The Volvo 240 series came out in 1974 and continued selling until 1993. Almost similar in appearance to their previous offerings, the 140 and 164, except for the front section which resembled the Volvo Experimental Safety Car (VESC) and the Experimental Safety Vehicle (ESV). The Volvo 240 also featured larger bumpers than the 140 which made the car 13 cm longer.
The 240 series rolled out in seven variants, three two-door sedans, two four-door sedans, and two five-door wagons (242L, 242DL, 242GT, 244DL, 244GL, 245L and 245 DL). Volvo was still using the designations from their previous models where the first digit was the series number, followed by the number of cylinders in the engine, and the number of doors on last. So, Like the 242DL, this would designate this car as a 200 series, 4-cylinder engine 2-door sedan.
However, this naming code later became insignificant with the introduction of the 6-cylinder engines. Starting in 1986, Volvo dropped the coding nomenclature and badged the models as “240” followed by trim level letters. Designations now include the 240 Turbo and Classic up to the end of production.
Rack and pinion steering, master cylinder brake upgrade and Mac-Pherson front strut-type suspension were standard in the Volvo 240 series. All models in this series had overhead camshaft engines and greatly-improved front and rear crumple zones providing better protection to everyone on board in case of a crash.
These cars have long been the safest in the world that when the US started taking an interest in car safety, the 240 series became the benchmark for crash tests. From the design of the 100 series carried on to the 200 series with production running up to the 1990s, Volvo earned the reputation as the safest and most reliable Brick cars.
Volvo 242, 1975-1984
The Volvo 242, the two-door variant of the family, was the sportier version and came with a pair of in-grille fog lights. The two-door cars were the trend during this time. However, going towards the mid-1980s, popularity shifted to 4-door cars which eventually halted its production. Overall the 240 series, the 242 had the lowest total production with only 242,621 units. It came with all the standard safety and mechanical features as the other variants but with improvement on the suspension that became the basis for the GLT version.
Engine options offered were the 4-cylinder inline-OHV, 4-cylinder inline OHC and the 4-cylinder inline OHC with a turbocharger. These engines teamed up with transmission options which included 4-speed manual, floor-mounted lever 4-speed manual with electric overdrive, and 3-speed automatic. The 242GT was a limited-edition version powered by the B21E which produced 92 kW of power.
Volvo 244, 1974-1993
The Volvo 244 was a 4-door sedan with an overall length of 490 cm and a wheelbase of 254 cm. They came with single overhead cam engines, but some models still had the older engine layout. The Volvo 240 had a front-engine rear-wheel-drive configuration. The 244 were available in DL, GL or GLT, designating their interior luxury and features. The GLT was only available from 1981-1982.
The 244 was available in a variety of petrol and diesel engines depending on the market. The petrol options included the 4-cylinder inline-OHV, 4-cylinder inline OHC and the 4-cylinder inline OHC with a turbocharger. For a few years, a V6 option was also available, the V6 PRV, which was jointly developed by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo. This diesel options included the 5-cylinder and the first-ever V6 diesel engine offered in a passenger car. Transmissions available were the 4-speed manual, 4-speed manual with electric overdrive, 5-speed manual or the 4-speed automatic. Several modifications and upgrades were done to the engines through the production years to increase power and torque ratings.
The exterior received two significant facelifts. From 1979, four lights replaced the two rounded headlights and moved forward to meet the grille and hood. The tail light also had an upgrade together with a more rounded trunk lid. Not all trim levels received this upgrade. In 1981, Rectangular headlights replaced the quad headlights (or two, depending on the trim). Almost every year, the 244 underwent minor interior and exterior updates. By 1986, the two rectangular headlights were already standard in all 244 trims. Another modification incorporated a new grille together with a smaller turn signal lights, a restyled fender, and a redesigned interior.
A limited-edition 244DL went on sale in 1977 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Volvo. The glove box had a silver plate marked "Volvo 1927-1977". This model came in metallic silver with black and gold trim and had a more luxurious interior. In 1987, Volvo released a sixtieth-anniversary version called the 240 DL Jubelium.
Volvo 245, 1974-1993
The Volvo 245 is the 5-door estate (station wagon) variant of the 240 series. It had the same length and wheelbase as the other two versions. The 245 was very popular due to its roomy interior with all the choices for different luxury trim levels. This version had an option to fit additional rear-facing seats that provided extra seats for three more passengers, with a reinforced rear section to protect them.
The 245 was available in a variety of engines, including 4-cylinder inline-OHV, 4-cylinder inline OHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder inline OHC, and V6 PRV petrol variants. The diesel options included a 5-cylinder and a 6-cylinder engine. Transmissions available were the 4-speed manual, 4-speed manual with electric overdrive, 5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic or the 4-speed automatic.
The 245 experienced the same facelifts as the 244 with a final upgrade towards the end of production coined as the Polar Italia edition which had cold-weather features such as heated mirrors and seats. This version also came equipped with a limited-slip differential and sold mostly in Europe.
Highlights of the 240 series
The introduction of Volvo’s Lambda Sound emissions controls which combined a three-way catalytic converter with their Lambda sensors won for Volvo the American National Environmental Award in 1977. In 1978, the 240 earned the recognition as the USA’s Cleanest Car from the California Air Resources Board. In the US from 1990-1994, the Highway Loss Data rated the 240 Wagon as the safest car in its class with no driver fatalities in single or roll-over crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway safety also noted that the 240 sedan model had the lowest death rate of any vehicle in five years.
The 240 was also raced for several years and won the 240 won the Zolder round in 1984 and then the Group A of the European Touring Car Championship in 1985. In other parts of the world, the 240 was also used for racing with some success. In 1985, the 240 won the Wellington 500 street race in New Zealand after starting the competition at the rear of the grid. In the Australian Touring Car Championships, the 240 finished fifth with wins at Symmons Plains and Oran Park. The 240 also participated in rally racing and the 24-hour Le Mans endurance race in the 1980s.
The value of the 240 series now appreciates for restored or pristine cars, which is true not only for the special editions but also for the more common models with low mileage. These cars were built to the best traditions and for so many years were the safest and most reliable vehicles sold.
If you need to source auto parts our online car part locator is a good way to source spare parts for your vehicle.
-Jarad