Bought a Volvo...
 

...not any Volvo but a '89 780 Bertone! Always loved the design, saw one on craigslist for $1200 could not let it go; drives very nice, body is straight, passenger side is keyed, needs passenger headlight (cracked and expensive!), and a good tune-up. After buying it I found out that the parts specific for this car are very expensive, only 8,518 were build. The car feels solid but it lacks the Mercedes quality feel, nothing sounds like the closing door of a 300CD.

Oh my god, I just love those. They are IMO the most beautiful Volvo that they ever made. Unfortunately the 780 motor was not the unburstable 4 cylinder one, (they got the far less than stellar French V6 if I recall) but other than that issue - not a small one, sadly (!!) those have every other Volvo virtue, along with the exclusive beautiful wood accents in the interior, and leather seats, too. The Bertone styling is just so shapely and lovely to behold. In Europe you could actually get one with a turbo diesel engine.

A car like that, (and yours is in such a beautiful color) would really draw attention at any Volvo meeting, for Volvo fanciers to envy.

For the price, you scored a real treasure. Those 780 coupes put the lie to the old saying the 740/760 cars and wagons "look like the box they came in"

That car is really, really, one to keep. Check out brickboard and Swedespeed, sites for help, and if you are not a purist, this car could even be a viable candidate for the 302 Ford V8 conversion, there is a place back east that does them, Paul Newman had one done to his wagon by them.

I used to have a 1991 Volvo 740 and I just loved it , it was a wonderful city car, a tough reliable brick with an amazing 34' turning radius, a wonderful car for the big city, really strong and safe, wonderfully comfortable seats, not to bad to maintain, and the only weak points were the biodegradeable glue used on the headliner and the flimsy plastic trim around the bottom of the doors and seats, which cracked easily.

Probably they were the flagship car of the Volvo line when new, and were pretty expensive.

It's true, they dont have that "Hewn from stone" feel of your Mercedes, and their doors don't thunk like a Mercerdes (no other cars do) but they are very very everlasting, and very very safe, and having one would be a wise complement to any Mercedes owners stable. The rear wheel drive 740/760 Volvos are very nippy cars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSZLSfBDyhs

You can race them and mess around with them too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3h-iIIR8yw&mode=related&search=

A long,long time ago I drove past an auto junkyard in the San Fernando Valley and saw a black 780 coupe that had just been brought there, someone had given up on it. I was so tempted to stop, and ask, but didn't.

Have fun with it. It's a rare, and sinfully beautiful edition of a very wonderful, practical and safe car.

Mine is a 4 cylinder turbo, if it had the six cylinder I would have past. Saw a 780 on a junk yard a couple of months ago, wished I had taken the front and rear lights.:(

The 780 is one of my favorite car designs together with the 500/560Sec, Volvo 262 Bertone, Citroen SM, Peugeot 405 coupe and convertible and seventies jaguars.

Clearly you have taste, and know a lot already if you passed on the V6. With the 4 cylinder turbo you should be in perfect shape, I didn't even know you could get those in the USA. You got an utterly irresistable deal, for sure, no matter how many miles were on the car.

Start getting the ipd catalogue and newsletter!!! It's the #1 source for Volvo parts and for modifiers, and the free monthly newsletter is always fun to read.

I think Jim is referring to Converse Engineering regarding the east coast v8 conversion.

Nice car...let me know if you can't find a light for one of these cars as I know someone who might have one...he has a couple of parts cars.

I dont get it??...No Respect..........It's not a Caddy!!!!!!!!!

You're going to have a problem getting various trim pieces because the 780 is a very low production car. There are allot of sedan parts in the car but also many unique 780 parts. Check out www.brickboard.com.

I know, but I'm a sucker for rare cars. The body is straight and all the trim parts are there, interior is still nice , needs a new headlight, a taillight (witch I already found) and the two corner lights. The OEM radio is replaced by a cheapo radio what is a bummer. The only thing that's not function right now is the sun-roof and the AC needs a recharge.

It's a very nice car to drive, almost BMW like, will give it a major tune-up in the next days.

I'm looking for an 80's wagon for my little lady, actually.




any suggestions in models?

Stick with the 4 cylinder versions. To look for a 740 or a 240 would be my suggestion if you want a good Volvo wagon.

I would avoid the 760, V6 and diesel models personally

I'm shocked!

Jorn, have a look at this link for your right headlight assembly:

http://car-part.com

They have one listed for an 87 Bertone at this place:

1987 Headlight Assembly Volvo 780 RED,3-87,BERTONE 070201 $Call Gentry and Associates, Inc. USA-GA(Newman) E-mail 1-866-454-7278

I'm not sure if it is too late or not, but I've had good luck with that website for sourcing parts from wreckers/recyclers. It gives you access to wreckers all over North America.

Good luck with the car. It is indeed an interesting one.

Let me know if you need parts for the 780. My dad (and now me) are really good friends with a volvo wrecker. With some luck, I just might be able to get some parts.

Tnx guys, I still need some parts: Psg side corner light, Psg side rear light and a mid console that holds the radio and equalizer, the front door speaker covers (tan) both sides.

Btw if you can find Volvo Polaris wheels I would be very interested.