Got myself an 850 GLT

[Bob Meadows]

I think that I also purchased the same caps for my '97 V70:~
Fine for the price but as also found the fit is just ok, but to date none have flown away.

The back spring fixing points don't fully snap into place on the wheel as they tend to hit the main wheel bolting flange: If that makes sense?
Only pushed out a little and hardly noticeable- otherwise fine.
Regards Bob.

[4x4]

Won 2nd place in the forum Show and shine competition

[Baffler]

If anyone is worthy of such a prize it's you, 4x4! Well deserved!

[4x4]

Waiting on the courier delivering my new P80 plates so removed the old ones whilst waiting

[4x4]

Plates arrived, larger rear plate to better fill the space and with a nice footnote...

[4x4]

The double sided tape for the number plates needs temperatures above 10°C to adhere and today it's tropical at almost 16°C so I decided to stick the plates on before the temperatures plummet again

[Dibble]

Originally Posted by 4x4

Won 2nd place in the forum Show and shine competition

Well done. I got to the Top 10 with my Amazon. A big surprise!

[4x4]

Thanks Bob, your Amazon deserves better that top ten, it's lovely

[4x4]

Just back from visiting the grandchildren in London and a parcel was waiting for me on the doorstep

[4x4]

More often than not the evidence is there right in front of our eyes and all it takes it a little patience to search thoroughly for what we are looking for.

My Volvo 850 was first registered through the British Forces Germany registration system.

BFG personnel had distinctive plates which were white script on a black background. This was changed in the 1980s after the IRA killed numerous servicemen and their families in these “easy target” cars. These killings occurred in Germany, Holland and in Belgium when the cars were being driven to Calais or Zeebrugge for travel home to UK.

The BAOR/BFG authorities then decided to issue UK-style plates to BFG personnel to make them blend in with tourists cars. They were also issued with “fake” UK tax discs, with the issuing clerks in Germany having hundreds of Post Office stamps to choose at random! Incidentally, despite being warned not to, several soldiers tried to cash-in the fake tax discs when they returned to UK at Post Offices and several Courts Martials took place as a result.

When BFG cars enter the UK permanently they must be re-registered into the UK system where they are given a UK number. The BFG number is disposed and deleted from the system therefore lost forever so that finding the original number is an almost impossible task as there is no database held with the DVLA for ex BFG numbers.

I was speaking to David (the original 850 owner’s son) about this and he couldn’t recall what the original number was so my search began in earnest to try and find it.

As I don’t speak or read any German I relied on Google Translate to assist me in finding the only piece of evidence I have with the original registration number. An invoice for the first service the car received when it was 9 months old in Germany has Amtl. Kennz. (Official Code) P132 BVA which was the number the 850 was registered with in Germany.

David is visiting his mum over the Christmas period and he will have a look thorough photos to try and find a picture of the 850 whilst it was in Germany. Watch this space...