Finally found some time to put together a post for my project.
The Volvo itch started for me when a mate dared me to buy one on marketplace. Having made many poor decisions in my life, I thought why stop now, and bought it sight unseen.
It was a 1983 240 wagon and quite simply the thing was an absolute rust bucket. Having worked as a panel beater for a bit I went in and did what us panel beaters do best, procrastinate for months and buy another project...
The project in question is this

My intensions with this project is to make it into a clean weekender for now. Ill be keeping the stock white color but who knows in the future. I've been collecting redblock performance bits for future endeavors but for now I'm just happy to get this thing roadworthy and ready in time for a holiday with the partner.

I Found this gem at the Woolies car park unintentionally... The partner and I were going about our shop when this thing roared in. As I stared in wonder at this absolute machine, I couldn't help but go up to the bloke and chat about it. The guy in question was a legend. The car had done a trip or two going round Australia raising money for charity and had some great history behind it. Managed to get some photos of it before the cosmetics were added.


Having talked about an array of things, I thought id ask weather he was interested in parting with the car. After an exchange of numbers we parted ways.
2 days later I get a call, the rest is history.
After a 6 and a half hour trip to Albury Wodonga by train we met with the owner who reassured me "you wont need a pit crew to get home mate".
The drive home was effortless and the car didn't skip a beat. Managed to hit a roo on the way home unfortunately. Car was surprising fine (little dint) roo was (dead).

Mechanically the car was in great condition and was well looked after. 295,000 on the clock. All electronics worked, wiring in great condition for age and needed little for roadworthy. With all that in mind I decided I want to open door respray the car and give it the birthday it deserves.

Regan changed the title to 1975 Volvo 240 project. "bolbo" .


Only rust on the entire car..couldn't believe it

This piece of metal was originally from a 240 guard. Just so happened to have the right curve for the taillight section 🙂

"do your best, bog the rest"

After a couple long weekends it was high fill time. (not my kingswood)

Was tempted to keep the Swedish flag and keep the rest white.. would have been neat.

High fill makes everything better 😃 forgot to catch a photo of the car in high fill itself. Just imagine dull grey 240..


how are those white walls.. didn't bother masking wheels as they where getting painted and new tread put on regardless.
Painted a few more things. Taillights which where flakey chrome are now black. Badges got some TLC also.
Going to use these 15x7 steelies for now. Not the most ideal fitment but its what I have. These where off the 240 wagon when I bought it. Had to hit these with paint also 🙂


New door handles. Build quality is meh but they do look nice.

Please excuse the camera quality. Don't have the best phone at the moment. .Ill have some more photos in the coming days, cheers

You're doing great with the pics.
I like how you did the tail lights black - I'd thought of doing this with my 142 project and wondered how they would look, and now I know. Nice work.

    Managed to get the front bar on today at lunch. Thanks for the centre caps @Vee_Que Painted both the car and bumpers in Autothane for any wondering. Pretty user friendly (especially with it being my first time spraying anything)

    Damn good job you have done on the car, and some nice info along the way as well, very nice looking 240 in the end. Thanks for sharing

    On a sidenote looking at your wheels, I was going to get a set of Prado wheels powder coated for my Hiace, but now I am seriously thinking of cleaning them up myself and spraypainting them.

    I appreciate the kind words. There's alot more backstory to this car but it would be very long winded and I just don't have the time to type it all out 🤣

    The wheels are nice I'm just glad I have the gt centre caps to finish them off. Will eventually get some nice lugnuts to suit also.

      Regan I just bought some lugnuts in black to suit a 240 off of ebay for $35 shipped, so far so good, cheaper than my Hiace ones i bought from Jax Tyres.

        Found this nice looking wheel at Autobarn. Great wheel but when I went to fit it there was a missing Allen bolt..

        Got a hub adaptor online.
        For those of you with a keen eye you may see my headlight switch is out.. what a headache it's been.. tried to fix the old one to no avail. Plastic part on the back has snapped on all pinch points. Tried glueing the plastic onto the housing but it's hard as the whole mechanism is spring loaded.. need better glue me thinks..
        Anyways here's a cool part I'm using for the future

          Regan I use JB weld. I get two deep sockets, that are longer than the rotary arm, and can fit easily past the electrical contacts.

          With the switch glued, I put it between the two sockets, then clamp it gently in the vice and leave it for 24h.

          Youll want to thoroughly clean the switch with solvent, then lubricate all the moving parts with dielectric grease. This will also hold the 5 springs and 2 ball bearings in place while you assemble.

          It works well, I've got one that I fixed 10 years ago still going fine.

              2 months later

              @jamesinc JB weld trick did the job thanks mate.

              And with that the she's on the road. Roadworthy was a breeze only having ticked of minor things.



              Ended up going with some wheels from Chris Neale. Hopeful to see what they look like. Next thing on the agenda is getting these front and rear seats sorted. Fronts just need the springs put back into place.

              If anyone has a blue rear sedan seat they want to part with sing out would be greatly appreciated.

              Nice! I have a rear sedan seat in blue you can have, I’ll have to check but it might have some cigarette burns from previous owners.

              17 days later

              New wheels!! Must say that these suit the Volvos alot in my opinion. I'm kinda torn that I didn't get 8 inch rims for the front also but it still presents okay. No scrubbing on the rear with rims being 17x8 -1.5et and tyres at 205/45/R17.

              Fronts are 17x7 +10 and tyres same as rear.

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