Have you ever been going about your day running errands or driving your car and suddenly see a rare classic car turn a corner or peek out of your sight? ?It feels so good and it happened to me in early November last year.?
As the 32 people who read my column may remember, I love diecast model cars. Then, as I left my local well-known national retailer with several new dark green Matchbox ’75 Eldorado convertibles, I spotted a rare vehicle behind the local Volvo dealership.
A Volvo 262C, to be exact. Now, I’ve known about these Bloamesque Volvos since I was very young. My parents drove Volvos in the 80’s (and still do!) and had a lot of 240’s and 740’s when I was in grade school.
One reason for that is that Mike and Kathy Lundahl, owners of Lundahl Volvo in downtown Moline, have been long-time friends of my family. So one year around 1986 or ’87, they gave me this wonderful hardcover coffee table book about Volvos from the ’20s to the ’80s.
And it was there that I first read about the 262C, which was produced from 1978 to 1981. I’ve covered its rather interesting origins and development in a previous column, but suffice it to say, once upon a time in the ’70s. Big names from Ford Motor Company toured the Volvo Kalmar plant and brought along the Continental Mark IV.
Apparently, many Volvo employees were attracted to the marque’s luxury and low lines and decided that the design needed to do something similar. This car was the result. And although the car was manufactured by Bertone, the design was created by Volvo’s Jan Wilsgaard.
Announced in the spring of 1977 as the 1978 model, the 262C was, of course, the flagship model produced in limited quantities by the Italian company Bertone. Of course, the biggest difference was the chopped top with a formal C-pillar. This roof was 60 mm (or 2.36 inches) lower than the standard 240 or 260 roof at 53.9 inches. The sedan was 56.3 inches tall and the wagon 57.5 inches tall.
Volvo says 6,622 were built over four model years. When we looked at our featured car, the 78 was only silver with a black top, black leather, wore different style alloy wheels, and had an early rear end, so it was at least 79-81. It turned out to be a model. It has flat rectangular taillights.
The 1979, ’80, and ’81 262Cs are virtually identical in appearance, so I decoded the VIN and found out it was a 1980 model. Both models are equipped with the PRV 2.8-liter V6 engine, so named because it was jointly developed by Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo, and is used in all three companies’ products.
The engine had 130 horsepower (SAE numbers) at 5500 rpm, 153 pound-feet of torque at 2750 rpm, and a compression ratio of 8.8:1. The 262 had the same overall length and wheelbase as the other 240 and 260 models, at 192.5 inches and 104 inches, respectively. In fact, only the lower part of the roof was different.
Mechanically and equipment-wise, it was almost identical to the 264 and 265, but with different, very luxurious leather seats, special door panels with elm trim, power antenna, cruise control, and heated passenger seat. (the 260 was equipped with a standard driver’s seat). heated seats only). Unfortunately, the 262C did not have a sunroof. Lowering the roof will definitely compromise the already low headroom. However, the 262C seat had a lower profile/height than the regular 240 and 260 seats.
But this car had a new rear end with wraparound taillights, 27-spoke light alloy wheels (my dad’s ’84 GL sedan had the same ones), and was painted gold. I believe this was a new addition that year. Black paint option.
By the way, the color of our featured car is Coronado Gold Metallic, according to a 1980 Volvo brochure. The tag on the back of the car indicates it was sold new in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
To say I was excited would be an understatement. I’ve only personally seen one other 262C, and that was way back in the 80’s.
In those days, my mother would ride a wagon to Lundahl’s house to receive services, and of course we children would go with her during summer vacation. My brother and sister were totally uninterested, but as you might imagine, the car-obsessed author likened the errand to a day at the park or pool.
I think it was probably 1987 or ’88. Because we remember riding my mom’s pastel yellow ’86 240DL wagon, which was traded in early spring of 1989 for a wine red ’89 740GL wagon. There are people in the family who remember such things!
Anyway, we pulled into the service area, parked by the service counter, and got out of the car. And while my mom was talking with the service advisor, I spotted it: a showroom-new ’78 262C, bright silver with a black vinyl roof and chrome-plated crown sail panel emblems gleaming gently.
It pulled into the service bay and disappeared from my life. At that moment, my mother took us to the showroom and made us sit and wait. And that was the last time I saw 262C. Until November 2, 2024.
The funny thing is, I’ve seen it before, and it was kind of fashionable. A few weeks ago I saw an ad for 262C on the Marketplace and was surprised to see it was located across the river in Davenport. I even thought about contacting the owner to see it up close and, of course, write it down, rather than buy it.
And of course I quickly forgot all about it. Until I saw it out of the corner of my eye at McLaughlin’s. I have never seen anyone park their car and jump out of the car so quickly.
After about 17 minutes and 42 photos, I went into the showroom to see what I could find about it. My friend Brian wasn’t there that day, but after talking to GM he learned that it was a customer car for service, not for sale. I have no choice. I already own a 2004 Town Car, but it has to hibernate in the garage every winter.
It was in almost new condition. When I got home and checked the online advertisement, I found that it was already sold. It’s likely that the new owner took it to a Volvo dealer after delivery and asked for some work to be done, or maybe just an oil change. The car was very nice.
And, as I remember, it was a bargain price – the asking price was $6,500. Such a gorgeous and luxurious classic Volvo at such a great price! I was thrilled to be able to see it up close.
