Great-Grandpa's Last Car:

Volvo's 240 series ranks among the safest and most durable cars ever made.

Driving a Swedish brick is also somewhat of a fashion statement. While designers always chase the newest trends, sleeker and sleeker bodies that often require back-up cameras because the driver can't see anything out back through the rear window anymore, the Volvo is a glasshouse with superb visibility all around, another safety feature.

This 33-year-old has been a local Ojai 1-family car from new. The original lady owner bought it new in early 1990 and enjoyed it for 18 years until she got too old to drive any longer.

In 2008 her brother-in-law took over the car and drove it for another 13 years. In 2021 he got sick and eventually ended up in an assisted living facility, never returned to his beautiful Ojai ranch home. In April his trustee put said home on the market, and the Volvo parked in the garage all this time had to go as well. I've got a call from the realtor who happens to be a family friend, and the rest is history. The now 91 year-old owner, who asked me for a bottle of 21 year-old Scotch to sweeten the deal, hopes that his car finds a good home.

This Volvo comes with all factory books in the original blue plastic pouch.

A lot of service documents accompany this car. The last major service before we picked up the car was done on 10/16/2020 at 204,765 to the tune of $1,287.25 and included replacing the all-important timing belt. That was just 61 miles ago!
We installed a new battery and drove the Volvo for a day to make sure it performs flawlessly, which it does.

Motorvation comes from Volvo's bullet-proof B230 4-cylinder OHC engine, fed by a Bosch LH Jetronic fuel injection. It delivers a mellow 116 horses out of 2.316 liters, very understressed by today's standards.

The engine runs like the proverbial Swiss watch. There are no issues to report, no leaks of any kind, no untoward noises.

We just had the car smogged and it passed with flying colors.

Beautifully preserved factory finishes; service stickers.

Volvo's anti-fashon styling has proven to be timeless. I'd like to see it as a form of reverse snobism.

The body is straight as an arrow, without any dents, dings, or scratches. All gaps and shut lines are perfect and there's no indication that this car was ever involved in as much as a fender bender. Hubcaps and wheels are undamaged and all 4 tires were replaced 19,307 miles ago and still look fairly new.

Finish is an older repaint that has mellowed to a satin shine. We didn't make any attempt to polish it.

Interior is as practical as the exterior.

Gauges and idiot lights provide all the information needed. Yes, the clock works as well.

Original white headliner and carpeting are flawless; driver's seat just has the faintest sign of wear at the outer edge. I've seen 2 year old cars with more wear on the seat covers!

Rear bench seat with foldable "reach through" arm rest looks unused.

Volvo comes with automatic transmission with electric overdrive -- which works perfectly, of course -- power steering, power brakes, power windows, power door locks, and air conditioning. Being the DeLuxe (DL) "base model," it has no cruise control and no sunroof. Only non-stock is the Kenwood radio with CD player. The manual for it is still in the glovebox!

All of the lights work as well, of course.
Volvo comes with a clean California Certificate of Title, a new Smog Certificate, a clean Carfax report, all books and records, 2 sets of keys, and even a fitted weather-proof car cover.

Carpet-clad, cavernous trunk is flawless, with not a spec of surface corrosion anywhere in sight. Factory tool roll is complete.

Flawless factory finish inside the trunk, with original sticker and over-engineered hinges!

I would not hesitate to hand this car over to a family member or friend. It's rock solid, rust free, mechanically sound, and should provide many more years of trouble free motoring. Better yet, you can get full coverage collector car insurance for about $5 per month. What's not to love?