MEET THE OWNER – MICHAEL CARPENTER AND HIS VOLVO 240 TORSLANDE

Michael ‘Trigger’ Carpenter has owned many fine vehicles, from a Morris Marina 1.3 Estate and a Triumph Dolomite 1500SE to a Vauxhall Astra 1200 2-Door Mk. I. He has recently entered the sensible world of Volvo driving. “It’s a late runout 240 Torslanda model made in 1992 - production stopped six months later in 1993. It was basically the entry-level model with some stripes and alloy wheels and the GLT black exterior trim. It does have central locking and heated seats, but that is about all!”.

The original 144 saloon debuted in August 1966, with the 145 replacing the Amazon station wagon in 1967; Volvo boasted it was a “down-to-earth and up-to-town estate car”. Then, on the 21^st August 1974, the line-up received a major facelift as the 200-series. The AA described the 245 as “Gothenburg’s warehouse on wheels”, and the latest Volvo estate was also comfortable and utterly reliable. Compared with certain rivals, its lines may have dated back to the era of The Hollies and The Monkees, but it would probably start the first time in the depths of winter.

The range became known as the ’200’ for the 1983 model year, by which time it was virtually regulation transport for antique dealers. Volvo introduced the 740 in 1984 and the 940 in 1990, but the older model retained a strong following. The typical 240-wagon buyer cared little for mere automotive fashion and probably regarded following trends as foolish a pastime as viewing Blind Date voluntarily. In 1985 Motor informed its readers, “If you want a full-size estate in which to run up a high mileage over a short period before selling, go for the Volvo”.

The last of the 2,862,573 200-series departed the factory on the 5^th May 1993. Michael acquired his Volvo only a few months ago, and he remarks:

My particular car ended up with banger racers who damaged the wing and raffled it off to another racer who sold it to me, and I did all the necessary work to get it back on the road again. It has only done 49,000 miles, so for it to end up banger racing was criminal, but I’m thankful the racer I bought it off saw the potential and didn’t race it (even though it would have been incredibly cheap!) Now the car is in fantastic condition and a real joy to drive. It gets lots of positive attention as well as being incredibly practical with its vast boot space.

And such positive attention is only to be expected with such a splendid Volvo. To quote one advertisement – “Nobody Hates A Well Made Car”.

With Thanks To – Michael Carpenter