Great find!! Volvo 245 - 1978 -

[Nickchristmas]

Hello,

I am new to the forum, I have just purchased a 1978 Volvo 245 estate in white with red interior. It's a beaut!! It currently has no mot so that will be first on my agenda. It has been owned by the same gentleman for the past 30 odd years!!!! And has had only 1 previous owner!!!! He has given up driving so he doesn't need the car anymore.

It's the 2.1 litre petrol engine with around 80k on the clock, 4 speed manual, all original, full service history. It was not started for a year and a half and fired up straight away 1st time!!!

It's a lovely car and the only bit that lets it down is the rear wheel arch (where the spare wheel goes) it has has a replacement panel at some point and looks a bit rough on the outside and inside it has had a bit of welding done.

Couple of questions if you can help me

1. Can you buy a replacement rear panel (wheel arch back to bumper area, I will add a photo when I get a chance) from anywhere still?

2. Any things I should look out for/ do?
I plan to give her a oil change and possibly replace the cam belt

3. on these engines is it the normal 60k change time for the cam belt?

4. Can you recommend a good place to find parts?(or is eBay the best bet)

5. Do I have to buy a specific tow bar for the year or are they fairly generic on the 200 series?

Would very much appreciate any knowledge you can share

Will upload photo's next weekend when I pick her up

Many thanks nick

[VOLVO GHILLIE]

Which model, or is it just 245, of which there are only 13 licensed in the UK.

[stevo48]

sounds like you have found a nice car, check out steve and his 244 thread, http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...highlight=thor
Lots of tips relating to the 200 series cars and i do believe panels are still available for your car.
Oh, and get some pictures posted, we do like pictures on these forum.

[Nickchristmas]

Cool thanks, i'll check the thread out in a bit, thanks for that. im not 100% sure on the exact model, its either the DL or the GL. i will double check this weekend when i pick it up, pictures to follow...

[WPR678B]

Originally Posted by Nickchristmas

1. Can you buy a replacement rear panel (wheel arch back to bumper area, I will add a photo when I get a chance) from anywhere still?

I got all the panels i needed for my 1970 145 from Abacus Auto parts in Bournemouth. They should be able to get you most panels next day and it saves on postage costs from mail order firms.
I look forward to seeing it around the area soon!

[Nickchristmas]

awesome, thanks for that, i will look them up, always helps if they are local, hopefully i will be on the road soon

[Nickchristmas]

Here are some pictures of the 245, i put it in for its mot friday, it needs x2 front lower ball joints because the covers have gone and also he said the front seat belts were no good too(the drivers side was a bit worn, but i think he was being a bit fussy) but all in all i think thats not too bad for a 77, i replaced the seatbelt tonight and hopefully going to do the ball joints this week when the parts arrive, any tips for changing the front lower ball joints?

[halfnelson]

Hi Nick,

Your car looks great. Love it in white with a red interior. Interesting to see you have red reflectors on the rear wings, like US models.

Cheers

Chris

[AJ1968]

Originally Posted by halfnelson

Hi Nick,

Your car looks great. Love it in white with a red interior. Interesting to see you have red reflectors on the rear wings, like US models.

Cheers

Chris

Nice find looks good for age the seats are amazing, They had reflector lights on the rear quarters up to 1978 models, I believe they removed them of the square headlight models in 1979.

[LankyTim]

What a cracker, and Jag S type too!