydraulic, disc brakes on all four wheels.
- Dimensions: Overall length 490 cm/198", wheelbase 264 cm/104".
Special models
- 262 Coupe by Bertone (1977-81): custom body work and interior from the Italian coachbuilder. The custom body work of these two-doors consisted of a chopped roof and a more raked windshield, for a look that some love and some hate.
- 242GT (1978-80): sporty model with tighter suspension and a hi-po motor, although only the former made it to the US market. All US models were silver with black and red racing stripes going from the hood to the side to the trunk. Special black corduroy interior with red stripes.
- 240 Turbo (1981-85): replaced the GT as the sporty model, equipped with a turbocharged engine, with an intercooler from mid-83. Available only as a 2-door in its first year, 4-door and wagon models were added later.
- 242 Homologated Turbo (1983).
- 240 Classic (1993).
