Is the 240 now a classic

[Mike_Brace]

When I bought my first 1975 240 (after several 140s) back in 1989 I already regarded it to be a classic. However, the general opinion remained of them just as on old banger - possibly much like the 7/940s are regarded now by many. I have seen in recent years though that there seems a true appreciation of the car for what it is and regard it as a classic and a very practical one at that. Well it is nice to knoiw I have been in on the secret for over 20 years.

Mike

[RAW]

i think your right about the 240s being classics now, and deservedly so. i can only hope that the 740s will go the same way in the future, and loose the stimulus of being an alternative to a van. (even if that is how mom treats ours!) i look forward to the day when people will understand why we're proud to keep the old things on the road, rather than being confused as to why we spend so much money on them!

[240]

surely the 240 was an instant classic when relaesed!!

[Clifford Pope]

I've always thought it was a design classic, quite apart from its other practical qualities.
I love the curved shouldered sides, and the slight upward sweep of the line from the bonnet down the sides. One of the very few elegant estate cars ever built, and incredibly, achieved using the same body shape right back to the rear doors. The shoulder ledge starts horizontally with the bonnet, turns upwards along the sides, then in the saloon turns back down horizontal again, but in the estate continues to turn until it is nearly vertical at the rear pillars by the tail gate. Brilliant.

Notice the way the curve and the shoulders have been re-used by modern Volvos - that in itself is a tribute to the original design.

[honestjoe]

I agree with clifford on the sheer individuality of the 240 shape..some have said that it was even over engineered and i reckon that this is paying dividends now and why so many are still in loving homes and dodging the banger racers and the scrappy..hj.

[Paul240480]

They have made it to the into Practical Classics 'price guide' pages, so they must be classics

[Mike1967]

Over engineered yes I think that also .... much like the W124 Merc . Both seem never to die .. and have a loyal group following .

[GMad]

Are they heck!
I still see to many of em around.
An inexpensive old runaround is the most polite description for a 240 that I can think of!

[redboy]

I think the 240 is a classic- it has followed the 'morris minor' vw beetle path in that in its later years, it was bought by people who wanted a car 'made like they used to', and demand escalated just before it was discontinued.

I'd probably compare it to the w123 merc rather than the 124- the 124 was a MUCH more refined yet bland looking car. The 123 was much more old fashioned and a bit noisier and rougher, just like the 240. (Its most durable model was also called the 240)

In redneck america, the debate still rings on over whether Ford or Chevy pickups are best. However, in univeristy towns, nuclear laboratories and other places where european cars are the norm, the battle of the '240's' echos throughout brewpubs.

Is the 240 a classic? Almost. Its main problem is that its just so reliable- you still see too many raggedy ones around, so in the imagination of most, if you say 'volvo 240' they think ladders on the roof, smelly dogs and paint on the seats and rust holes everywhere.

Ths is slowly changing, as the better cars are kept and the worse ones are broken up and then crushed for high scrap prices.

The 240 is already a classic EVERYWHERE but the UK and Australia. In Europe, they go
for 5000+ euros, and there are many american 'specialists' who restore 240's just as we do Amazons in this country.

In my mind, a volvo 240 is the most usable classic car- reliable enough to use everyday, safe so you won't be impaled on a stylish piece of chrome, large enough to haul goodies from the autojumble, and with LPG not completely uneconomical.

And its best classic atribute are those giant battering rams on the front and back- if you've ever driven a more fragile classic, the fear of it being damaged prevents its enjoyment. With the Volvo, I know that it will survive almost anything, so it makes me want to use it more. If I stop short and get rear ended, the worst would probably be a damaged rubber strip. With most other classics, it'd get written off- and while insurance may give you back what you paid, you'll never get those hours spent back.

[redboy]

...and what really makes it a classic is the number of people who have childhood or adolescent memories involving a volvo 240. It is a car (often not for the right reasons) which has earned a place in the nation's subconsciousness. I think about that every time I narrowly miss a motorbike when overtaking