I’m 27, I got a 240 when I was 24 and it’s been my daily. It’s such a chill car, and it’s the car that people who aren’t carpeople like. Folks that never even notice an AMG or GTI will come up to you to tell you how someone in their family used to own a brick like it. It’s do wholesome.
I would really love to have an older Volvo coupe, or even a boxy sedan, so that I could put a Honda J32A (3.2L SOHC 24V V6) in it with a Nissan CD009 six speed manual and turbocharge it. I LOVE oddball builds, but I also love my Hondas...even though I drive a BMW.
@@johnjuiceshipper4963so true. I was at a coffee shop with my wife and as we were drinking our coffee, we sat by the window and saw a younger guy with his girlfriend taking pictures of my 240. It was so heartwarming 😊.
As an Aussie, I’d love to see Saab make a comeback!! But more so, I just wish the likes of Volvo, Asko (Asea Skandia), Saab and Electrolux could return to their roots… there’s something sooo satisfying about that Swedish use of steel and that “thunk” when you close the door, the electrical contactors and their “clack” when you start the dryer. 🥰🥰🥰
I dont know why the reporter felt like he could speak for the entire Europe when he said volvos are considered not cool. They have been popular for tuning for a long long time and people really like them.
Yeah in Sweden you will see tuned old volvos everywhere many people in seden when they turn 15 they can drive A-traktor/EPA thast goes 30 km/h almost every single one off them are old volvos like the 740 or the 940 and you may see some v70s to
@@eliaswallin9272That's not really true anymore, sure on the countryside, but most EPA I see are v70 or maximally 10-15 years old. The RWD volvos has started to become expensive.
@@eliaswallin9272 Well they are tuning them for the worse. Personally I think it's very sad to see these young teenagers chopping the rear up and converting them into EPAs, they are after all becoming less and less and harder to find one in good condition.
Here in Jakarta Indonesia, we have a respect for old Volvos. I always pass through a specialised Volvo workshop on my way to work. They work on Volvos from every age there, from the boxy classics, all the way to the newer modern Volvos. My parents were married in a Volvo, cause my dad opted for something else other than the typical Mercedes wedding car at that time. I still see old Volvos driving around the city from time to time, alongside rich SOB's driving the latest XC's.
To own a car of this size in Japan costs an absolute fortune, even owning a small car is out of the reach of many. Having a car is a big portion of your wages, so most cars are very well taken care of. It’s great to see these older Volvos looking factory fresh.
@@nakit_muusilla Parking Space Requirements: To purchase a car in Japan, you must have a designated parking space. The dealer will ask for proof of ownership or rental of a parking spot within a 2-kilometer radius from your residence. Managing a parking space can be costly. The bigger the car the more expensive it is to park. Average parking spaces are very small, so you would probably need 2 next to each other to park a car this size. Taxes and Fees: Automobile Tonnage Tax: This tax is based on the weight of the vehicle.
I was very impressed with my volvo, but when I got my 1984 Mercedes 300SDL and it had 380,000 miles on it, and everything worked, and it never broke down or left me stranded on the road, I really had to give it up for mercedes then. Let it be said that Mercedes Turbo-diesel sedans from 78 to 2006 are probably the best car ever made, just all around for what a car is and what a car should be. My CDI is large luxury car that get's 50mpg on biodiesel and hauls ass effortlessly. and for the same reason volvo are also incredible cars just for what a car is and what it should be, We're not always on a race track, they're just so comfortable and easy going. They make a lot of sense.
Only 250,000 miles?! In other words.. it's not even broken in yet? Old Volvo and old Mercedes.. specifically diesel.. they can do millions of miles. Not unknown for MB taxi in Europe and Africa with 2-3 million miles plus on original engine.. OM617, OM602 etc. bear in mine many of these are cars that are not even particularly well looked after, just probably topped up with some generic oil from a barrel, maybe changed once every few year. The guys in Africa aren't going to fancy store and buying little can of specialty oil that costs a small fortune.. they just get whatever is available. Average age of car that goes to Africa is like 17 years old, then it has maybe another 20+ years life ahead of it there. I myself have one W201 with OM602 5-cyl diesel with close to million miles on still drive like new.. I have another with very low miles because some old man owned it, less that 100k I think, need to check again. I have the W202 OM605 turbodiesel with 350 thousand miles and I refer to it as "the new car" 🤭 OM605 and OM606 good engines too. Similar but 5cyl vs 6cyl. Some prefer the 605 but 606 does have a bit more power potential. You can make these engines like 450bhp (OM605), 600bhp (OM606) with relatively few modifications and not a huge amount of money. Just upgrade pump, intercooler, turbo, management, gearbox etc.
