1973 144DL Auto 15k miles only

[Burdekin]

This one might have been one I was considering on eBay before I bought my 142. Looked in great condition but if the same one it was a orange/red, 4 door with big bumpers, automatic, base model so wasn’t what I was looking for.

[keith240]

Looks a good one. I wonder where it's been stored.

[ITSv40]

Wow, wow, wow, what a beauty. Apart from a little rust on the corner of the boot lid, a couple of scummy looking wheels and a bit of corrosion on the front bumper, that could have rolled of the production line yesterday. Beautiful colour scheme and as I hoped the best looking iteration of the 140 series.

[keith240]

Sold at auction for £8250 to the Bangers & Cash restoration team . Needs slight paint done to the top surfaces and then back to auction and a forthcoming star appearance on the tele.

My first encounter with Volvo was just like this one in 1973 when a family friend purchased a new one having discounted a Rover P6 for not having a big enough boot for all the garden bags of compost etc. It was a light green colour and within a couple of years was back having the boot repainted as it had faded. Seems the top surfaces may have been a bit poor that year and it only lasted about eleven years before the rot took it out. Still I've now had fifty years with the marque so it was a good start.

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by keith240

Sold at auction for £8250 to the Bangers & Cash restoration team . Needs slight paint done to the top surfaces and then back to auction and a forthcoming star appearance on the tele.

My first encounter with Volvo was just like this one in 1973 when a family friend purchased a new one having discounted a Rover P6 for not having a big enough boot for all the garden bags of compost etc. It was a light green colour and within a couple of years was back having the boot repainted as it had faded. Seems the top surfaces may have been a bit poor that year and it only lasted about eleven years before the rot took it out. Still I've now had fifty years with the marque so it was a good start.

Good result for the 144. Not much restoration needed, a change of oil and fresh air in the tyres and it should be good to go

The 145 must have been something special. I had my first Volvo in 1973, a 1969 145S, loved it so much, I have been a continuous Volvo owner since.

[keith240]

If anyone is interested it's back at auction after the restoration team have done their magic.

https://www.mathewsons.co.uk/auction...pp=48&pn=4&g=1

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by keith240

If anyone is interested it's back at auction after the restoration team have done their magic.

https://www.mathewsons.co.uk/auction...pp=48&pn=4&g=1

I'm puzzled by the reference to replacing the cambelt. As far as I am aware, no 1 series car was a belt driven overhead cam. They came in on the first 2 series cars, 1 series were gear driven OHV units.

The gear was something of an 'Achilles' Heel', the fibre outer having a tendency to separate from the steel hub. I recall replacing one with an all-steel gear in period.

Perhaps they mean the fan belt?

Regards, John.

[Steve 940]

Originally Posted by keith240

If anyone is interested it's back at auction after the restoration team have done their magic.

https://www.mathewsons.co.uk/auction...pp=48&pn=4&g=1

Many thanks for flagging this one, rather surprised that guide for the post restoration is £6k - £7k, whereas the original sale March’24 auction was guided £7.5k - £8.5k achieving actual sale at £8250 to the B&C team???

Got to be worth more now, hasn’t it???

Cheers
Steve

PS - is the choke supposed to pull out that far??

[john.wigley]

No it isn't, Steve! It didn't look as if it was connected at the carb end to me. I think he could have pulled it all the way out!! IIRC, full choke (which you should need only very briefly, if at all) was about 2" (5cm) - do younger drivers today even know what it was for, I wonder?!

Regards, John.

[Steve 940]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

No it isn't, Steve! It didn't look as if it was connected at the carb end to me. I think he could have pulled it all the way out!! IIRC, full choke (which you should need only very briefly, if at all) was about 2" (5cm) - do younger drivers today even know what it was for, I wonder?!

Regards, John.

Just watched the video on the listing, and the choke issue is pointed out, so my apologies.

After watching this, I must admit I am pleasantly surprised that the walkthrough is being done by Paul Mathewson if I’m not mistaken, and he does point out the various visual faults on paint etc. even though it’s a motor being punted through by a TV company that must have made their family fortune

I’m a bit split on this, if you’re going to part paint it, why not do the petrol cap as well??

Cheers
Steve