Volvo Other (1970)
for sale
Price: US $1,525.00
Price: US $1,525.00
1970 Volvo 142S
Those familiar with the Volvo brand know of their
longstanding reputation for reliability. These cars were built to withstand Sweden’s harsh winter and road
conditions. Designed with safety in
mind, Volvo built these “tanks” with cast iron engines and robust transmissions
that were engineered to go well over 100K miles. I’m guessing most of you know of Irv Gordon’s three million miles he put
on his 1966 1800S.
The 140 model built upon the successes of the 120 Amazon
series. This workhorse was the typical
family car one might see in a coastal city where Volvos were popular. Equipped with four-wheel disc brakes, a
collapsible steering column, a padded dash, a synchronized four-speed
transmission, and three-point seatbelts, 140 models were well ahead of their
time. Their success established the
foundation for the 240 series. Volvo’s
most popular model, 240 cars cemented Volvo’s reputation inside the United
States for reliability and safety. These
were automobiles that could be passed down through the generations.
Quick Description
My 142 is one of the nicest you will find in the
country. It is not a trailer queen, but rather a super-clean driver, it is ready to be driven cross country right now.
You want to enter it in a show? I took second place in the 140-160 category
in the 2011 Volvo National Meet. I drove it from Denver to Salina, Kansas and back with zero issues. This car is sweet. It evokes fond memories whenever people see it in public. Equipped with new front and rear main seals, clutch, throw-out bearing, fuel sender, center-bearing, engine and tranny mounts, and
recent oil change, it is ready for the road. When was the last time you saw a two-owner, clean 140 on Ebay, Hemmings, or IPD? When was the last time you came
across a 140 owner who took meticulous care of his baby and is now willing to
pass along the product of his efforts to a proud new owner? This car has never seen rain or snow since I
have owned it. It is always in a
climate controlled garage at night.
Details
Details you ask? I’ll
do my best to describe the car. If I
come up short on any aspect, I invite you to reach out. Do you want a close-up pic of a particular
part of the car? Just ask. I have driven this car nearly 25K miles. There is nothing about it that I cannot
answer candidly.
Mechanicals—I replaced the twin Strombergs with a newly
refurbished pair of twin SU carbs. They
are in balance and perfectly tuned. I
installed a dual choke for easy starts in the winter. The engine was supposedly rebuilt by the
owner, although I have no evidence to back that up. Compression is where it should be and the car
does not leak oil. Like most B20
engines, it burns about a half-quart of oil every 1K miles. It runs beautifully on 10W-40 Quaker State.
Interior—The old rubber floors had become brittle when I
bought the car. I had grey carpet
installed and it still looks great. The
front seat covers are OEM and are less than seven years old. The panels are perfect. The headliner, hat rack, seals, and seatbelts
are all perfect. The sunvisors are solid.
Paint—Exterior is less than six years old. Clear-coat still shines beautifully. Please note, there are minor chips. I can send you pics. Some are extremely hard to see. Please remember that I do drive this car on
the weekends. With Colorado’s sandy
roads, some chipping is inevitable. I am
happy to take photos as requested. THERE
IS NO RUST. Colorado’s dry climate
precludes the possibility of rust when the car is not taken out in rain or
snow.
Fluids—Oil was changed within the past 1K miles. It has all the proper coolant, tranny and
brake fluids to be driven long distances.
Brakes—The bearings have been repacked within the past 6K
miles. The pads were replaced within the
past 15K miles. The car stops on a dime
with no shimmies or squeaks.
Steering—I had the old worm and roller steering box
rebuilt. It tracks perfectly straight.
Glass—There is a very minor, superficial fissure in the
lower part of the windshield—about a half-inch and very hard to see. It has been there since 2007 when I bought
the car and has never expanded—even in cold weather. The windshield is original as are the other
five windows (you can see the “Volvo” stamp—all of which are tinted to protect
the interior.
Dash—Do you see any cracks? How rare is that! I keep a
dashmat on it to ensure that it stay preserved in its perfect state.
Gauges—All work flawlessly. No, the speedo does not dance around. The temp and gas gauges are both accurate. My mechanic tinkered with the new gas sender and has it perfectly dialed in. The odometer is also perfect.
Climate control—The heater is like a blast furnace. Get it up to temperature and the heat will
protect you from the Swedish cold. The
three climate “wheels” function perfectly. The interior fan works perfectly at both speeds.
Ignition—Remember the days of points? Ugh. Well, your worries are gone. I
swapped the old point set-up with an electronic ignition from a 1975 240 for
increased reliability.
Switches—The lights all function perfectly. Hazard lights, lighter, dome light, glove-box
light, and AM radio all work perfectly (although the radio does not light up at
night—ok, ok, it’s not perfect)
Cold Weather—Plan on parking this baby outside in the cold? I have an OEM block heater installed and
ready to be used. No worries about hard
starts or excess wear on the battery.
Trunk—The rubber liner is perfect. I installed new OEM cardboard inserts on the
back side. Looks great. The spare tire is perfect. No rust whatsoever back here.
Glove box—Can you believe this? I still have the original key and spare. I also have the owners manuals ready to go. I will include three sets of keys, the owner's manual, the driving tip booklet (how cool is that??), a dealer directory (good luck with that...), a warranty service booklet, and two neat color brochures.
Ebay works not because you get to see what you buy, but
because you have the opportunity to purchase the trust of the previous
owner. I have every receipt from the
past ten years. I have put well over
$10K in maintaining and upgrading this fine beauty. I am looking to pass it along to someone who
will enjoy and preserve it. I trust that if you are the winning
bidder, then you will follow through on your winning bid.
Consequently, you can trust the description I
have provided as candid, accurate, and up-to-date.
I am not in a rush to sell this car. Save low-ball offers for when I become
desperate. Now is not that time. If you like the car, buy it now at $7, 995. Believe me, it’s a very fair offer. It not, bid away. Perhaps we’ll run into one another at a car
show or Volvo meet.
The 140 line-up, while not an established collectible, is a
wonderful automobile that will look great in your garage. After ten years of proud ownership, I'm ready to let it go and upgrade to an 1800. Again, I invite inspections and test
drives. Wanna talk? I’ll answer all of your questions and talk
Volvos with you on the phone. 303-929-8667. Best of luck to all.
update: 2016-10-02
Condition: | Used | Year: | 1970 |
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): | 1423441 | Mileage: | 188,500 |
Transmission: | Manual | Make: | Volvo |
Body Type: | Sedan | Model: | Other |
Warranty: | Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty | Engine: | B20 |
Vehicle Title: | Clear | Fuel Type: | Gasoline |
Exterior Color: | Red | For Sale By: | Owner |
Interior Color: | Gray | Disability Equipped: | No |
Number of Cylinders: | 4 |