I absolutely love this. As a Volvo owner for the past 20+ years, I feel it. My parents 240 was a star, and we miss it. Nowadays they are harder to find, and were unappreciated for many years. What a world these cars have around them, and I am so thankful they have a faithful following in this part of the world. Amazing!
You're right, part of the appeal is that modern cars suck! It's stupid the way the engineering ruins the car, like you can't turn of the head lights and pull up quietly in the dark, it wont stop beeping at you, the touch screen is shinning in your face and you can't figure out how to turn of the screen, it wont stop beeping at you for not wearing the seat belt. Nobody want';s this new crap, we all want a old mercedes or volvo and maybe a 1997 toyota trucks or something.
The flying brick nickname “sora tobu renga” (空飛ぶレンガ) is also used in Japan. However, “tiny kei cars” (doesn’t show a kei car) “shockotan” (it’s sha-kotan) “boosazookoo” (it’s boh-soh-zoku) Top Gear please, I’m available for consulting next Japan shoot. 😅
Volvos deserve all the love they can get. We love volvos here in Norway, too! My dad had a 164, a 144 and a 240 when I was growing up (in the 90s), so I've always had a soft spot for the angular shapet swedes. I had a '71 144 de luxe, colorcode 04 - turquoise. Lovely, lovely car. Should never have sold it... But I did...
Yeah, it's rather the opposite! The love for old Volvos is huge both in Sweden and outside of Sweden. They can be found in North Korea used as taxi cars, even if North Korea didn't pay for them it's still interesting how they chose old volvo cars and use them still today. Old vovo is just a very good car and those who appriciate quality will like it.
Anyone, and I mean ANYONE that's into automotive culture has a soft spot for old Volvos, especially the wagons. They have racing pedigree, are legendary for their toughness, reliability and affordability. They could have been considered boring cars at the time, but there is a lot to be said about how charming it is to sit or drive in. One of the saddest days for the automotive world was the day that Volvo and SAAB were shut down. They should have never sold Volvo to Ford and SAAB to GM, American companies can't seem to build a decent car to save their lives. That's why the only American manufacturer that sells here is Ford, but it's Ford of Europe, almost a completely different brand than the US counterpart.
Lol, Ford only owned it for less than 10 years. And during that time volvo produced some of the safest and reliable cars on the road (xc70 wagon). Since 2010 Volvo is owned by a Chinese company.
@@Pimpinainteasy91Management remained in Sweden under Ford, thats why they kept getting safer, not because of Ford. They are still competing at the top for safety to this day, under Geelys ownership, but under Swedish management.
Owned 270hp 850 T-5 wagon. Rare purple color along with an iconic 5 cylinder turbo B5234T engine. Still have a love for this car! Enormous trunk sizes, quiet inside and never ending torque of turbo engine. Volvo 4 Life ! ❤
volvo 240 is definitely the most volvo-like volvo there ever was and ever will be, my orange volvo 245 from 1975 is my dream car and i wil drive it 'till the day i die
In Sweden there is this saying: "Old Volvos never die, they only go faster". I am however happy to see that this culture in Japan are taking better care of their Volvos.
It has! The main character in the movie Drive My Car which won an Academy award for best international movie (based on a story by famed author Huraki Murakami) spends 90% of the movie in or around a beautiful Saab 900 SPG in Talladega Red. Absolutely beautiful movie featuring an equally beautiful car.
@@jclouw321 Yeah that was a truly stunning car. I don't think Saabs were imported into Japan in high numbers but those that remain are definitely looked after.
They look cool. I like the retro style. We are almost forced to get new cars in the U.K. the government don’t make it easy to keep and run older cars. It’s nice to see older cars still on the road.
How true & it’s false economy from an environmental point of view. We should be recycling, using & preserving what we have instead of being a throwaway society. On cars, we use to hold onto them for many years, now everyone replaces them every 2-3 yrs like they are some easy disposable throwaway item. How is this environmentally friendly?
Not really, our government is actually quite supportive, no mot for cars over 40 for instance. However our climate means old cars just don’t survive that well
Grew up with a 245 as the family car. My first time driving was in a 240, for the next 2 years leading up to my license I drove in a 740 and a 745. Absolutely love these cars. So happy to see them still turning heads and making people happy.
This makes me a proud 240 owner. My first car that I got from my dad when I was 16. Never selling it. Restoring it bit by bit every season and it is my summer daily driver
Here in Brazil too, many have a soft spot for Volvos. I currently daily drive a 98’ S40 (240.000km) in beautiful “sand silver” and a black 98’ C70 T5 coupé (120.000km), and my family drives a 11’ S60 T5 (circa 60.000km). Many friends have Volvos in the family and don’t intend to let go of these “parts of the family” (as Takehisa puts it). They are thought of as “old people’s cars” sometimes, but that has a charm of its own to many here.
