How much is it worth?

Often a question people probably ask but I haven't the fogiest when it comes to old motors.

I have acquired a 1979 Silver Automatic 245 GLE in fair condition, all original, has been garaged for years. MOT and Tax run out at the end of the month but I have been running it over the past months and it is fine. Has recently had new water pump, sump plug and some general work.

Think it is under 50,000 miles but to be fair it is a cold night and i don't want to go outside to find out

I am in Kingston Surrey if this raises any eyebrows.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

James

[dave r]

50k miles? blimey it's not even run-in yet!
Seriously I would't have thought that a 27 year old car had much retail value. It's more of what value the car is to you in terms of reliability etc. It does'nt owe you anything, so keep the old girl on the road.
Dave

[Mudhook]

50,000 miles in 27 years is so odd as to be unbelievable. For each of its many owners to have clocked up less than 2000 miles a year is a bit too far-fetched for me. Do all the mileometer digits line up exactly? On a Volvo they really should do. As those things will go to the moon and back, a bit of clocking wouldn't be surprising.

The good news is that even at 150,000 it's still got a lot of life in it. But even with long test won't be worth more than a very few hundred pounds.

Run it till it drops!

[foggyjames]

You'd be surprised...there are exceptionally low mileage cars out there. 50k isn't that low anyway. Chesh encountered a 480 a few years ago with a totally genuine ~2500 miles on the clock. He had one at the time, saw this little old lady at a petrol station with one, and went over for a natter! It's fairly common with little-old-lady mobiles (ie: 340s), but you do see the occasional 240 like this too. There was a 1991 240 on Australian eBay last week with 5k on the clock!

Is it an estate or a saloon? Saloons of that age are generally, sadly, almost worthless. Hang on to it a bit longer if you can, as I suspect that 240 prices will begin to rise in the next few years as they reach classic status. We've already seen this with the 300 series...typical prices for desirable cars have nearly doubled in the last couple of years.

cheers

James

[LankyTim]

I had a 264. It was fantastic! Im going to have another one day.

It was the older type, with the little rear lights. It was in good condition, but I was given it free though this website. Drove it for a year then gave it away to another VOC member!

50k is not that unusual. Volvos can do monster miles, but as they are often kept a long time by their owners (sometimes for life) if that owner is elderly, and only uses the car once a year to go an vote then you end up with a really low mile car.

Arn't old people brilliant!

I checked and the mileage is 58,900. I am sure my Grand father bought it about 8 years old and has had it for years, did one trip to margate, about 20 trips to teddington from croydon and the rest were short weekly trips to the supermarket, so not sure really maybe it is true. I definately know it wasn't driven for 2 years accept by me about 3 times a year round the bloke to keep it ticking over.

anyway I drove it tonight and it started up straight away, didn't stall and after a few mins was idling OK, obviously a bit old so chugged a tad but not bad.

Thanks for your help, looks like it is worth a few hundred tops.

James

and to answer one question it is an estate

[Mike_Brace]

The value of any 240 like this is to the owner. It seems you have a nice car with history. I hope you intend keeping it. If so you'll find a lot of help on the 200 forum.

Mike

[foggyjames]

The chugging is probably not age related. It could be a number of things, but carb idle mixture adjustment is a good place to start...assuming a GLE of that vintage is a carb engine (pass!)

cheers

James