Volvo 480

THIS VOLVO IS DIFFICULT to pigeonhole The 480 is not a hatchback in the usual sense, but neither is it a traditional coupé Although it clearly drew inspiration from the 1800ES (see Octane 235), describing it as a shooting brake doesn’t feel quite right, either Whatever it is, it’s certainly one of the most intriguing cars ever built by the Swedish manufacturer, and one that remains great value today

The 480 was a product of Volvo’s Dutch arm, born out of its acquisition of DAF in the 1970s It represented a very different proposition to everything else built by Volvo at the time, being front-wheeldrive (a first for the company) and powered by the same Renault-sourced 1.7-litre four-cylinder found in the340.Lotushadahandinsettingupthesuspension, but the most radical aspect was the styling – with a low-slung front end and pop-up headlights

Officiallylaunchedatthe1986Genevamotorshow and going on sale later that year, the ES model was powered by the naturally aspirated 1.7, putting out 108bhp and 103 lb ft. It wasn’t quick – with 0-60mph taking a shade over 10 seconds and a top speed of 110mph – but it drove well enough. The interior looked great and, as a dedicated four-seater, offered rear passengers comfortable quarters with a pair of sculpted seats and a large central armrest.

In 1988 Volvo launched the 480 Turbo – in effect the same 1.7-litre Renault engine but with a lightpressure Garrett turbo bolted on. Now with 120bhp and 130lb ft of torque, performance was somewhat more adequate (0-60mph in 8.6sec and 124mph), though it improved the drivability of the car more than anything else

A minor facelift came in 1991, with lightly restyled bumpers and trim, seats and new mirrors It also saw catalytic converters fitted to all models due to the upcoming EU1 emissions standard, which knocked theoutputofthe1.7-litreenginebackto102bhp This precipitatedthedevelopmentofanew2.0-litreengine for1992.Therewasafinalfaceliftin1994,recognisable by its clear front indicators and airbag steering wheel.

Production ended in 1995, with the Celebration special edition (also called Collection in Europe) offering a full complement of options, including air conditioning, 15-inch wheels and a leather interior.

Perhapsbecauseitwasquirky,the480neversoldin significant numbers. It had been developed with a launch on the US market in mind – the integrated bumpers were expressly designed to comply with strictUSregulations–butmarketconditionsmeantit was never officially sold there. It gained a reputation for poor build quality in the early years, too, and whilemostoftheissueswererectifiedunderwarranty by Volvo, the 480 couldn’t quite shake that image.

It wasn’t directly replaced, although many consider the C30 from 2006 to have continued its lineage, sharing a similar glass hatch. The 480 remains a curio, but if you want a useful, characterful and affordable classic it’s a tempting prospect. There are still plenty out there, most in enthusiast hands, although finding a good one is an increasingly challenging prospect. Matthew Hayward

The Lowdown

What To Pay

Running and driving naturally aspirated cars are available from £1500; up to £25003500 for tidier examples

Turbos are more desirable, and prices for nicer examples are in the £3500-5000 range, although decent runners can still be found from about £2000 Special-edition cars can attract a slight premium

What To Look Out For

One of the most common problems is water ingress into the boot, from the top of the tailgate and rear light seals

Corrosion is one of the big killers, so check the rear wheelarches, suspension mounting points, sills and in the boot if it has been leaking

1 7-litre engines aren’t the most sophisticated, or refined, but they are generally pretty sturdy Easy to service, and generally cheap to repair

2.0-litre cars suffered from high oil consumption early on, so check that it received the official ‘mod 2371’ dealer fix

The electrics are quite flakey, so test that all the switches function correctly, and the Electronic Information Centre on the dash works.

BMW sold 464 of their 328 of which 45 were built to special order with right hand drive and marketed as the “Frazer Nash BMW”.The cars were light and fast with impeccable handling.The spec that was so advanced that today they are sought after by enthusiasts looking for the most competitive entry for Pre-War race and rally events.This car has competition history that includes, sprints, hill climbs and trials witnessed by documents and photographs in its weighty history file It can boast matching numbers and has been fully restored with a cavalier disregard to expense by incomparable marque experts, Blakeney Motorsport. It is of course eligible for the most prestigious events including Mille Miglia, Le Mans Classic, Goodwoood, Flying Scotsman, etc A full description can be found on bradfieldcars.com

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