240 General: Today I saw a literal rust bucket

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by classicswede

Other than the bonnet are there any other rust issues?

Yes. I couldn't photograph very well because the car was low to the ground and there wasn't much space around, but this is what I did manage to shoot.

[classicswede]

That is a super clean car! Amazing how the car is so good but the bonnet is totally rusted away

[Bob 1967]

I've seen lots for sale (hoods) on this site for around 50 euro.
Motorhaube is the German for bonnet/hood btw.

https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-volvo-240-motorhaub/k0
Being on mainland Europe it should be easy enough to source one cheaply, even in the correct colour.

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by classicswede

That is a super clean car! Amazing how the car is so good but the bonnet is totally rusted away

The fenders and the trunk are also rusted. Not to the same degree. But still.

[SalvadorP]

You guys are making me reconsider buying this car. The 60k km is something very hard to pass on, but the rust scares me.

[SalvadorP]

So. I went back to the car and this time I got to talk to the owner of the business where it is parked. He said the car has been parked well over 10 years, contradicting what the owner had told me (5 years). Also some story about the owner not paying the mechanic who worked on the car and keys being confiscated and whatever.

I managed to get into the car and pop the hood. No need to describe. Here are the pics:

The good:


The bad:


And the Ugly:


I have to reluctantly walk away. The 64k kms, the mint interior (besides the cracked dash) and the surprising lack of structural rust make me really want to buy this car.

But the fact that it has been parked for god knows how long and that almost all panels have some deep rust spots makes me not want to get into it.
I know I wouldn't lose money if I bought it for 1k. But I don't want to have to part a car just to recoup the money and make a few bucks.
But I know if something is wrong with the engine, it's enough to throw off my budget to build the car, since most of the money would have to go towards bodywork. I figure I would have to put at elast 2k in it to make it drivable, that is if the engine bay had no hidden surprises.

Damn, why didn't I find this car a few years ago... Just besides my house... What a bummer.

[Bob 1967]

Sometimes it's best to walk away, this is one of those times.

[morwenna240]

's not worth a k. £250 max. Wouldn't the garage owner pay you to take it away?

[classicswede]

Originally Posted by morwenna240

's not worth a k. £250 max. Wouldn't the garage owner pay you to take it away?

A car like that will sell for £1000 as a parts car and it is way better than that. It does need some small tricky repairs and would be a big project