[Editor's Note: This article comes from our November 2016 issue. Some information and prices may be different.]
“VOLVO WAGON.”
Those two words don’t exactly invigorate the senses of most people.
Gearheads, though, will pause. They know there’s the chance that a third word will follow the first two: turbo. Suddenly there’s the opportunity for the ultimate Q-ship. Meet the Volvo 740 and 760 Turbo wagons.
“The …
One of my first and favorite cars...
My Father's Girlfriend has a 740 turbo wagon that I once tried to buy from her, now it is just a beaten to E36 M3 non-turbo wagon. It's a shame that she let it go like that. It still runs well, just without a turbo, so it is a very slow wagon
Could you get a 5spd stick with the turbos? I didn't think we could, I thought we only got the M46 4spd+push button OD.
In reply to m4ff3w:
You didn't want the M47 5 speed. The M46 is much sturdier, and the overdrive is so nice on the highway.
Streetwiseguy wrote: In reply to m4ff3w: You didn't want the M47 5 speed. The M46 is much sturdier, and the overdrive is so nice on the highway.
Yeah, I just just correcting some misinformation.
I had a '88 M46 along with a pair of 92 autos. I loved my 740/940s
IIRC you could replace the waste gate with one from a 240 turbo & get more boost.
I'm trying to remember but I think John Lane's fire breathing rally car was a 740 (not a wagon though). The first rally I attended was early 90s Rim of The World and I was mighty impressed with Volvos. Boring style but they ride nice and came with stonking motors.
In reply to Tom1200:
I believe that was a 262 with boosted 3L PRV 6 cylinder.
It was up for sale for a while, but I believe he is now keeping it.
Strike_Zero wrote: In reply to Tom1200: I believe that was a 262 with boosted 3L PRV 6 cylinder.
Yes, that PRV is a beast.
It's been I while since I was involved in rally on a regular basis; I may be merging Volvo memories, was likely thinking of Jay Street's car or Carl Jardevall.
Bill Malik's 240 was a rocket as well, the staged we worked was Tarmac for the first 1/4 mile or so and I think it was his car that laid black marks off the start. Could have been Tomas Liljquist (sp) in the Coffee Fresh 240.
Tom
My prius been parked for a month now. Everytime I go out and drive I take the 240 wagon instead. Don't really know why...
In reply to M2Pilot :
Not really sure that's a good idea. All of the 240's ran Garretts. 740's and 940's ran Garretts and Mitsubishis. You first saw TD05-12B's on 740 wagons. They eventually went to TD04H-13C's and a smaller number of Garret T25's (if memory serves me correctly).
Besides, a better idea for a cheap boost increase is a 3 bar racing MBC.
Ah, Volvos. How I miss mine.
"as if some ritual Volvo sacrifice were taking place." made me GRM famous in Say What even. 
I had a dream last night where I was lost driving around in the 940 I used to have.
The "Turbo Plus" was a spring. That's it, no "controller." It came in a box with a piece of paper and you changed out this spring for the weaker spring in the wastegate. It cost a fortune in its day because if you put one on your car during warranty they would support it.
Make sure whatever engine you get, it has a water-cooled turbo and let it idle for a few minutes or go really easy on it before shutdown or the heat and the spinning shaft, along with no oil pressure will cook the bearings. The air cooled turbos might have been on the 240s, I forget.
144, 740, 740 turbo, 940, 940GLE, all history. Great cars for their day.
Jordan Rimpela said:Ah, Volvos. How I miss mine.
Good thing I bought one.
The wagons are defiantly on my "wants" list. Had a 850 for a bit, and what a cool wagon. Didn't fit as a daily driver for my wife at that time, but I bought for $850 and sold a year later for $1250. Would have set out back for a V8 swap if it had been RWD. Gonna haveta do one one day.
Shields Motor Co. once owned Moby Dictator
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