Fantastic, one of the sayings Volvo has had is that you should feel as relaxed when you arrive as when you started your drive. These dudes feel how Volvo designed the cars and how they are supposed to make them feel. Relaxed, and safe, while also being boxy giving most people all the practicality they need without buying a massive SUV.
@@benjaminsmith2287 Not correct at all. In the past, Volvo was different, for better or for worse. But they had something very special. Today, would not consider buying anything owned by the rotten country of China.
Old Volvos have been a thing in Norway for as long as I can remember. The Volvo 240 is a whole cultural phenomenon. I remember we bought a 90's Volvo 940 in like 2009 (because of its reliability, not the cultural part of it), drove it well beyond 250k km, then sold it some years later with a solid profit to some youngsters who came from >1000km away who wanted to restore and pimp it up. Interesting to see that this old volvo culture is in Japan as well! These people keep their Volvos in a cleaner state than the ones in Norway though, I like this better.
I own 2015 V60 D5 AWD Ocean Race Polestar with 230 000km on the clock and Im loving every minute of It. My other one is 2002 S60 Sedan 2.4i , small comfy strong.
A friend of mines dad had a Volvo estate when we were kids and I went camping with them. It seemed like a camper back then. The amount of space and comfort it had, with the huge back seats. It was able to hold so much stuff. Great memories of the tank .👍
My family used to carpool to school with another family on our street, and they had a manual 240. I can still hear the timing of the shifts in my head 30 years later.
There is a famous comedian and entertainer in Japan called Tanaka Naoki, who also owns a 1993 Volvo 240 Estate. He sadly gets a lot of stick for it whenever it's brought up on a TV show for him still owning an old car, but I think it's awesome that he sticks by what he likes and continues to run and use that car.
*My uncle had a motorway crash in one of these. He stated had he have been in any other car, he might not be here today. Just suffered from whiplash and bruising ..... thankfully :)*
Paul Newman Volvo 960 with the super charger. He secured one for Letterman which you can see on Comedians in cars getting coffee. The ultimate sleeper.
Redblock for life iv owned two one being one of the last off the production floor. Out of all the cars iv owned the 240 is truly a special car and they came with race parts from the factory if you wanted to make it fast. Good old b230ft loves boost and super reliable. Let's not forget all the rally and racing pedigree that's behind it
I own a 1998 Volvo 945 myself and am a big fan of Volvos but also a huge fan of 90s Japanese cars. I've always wondered if there was any appreciation and or culture to the old Volvos in Japan and thanks to this video I just found out there is. So cool!
This does bring back the feeling of nostalgia when seeing older cars from the 70's and 80's on the streets. I also agree that retro look kind of blends nicely in a large city like Tokyo. Fast exotic cars don't really impress me as much now as much as old classic cars because it gets you thinking like they really care about that car or they would have bought a new one already.
Japan is in the resurgence of 50-60s aesthetic starts from their Americana fashion style in the last 5-10 years. Of course, the idea of mass market product with attention to the quality unlike nowadays counterpart, like they perceive from the product of old America will translate to other aspect of life too. Thus, what does represent the same value for a car? VOLVO!!
@@purplehaze7615 Americana is the idea in the minds of Japanese people about the American Dream era they try to emulate these last 10 years, especially in fashion. It has nothing to do with the real USA, but more like a fantasy of the ideal postwar American society would look like. Japanese perception of old American product is those made for blue collar people. Tough, hard to break, made for last, thus they associate it with jeans and denim. The Americana Japanese fashion stems from that ideology of old western America from 50s-60s (that's why brands like Dickies or Carhartt are so popular there). If we're talking about cars, the car from that era with a boxy design represents that value the best with the steel rigid body, made to survive the crash unscathed. But my guess is, since it's so hard to get a hand on American car brands from that era in Japan they turn to Europe with similar design and quality value. Thus the old Volvo is the obvious answer to that same "perversion" the Japanese have for that Americana value. Long-lasting and made for the blue collar people.
The presenter of this has a very old and outdated view of car culture. Older Volvo's have a considerable fan base with younger people, even in the UK. 200, 300, 700 and 900 series are all considered retro and very popular nowadays. He must be living under a rock.
I have a Ford Mustang GT and a 2009 Volvo XC70 with 200,000 miles on it - it's in absolute immaculate condition and I love it. Everyone most definitely has a soft spot for Volvo Wagons.
I'm Swedish and i've had 3 240's. A 77, 87 and an 88. Miss all of them :'( Mostly my 77 because it was the 50 year anniversary edition, only 3000 ever made. I bought it for about $400 and sold it for $650. Still my biggest regret because nowadays one in similar condition goes for like $15-20k... Nowadays i drive a S60. But still miss the old volvos, 140,240,740 etc all are too expensive nowadays
With kids suddenly (!) I was forced to buy a 245. And then addicted... The sluggishness and low maintenance is what gets you. Going fast? Get a motorbike!
