260 General: 265 GLE - Proud new owner

[Seb Spiers]

Hi There,

I've just taken ownership of a 1980 265 2.7 GLE (pictures attached).

It's only done 71k and its older than I am! It was my granddads car from new and it cost me nothing. I don't really want to sell it as it has sentimental value, I'm making a little project of maintaining it and adding a few bits and pieces. Nothing ridiculous but maybe a Garrett turbo and some nitrous (joking).

I've already replaced the flat battery with one from the local scrapyard for £15 (KwikFit wanted £100!!!) so now it starts without a jump. Its taxed and tested until May next year at which point ill have to decide if its worth spending £235 on another years tax and MOT. Its 100% mechanically sound from what I can tell and drives fine.

I'm going to fix the 3 small rust patches it has, one behind each of the rear mud flaps, and one on the boot lid.

I might shell out a small amount on some alloy wheels and new tires, but I've not got the foggiest what would fit on the car without any hassle.

So I guess what I'm looking for here is some advice on the wheels, and any other advice or ideas on the car in general.

Thanks

[alex tankard]

scrap it

[Jim760]

Originally Posted by alex tankard

scrap it

get off this forum.

nice 265, i like the styleing of them better than the 240 range. i'd maybe drop the v6 out of a late 760 in there for the relyability and that bit extra power

[Seb Spiers]

Originally Posted by Jim760

i'd maybe drop the v6 out of a late 760 in there for the relyability and that bit extra power

I think this may be a little past my current level of expertise Anything I can do at a more novice level?

[ovlov25]

Originally Posted by alex tankard

scrap it

Nice first post mate

Seb, i'll see if i can get the wheel and tyre specs for this ....



....just found it! 5x108 pattern, low offset (et25). Volvo 740 Alloys should fit but i'll sit on the fence until someone confirms

be careful, wheels could get expensive if you are not careful, nice old motor BTW, worth keeping in good order.

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

Look for a nice set of Virgo wheels or maybe step up with some Galaxy's..

Virgo:


Galaxy:


But don't get rid of the original wheels...

Des. . .

[Seb Spiers]

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

I'm loving the Virgos!
How much should a set of these set me back?

Cheers pal!

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

Originally Posted by Seb Spiers

I'm loving the Virgos!
How much should a set of these set me back?

Cheers pal!

Likely you'll get a set for £150 or a bit less.
Keep your eyes peeled on these forums as they do come up every now and then...
Ian sold a set recently, bit more than the above price if I remember.
Also keep eyes on ebay.
Check Salvo and Braydons as well.

Welcome, BTW, to the forums. Enjoy your new Volvo and your time here..

Des. . .

[Audrey Old]

Hi Seb and welcome to the forums

Lovely-looking car and the same age as my gold one, but you have the rare manual-gearbox one - lucky you. I used my first one (also metallic blue) as a tow-car, and it was brilliant, if a little thirsty. However, the rust got a serious hold so it went to be a source of spares for a 262.

My 50k mile gold one also has a small place needing a repair just behind a rear mudflap - you can see daylight through a bit of the spare wheel-well! Apart from that, almost mint and drives like a train. Otherwise its stock, the way it will be kept.

According to the DVLA freedom-of-information channels I researched last year (via these Forums) there are only a few 260/264/265 left - differing models have survival numbers varying from just three cars to about 30. Yours being manual, it might be the former category, so look after it !

Don't listen to people running it down - I had a stupid ignorant tart stop and criticize me when I was putting new rear shocks on my show-164, but such simpletons don't realise most of the energy a car consumes from birth to death comes from the manufacturing and scrapping process itself. By keeping the old cars going we are helping keep the planet from becoming a totally throw-away society AND keeping all the spares suppliers in business.

Paul

[brens-s80]

hi seb,

looks like a real beauty you've got there and fair do's to your granddad for keeping it so well. Virgo's would set this off nicely. Get yourself a Haynes Manual ( green version ) as it contains lots of useful info and not forgetting this forum as the help you will get here will make you want to keep it running and running.

best of luck

brendan