This is the other Volvo I had while I lived & worked in Taiwan between 2005 & 2009. I bought this car a year after I moved there.
It's a 1990 Volvo 740 GLT 16 Valve, B234F engine & AW72L auto gearbox. Built in Belgium for the West German market (market code 18), it has German market spec bulb failure warning sensor/relay with built in brake light integrity check feature, and electric headlight beam angle adjustment system factory fitted (standard on German market spec 700 series from 1990).
In Euro market the B234F was sold under the GLT badge, which was basically a 740 Turbo (Turbo style grille, black instead of chrome window trims, striped C pillar window on sedans, Draco alloy wheels, 21mm front & 19mm rear anti-sway bars same as the Turbo) but the B234F motor instead. Which I think made more sense as the B234F is a sporty engine & needs to be revved to reveal it's true potential. Always puzzles me why in Australia & North America they sold it under the GLE badge as a "luxury" engine.
So how did a West German market spec Volvo ended up in Taiwan? Because back in those days Volvo Cars Taiwan didn't exist, so the dealers in Taiwan often imported whatever they fancy, which made Taiwan an interesting place for Volvo enthusiasts as it's a melting pot of all different market specs! US/Canadian market spec with their ugly headlights were a pretty common sight (my father had a US market spec 1992 Volvo 940 GL), and I've even seen Saudi Arabian market spec (identified by Arabic decals in engine bay) at my mechanic's. Volvo finally set up Volvo Cars Taiwan in 2002, since then Volvo cars in Taiwan are a lot more standardised.
This car is not as extensively upgraded as my 760 GLE, although I've still done a fair amount to it. You'll also notice that quite a few upgrades are the same as what I've done on the 760 GLE.
Here's the list of exterior upgrades...
- converted to 940 95- Turbo egg-crate grille with chrome bezel (originally egg-crate with black bezel)
- converted to 940 98 front indicator / parking light assembly with clear indicator lens
- converted to 940 98 clear lens front fender side indicators
- converted to S/V/C70 99- windscreen washer nozzle, mist spray type
- converted to 740/940/960 91- wing mirror assembly with larger base (requires slight modification to power mirror switch wiring if using 92- with power mirror)
- converted to 740 91- front door weatherstrip moulding (shorter) to match the new style wing mirror above
- painted wing mirrors, bumpers (bottom half) and trim moulding on top of bumper (combined with the new style wing mirror this gives this car a 940 96- look)
- added "snow cap" over the ventilation intake grille
- converted to "Hova" tail lights with clear indicator lens (Hova is a well known aftermarket styling & tuning parts supplier in Sweden)
- added boot lid spoiler, wing style
- added reverse parking sensors
- converted to Kings lowering springs (by the previous owner)
And the interior upgrades...
- converted carpets & door panel inserts to beige (inspired by S60R's black & orange combo interior)
- added beige plush floor mats
- converted to 960 91-94 beige carpeted front door map pockets, modified the plastic trim to black
- added wood trim dash, ashtray & door panel inserts
- added door sill moulding (standard on S/V90. 960 95- also got them but the sill moulding has "960" instead of "VOLVO" printed)
- converted to "Genua" accessory leather wrapped steering wheel (visible in the photo above, not in the photos below)
- converted to 940/960 95- illuminated power window switches
- converted to 760 88-90, 960 91-94, 740/940 91- dash switches (slightly more rounded edges than earlier version)
- converted radio head unit to CT-906 single-DIN CD player
- converted radio amplifier to 4 x 40W (originally 4 x 20W)
- added HT-161 rear parcel shelf 3-way speakers
- converted manual front seats to 940/960 92- power seats, driver's side with memory feature
- converted to 940/960 92- front headrests
- converted to black Turbo style leather/velour combo seat upholstery (originally black leather only)
- added centre armrest with drink holder
- added cruise control
- converted to 760 82-87 black & chrome dashboard trim moulding (just below air vents)
- added oil pressure gauge
- added oil temperature gauge
- added chrome instrument rings (aftermarket)
- added 740 91- third brake light (attached by plastic bracket under rear parcel shelf similar to 940/960. Earlier 740 & 760 attached by metal clips glued to the rear window)
German market spec 700 series didn't have third brake lights fitted because the German spec bulb failure warning sensor/relay wasn't designed for it. After fitting the third brake light on this car the brake light integrity check got confused and the bulb failure warning light on the dash stayed on. I ended up modifying the wiring for the third brake light & bypassed the bulb failure warning sensor/relay. Yes I could've also just changed the relay but I would've lost the brake light integrity check feature!
