1980 Volvo 242 - California Car

$5,000

Published date: 08/23/2019

Modified date: 08/23/2019

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

It's difficult to list this car for sale because after driving 240's for 25 years this is absolutely the most fun one I've ever had.
This is originally a Cali car although it spent a few years in Michigan and then Massachusetts.
The last guy to own it in Cali set it up to race in a stock car league. When I got it there were racing seats installed which I removed and put in a brown interior from a late 70's 242. I'll post more pics soon.
$4000 worth of upgrades were put in by the previous owner including:
- disc brakes all around
- lowered
- performance cam
- stainless exhaust
- IPD super thick sway bars
The same guy disconnected the heat and took out the washer reservoir and I've never needed to put either of these back in. It's been a summer-only car.
As you can see from the pics the car is beautiful. Absolutely my favorite year for 242's as they transitioned from earlier designs into the square headlight models sans-chrome that came a little later.
This car is insane on the highway. Because of the cam it takes off like a rocket. It's a blast on the backroads too because it handles so well. This is a VERY fun 240 to drive.
Car is rust free everywhere that it matters. There's a tiny, quarter sized piece of rust on a side panel that's been there since I got it and it's never changed. Original paint is great but there's a lot of little pings and dings all around the car. You can't see them from 10 feet away - as you can see they're not obvious in the pics.
If you look up 1980 Volvo 242 you'll see the test drive videos that were made when I bought the car. The car is running much better than it was in those videos because it was tuned up by someone who actually worked on . 240's for Volvo back in the day. I took care of the timing belt cover rattle you can hear in the videos.

Useful information

Tinsmith and paint
- Check all corners of the car for rust, dents, new paint or damaged original paint. Paint debris and uneven colors could indicate that the car has suffered a major or minor accident.

Windows and doors
- Raise and lower the windows, open and close the doors, trunk and chest. If a door does not close properly, there may be a simple mismatch, or the body and chassis may be out of order.

Rims
- Make sure the tires have uneven wear, which may indicate that the suspension is worn. New tires in a used car can hide a serious problem; the shock absorbers may be damaged or the wheels misaligned.

Shock absorbers
- Test them by pressing each corner of the vehicle several times and release it; If it bounces more than twice, you may need new shock absorbers.

Engine leaks
- Check for possible liquid leaks. If it is not due to a crack or a defective seal, a leak may indicate lack of maintenance. Check the engine oil, if the dipstick is impregnated with a blackish mud, this indicates carelessness; If there is water or foam, it is a sign that there is a crack in the engine block.

Trunk
- See if there is rust in the trunk; there must be a hydraulic jack and a spare tire. Excessive wear could indicate that heavy objects have been loaded.

Brakes
- Press the brake pedal; if it sinks too much or to the bottom, there is a failure in the hydraulic system. If the brakes feel spongy, it indicates that there is air in the system.

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