Rose ... The 164

[Triple-S]

John

Know what you mean - when I am over at my store in my light blue December 72 164E (ie 1973 model with straight bumper) I'll park it next to my K-reg (1972 model) 164 with dropped bumper, and take photo for comparison
However
did you know Volvo did an interim model? It seems they didn't decide to change from deep metal grill and front panel plus dropped bumper overnight to the plastic grill/small aperture/straight bumper
Because
two years ago I sold a K-reg '72 model with the straight bumper yet deep front panel and plastic grill BUT with a factory-fitted horizontal shelf across the lower bit of the aperture. It didn't block off the air supply, just finished off the bottom of the grill a bit.
Obviously their accountants wanted all stock used up before a complete switch, so this was their way to do it!

I'll look for a photo of that area - I think I have one. Will also check dimensions as far as I can.

Paul

[ClassicVolvoShop]

Well,.. here's the bumper details:

140 series:
140 -1972: front 676009
140 -1972: rear 676241

140 1973: front 688411 (1254811) excl. USA/Can.
140 1973: rear 685812 excl. USA/Can.

140 1973: front 1254392 USA/Can.
140 1973: rear 1213102 USA/Can.

140 1974: front 1254812 (1213067) excl. USA/Can.
140 1974: rear 1213538 excl. USA/Can.

140 1974: front 1254569 (1213196) USA/Can.
140 1974: rear 1213198 USA/Can.

164 series:
164 -1972: front 679022
164 -1972: rear 676241

164 1973: front 1211278 excl. USA/Can.
164 1973: rear 685812 excl. USA/Can.

164 1973: front 1213108 USA/Can.
164 1973: rear 1213102 USA/Can.

164 1974: front 1213537 excl. USA/Can.
164 1974: rear 1213538 excl. USA/Can.

164 1974-75: front 1213197 USA/Can.
164 1974: rear 1213198 USA/Can.
164 1975: rear 1201685 USA/Can.

So what differs?
Well, first of all there are differences on the US and Europe market on how the rubber molds on the bumpers looked like.. (thereof the holes drilled)..
- then there was a higher legal demand on strenght on the bumpers in US market - therefore the US bumpers where of thicker alloy.
- then don't forget that even if the 140 and 164 shared the basic bumper - the holes drilled for the 164 indicators would be enough to have seperate part numbers.
On the SA market the 1973 front (at least) bumper where of chromed steel and had those accessorie rear bumper-horns (overriders) mounted on top of the front bumper - on all other markets, bumpers where anoized alloy.. (this SA thing doesn't show in part numbers though...).

[ClassicVolvoShop]

Originally Posted by Volvo Paul

John
Obviously their accountants wanted all stock used up before a complete switch, so this was their way to do it!

Nope, things like that never happened.. More likely a repair/switch done sometime before you got it.

[john h]

Originally Posted by Volvo Paul

John

Know what you mean - when I am over at my store in my light blue December 72 164E (ie 1973 model with straight bumper) I'll park it next to my K-reg (1972 model) 164 with dropped bumper, and take photo for comparison

Hi Paul, I think you will find that the European '72 has the bumper at the same height as the '73 (with the exception of the dip in the middle of course). I think it's just the SA bumper that mounts lower.

Originally Posted by Volvo Paul

John
did you know Volvo did an interim model? It seems they didn't decide to change from deep metal grill and front panel plus dropped bumper overnight to the plastic grill/small aperture/straight bumper
Because
two years ago I sold a K-reg '72 model with the straight bumper yet deep front panel and plastic grill BUT with a factory-fitted horizontal shelf across the lower bit of the aperture. It didn't block off the air supply, just finished off the bottom of the grill a bit.
Obviously their accountants wanted all stock used up before a complete switch, so this was their way to do it!

Paul

It's not an interim solution; I'm pretty sure that Volvo fitted the bodged front panel to all later 164s. My current '73 has the false bottom welded in (below) as did the late '74 car I had ages ago.



Cheers

John