J.A. Ackley
J.A. Ackley Senior Editor
5/31/24 10:02 a.m.

Let’s face it, when the general public views a Volvo 240, they think people mover or grocery getter. However, those in motorsport know better. The Volvo 240 won touring championships back in the day. It performed well in rally and was great in endurance racing. And, if you question the viability of a Volvo in racing, just ask Randy Pobst, …

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amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter)
amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) UltraDork
5/31/24 11:16 a.m.

Here's a good YouTube channel for those that like drifty Volvos https://youtube.com/@driftsnlifts?si=w9aVfC-w66EudMZN

Chris Tropea
Chris Tropea Associate Editor
5/31/24 11:47 a.m.

I love seeing Volvos turned into stuff like this.

DavyZ
DavyZ Reader
5/31/24 1:35 p.m.

I have owned a 242, 244, and 760 all of which served my family well.  Modifying the older Volvos is a rewarding experience, because the before and after effect is so tremendous.  They are rock solid cars and take to mods pretty well. I used IPD for most of the performance parts.  Fond memories!  Someday it would be great to do a V8 swap too :)    

Jimmy_Paycheck
Jimmy_Paycheck New Reader
5/31/24 1:59 p.m.

"LSes are overrated", but at least they fit under the hood...

Tom1200
Tom1200 PowerDork
5/31/24 4:29 p.m.

240s can be turned into fire breathing beasts.

I have fond memories of Bill Malik's 240 rally car at The Rim of The World Rally.

EvanB
EvanB GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
5/31/24 4:53 p.m.

“They’re well built–other than the motors that come in them.”

Disagree with that. 

Racebrick
Racebrick HalfDork
5/31/24 5:15 p.m.

Two of the best engines hand down. LS, and redblock.

mcloud
mcloud New Reader
5/31/24 9:13 p.m.

In reply to EvanB :

I agree.  The VOLVO 4 cylinder engnes, with 5 main bearings, were durable powerplants that easily see 200,000+ miles.

j_tso
j_tso Dork
6/1/24 1:47 a.m.

Even Hot Wheels knows it

Hotwheels volvo 240 drift wagon

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
6/1/24 10:57 a.m.

This is not helping my brick lust.

buzzboy
buzzboy UltraDork
6/1/24 11:24 a.m.

On my dreamcar list is a 242 Turbo Flathood. I was "this" close to owning one before buying my E36. The downside to the 240 is keeping up with incremental changes when you're trying to repair a car from the junkyard.

VolvoHeretic
VolvoHeretic GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/2/24 2:36 p.m.

I always wanted to build a stretched 245 with a two door 242 with its stretched front door front half and a 245 back half. Or the same with a stretched 164 front clip, 142 stretched front door section, and 145 rear door section and rear end.

I got the idea from a guy I used to know who would buy smashed VW bugs, cut them in half at the B pillar, and weld the good ends together to create a whole car. It looked easy. smiley

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/2/24 4:15 p.m.
EvanB said:

“They’re well built–other than the motors that come in them.”

Disagree with that. 

Here's a B230 engined, solid axle converted E30 M3

 

It has an Evo head and is run out to 3 liters of displacement, true, but how many LSs out there have the stock heads or displacement?

 

No reason that this can't have been a 240 smiley

Streetwiseguy
Streetwiseguy MegaDork
6/2/24 7:41 p.m.
VolvoHeretic said:

I always wanted to build a stretched 245 with a two door 242 with its stretched front door front half and a 245 back half. Or the same with a stretched 164 front clip, 142 stretched front door section, and 145 rear door section and rear end.

I got the idea from a guy I used to know who would buy smashed VW bugs, cut them in half at the B pillar, and weld the good ends together to create a whole car. It looked easy. smiley

You are exactly the same crazy that I am.  A 163 is what I want.  164 front, 242 doors, 245 rear.

Streetwiseguy
Streetwiseguy MegaDork
6/2/24 7:44 p.m.

Also, Bo Skowronnek won the Canadian open class rally championship in about 1985 with 19 pounds of boost on a k-jet B23, and an M46 with overdrive in 2nd and 3rd as well as 4th.  Zero to 100mph on gravel was amazing.

I snicker at people who speak of fragility and 240's in the same sentence.

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