What's on my fleet of 400s...
 

I know the 400 section is commonly quite quiet, and I'm not usually one to post screeds and screeds, despite having a desire to do so. However, it got me thinking, and I am also procrastinating from doing my uni work (at half twelve), but anyhoo. I'll start with what I currently have, what condition they are currently in, and what the future holds...

1994 Volvo 440 GLT 2.0i - bought from this forum in 2015, a lovely little car in burgundy red with the black half leather. Sadly failed its MoT in 2015, however still on my grandfather's driveway. It is hoped it'll see the road again.

1994 Volvo 440 L 1.6i - bought from a friend after I'd sourced it for him a few months prior, and known to this forum. Used by my brother as his family transport whilst his Vauxhall Meriva was off the road. Dark blue with grey cloth, probably the most basic 440 I've ever seen - not even a sunroof nor heated seats. Snapped timing belt last year, it is currently in a garage for a new belt (presumed no engine damage) and a fresh Mot. Despite being registered and owned by myself, I've never driven this one...

1994 Volvo 460 CD 2.0i Auto - bought back in 2016, and literally saved from the scrap yard (it was on the truck going to the crusher when I stepped in), gold with black half leather. Sadly needs an auto box, which I am on the lookout for. In my lock up garage, hibernating

1996 Volvo 440 TD - bought from this forum in early 2020, again saved from the scrap yard. Never been on the road in my ownership, the last test having expired in 2013. I hope to dig this out and see how it would fare in an Mot this summer. Hibernating in my other lock up, I cannot imagine there will be many/any 440 TDs left...

1996 Volvo 460 CD 2.0i - Black with FULL leather. Parked outside my lockup garage, hopefully I'll get round to this one too, in time...


So, I hope that's all ok to post, a rough steer on the little Volvos I have.

It's reassuring to know there is a little collection of 440s and 460s holding out on Bute. They are becoming very rare cars these days.

That's a real shame because it reflects the fact there is little love for them, yet they're great little cars! I must confess to being very attached to my 440ES, which remains not only an ongoing restoration project but also a car that gets used regularly.

Keep up the good work Joseph!

David

460cd
 

Don’t suppose you have an ignition switch with the relevant wiring for my 460 cd? All that’s stopping me getting it motd due to the abs & airbag light staying iOn due to it being very worn , cheers.

I don't unfortunately, but I found this breaker on eBay, if you send him a message he may be able to help:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254748960...3ABFBMpun0itZf

There is a glaring omission in your collection - a 480 !? Ever thought about one?

Aha yes I have in fact! I was actually offered a free one a few years ago, but I missed out on it. I don't know if I will ever own one now sadly, prices for good and excellent ones are rather out of sight now I'm afraid! I always wanted a 480 Celebration, or a GT with the hand-painted leather. Or a Turbo....

My first Volvo was a 440 Turbo back in the early 90's when I got sick of my Astra GTE/Cavalier CDi being broken into, I wanted something a bit different.

A good friend had a used car garage and it came in at 3 years old as a p/x with just 31k miles on it. I said I don't want that it's a grandad car. He said go for a drive. 20 mins later I owned it. A fantastic car and a really good turbo installation at a time when they were very laggy and mostly crap. A not so well known fact was they could out sprint a Escort RS Turbo - on paper the 440 was 0.1 second quicker to 60 but in reality the Volvo figure was conservative and the Ford numbers were aspirational.

I'd love another 440 or 480 Turbo but I don't really have time to look after it - and I think I'd prefer a C70 T5 Coupe if I could only have one...

I'm genuinely surprised that the 480 hasn't become more 'valuable'. It still looks good and It's not complicated or expensive to run once the known weak spots are sorted. The best of the best will always go up in value, but the normal, sound ones havent.

I bought a 2.0 ES for peanuts and fixed the rear arches, rear bumper bar, rear clusters, front clusters and info Centre with new parts. Kept it for 5 years and sold it 5 years ago at an almost breakeven price. All the classic car mags predicted good things, but I guess there is no group of aspirational buyers, whereas an XR2 is lots of people's nostalgia trip.

I guess I'll see what happens with my classic Impreza Turbo that I bought with the 480 money ?

400s
 

Nice to hear about your 400s - but focus on one of them!

I plan to run two of mine this summer: an F plate 440GLT from April time and maybe my G plate 460 Turbo later in the year.

I have a 2.0 480ES but that is a mini project - just have some electrical repairs and some paintwork to sort

Hi
We are in Worcestershire with our 440 fleet (4)