1993 Volvo 240 Classic: End of the Road
Note: Here’s another old, old OLD post of mine. At the time, circa August of 2012, you’d still see an occasional 240 on the road-usually pretty rough but still ticking. Not so much anymore. But I still love ‘em!
Between 1966 and 1993, Volvo’s bread-and-butter car was a box. But what a box! The 1966-74 140 Series and updated 1975-93 240 Series are modern legends and a classic cult car these days. Available in two-door sedan (through 1985, at least in the US market), four-door sedan, and station wagon variants, they found favor with buyers wanting “a car to believe in” as Volvo’s tag line stated in the ’80s. But all good things must come to an end (for some reason), and the new front wheel drive 850 was in line to replace the venerable 240. But not before one last fling.
Volvo knew that the 240 was much-loved, and to celebrate the car’s life from 1975-93, a final-edition Classic model was introduced. Available only in April and March of 1993, the Classic was very well equipped, and added niceties such as lacy-spoke BBS-style alloy wheels, wood trim on the instrument panel, color-keyed side-view mirrors and grille, and a color palette limited to Ruby Red or Dark Teal Green.
The special model came in your choice of sedan or wagon and only 1600 were available–the last 1600 Volvo 240s imported to North America. It truly was the end of an era. I was thirteen when this announcement was made, and it was kind of depressing.
My first car memories were of Dad’s brown 1979 Pontiac Bonneville and Mom’s blue 1977 245DL. Hell, I came home from the hospital in the 245! We also had a maroon 1981 DL two-door sedan, silver 1984 GL sedan (with crank-open sunroof!) and cream yellow 1986 240DL wagon. They were familiar, they were a part of the family. And now they were going away–for good. Although by then, my folks were driving a ‘91 940SE Turbo and a ‘92 Grand Caravan ES AWD.
When the 240 Classic was announced, my dad had recently gotten a Nautic Blue 850GLT sedan with Taupe interior and five-speed manual, but a friend’s dad got a Ruby Red 240 Classic sedan at around the same time. I would see that 240 from time to time in town, and it was easily spotted due to the special wheels and trim. Not to mention it was one of only 800, as the 1600 Classics produced were divided 50/50 between sedans and wagons. Sadly, Mr. Mueller was in an accident a few years later that totalled the car. But he walked away without a scratch!
The 2.3L, SOHC “Redblock” engine appeared, as always, under the hood of the final 240s. The final version included Bosch LH-lambda electronic fuel injection, producing 114 hp at 5400 rpm and 136 lb-ft of torque at 2700 rpm.
Wagons were as capacious as always, too, with 41.7 cu. ft. of space with the rear seat up and 76.0 with the seat folded. Four wheel discs with ABS were standard as well.
I saw this car in my Uncle Dave and Aunt Lori’s neighborhood in late summer of 2012. We were on our way to the car show, but I saw that grille and ordered Dave to stop, then frantically ran over, taking pictures. One of 800 wagons, with near-20 years of attrition at the time, meant this was a real find, especially to a Volvo lover like your author. Today I wonder if it’s still putzing around Iowa City? Hope so!
It's almost counterintuitive that even though automotive technology is more mature than 30 - 50 years ago, platforms today seem to have ever-shorter lifespans.
I am on the lookout for one of these wagons. Prob not this special edition, as I prefer the single round headlight variety, which means 1974-77. And of course, the 1993 models might not cause as much trouble as the '70s ones; thus, the '70s models must be better.
If at all possible, I would like a copy of the yellow wagon from Beetlejuice that drove off the covered bridge to avoid hitting the dog. A guy can be as specific as he wants about his dream car.
About the only more perfect Vermont death to die would have been if they had had to avoid hitting a cow and then drove their Volvo off a covered bridge. Pure poetry, that.