Well, i want to thank Top Gear for making this video because of you i just bought my very own 240 GL Bignose 1985 Sedan in Pale green! After this video i went looking on marketplace and i found my dream example. Earlier this week i went to take a look i was sold. Can’t wait to take it for a spin this whole summer.
The XC70 T6 can become quite the force with some mods. Our 13 on 1-1/2 inch lowering springs, Bilsteins, the IPD sway, and wider R wheels handles like its on rails and pulls like a missile!
My first car was a Volvo 850… I hated it at first. I thought my family had me driving an old man car. It was. However I grew to love it. The wipers on the head lights and the weird kirks made it a very memorable car. Always have a special place in my heart for them.
@@rainbowwarrior2635 It did. Like I stated above, I grew to love it but being 16, it wasnt the car you’d love to have as a first car but I’m glad I did.
It's wonderful to see that thoughtful and restrained design can cross cultures, boundaries and languages. There's something about a beautiful brick we can all get behind.
Wow, these look immaculate. The designer of the 240, and many other classic Volvo, Jan Wilsgaard said: “The functional is often the beautiful. You follow the laws of nature and don’t make things more complicated than they really are. Functional, pragmatic solutions are often the most beautiful, too.” That's exactly true with the 240. It's got organically perfect proportions, not just a box on wheels, but a gorgeous box on wheels. And when these guys pick sturdy and solid as their adjectives of choice, it's exactly that...try killing a B230 engine. I've driven these dry and they still survived. Sort of. Never had a Volvo die on me.
Gen X here, almost 50. Back in '06 searching for a car to replace my beloved E30 (I didn't like BMWs of the 2000s) I chose a Volvo S40 as it still had some elements of the past decades at its design and philosophy. I still enjoy it to this day, cruising relaxed across Europe. If I feel adventurous I ride my bike! So yes, Volvo for life...
the 244 turbo was the dream car of many kids growing up in Sweden in the 70s and 80s rear wheel drive turbocharged 155 bhp, that thing moved for its time.
It's good to see ( relatively ) young people wanting to treasure and keep older cars. Volvo, Toyota, VW it doesn't matter as long as someone loves and cares for it, and keeps it alive for the next generation. Mottainai as he said is their word for too good to waste. Very sensible, very good.👍🇦🇺
All the older Volvo drivers I've met, have been some of the most down to earth and caring people. One 960 owner literally went several hours out of her way to get me fuel, after my fuel guage broke in Scotland 😄
Im a Swede and may come across as a traitor now, but Volvos are not cool. You dont "wow" when one drives by like you would with a R32, however they are one of the most respected cars there are out there, especially the bricks. I think that is way more valuable than being "cool".
There's a guy up the road from my who has a 740 Estate. Nicely looked after too. Not a young person either. Slow works - top speed around town is 60kph, 110 out on the expressway. Aside from the **really** steep hills, I can't see the cars being put under much stress. Should last a few decades yet!
@TopGear, Thank You! I follow a SAAB fellow in Japan on UA-cam. He puts out nice driving video content of SAAB groups cruising the islands. I still have a soft spot for Volvos, so my 21 year old son has both a 960 wagon and a classic 900 convertible. Both fantastic in their own right. Wish I could support these guys from California somehow. . .
I can with confidence say that old Volvos are the most sought after cars by Swedish country boys. Especially the 700 models. That's why an old beat up Volvo 740GL can cost around 50000SEK (5000EUR).
Prices are starting to go up here in Belgium as well. I have a 1989 740 GLE (petrol, 2.3L), in excellent condition. I bought it in 2010 for 900 Euros and now it would quite easily fetch 4.000. They are too cool to be thrashed around, though.
Love it, unique and also saving old Volvos from scrapping. Meanwhile young folk in the UK all want to drive the same Fiestas, wear the same clothes and have same haircuts lol.
Name the coolest Volvo ever 👇
P1800E
940 d24tic
164/264, even if i did have a Amazon in my Youth..
850 T5-R or 850R
360 GLT
We know that everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, has a soft spot for old Volvo wagons. It's just impossible to dislike them!
I’m 27, I got a 240 when I was 24 and it’s been my daily. It’s such a chill car, and it’s the car that people who aren’t carpeople like. Folks that never even notice an AMG or GTI will come up to you to tell you how someone in their family used to own a brick like it. It’s do wholesome.
Much like the American small block……. Combine the 2 and you got yourself a stew going.
I would really love to have an older Volvo coupe, or even a boxy sedan, so that I could put a Honda J32A (3.2L SOHC 24V V6) in it with a Nissan CD009 six speed manual and turbocharge it. I LOVE oddball builds, but I also love my Hondas...even though I drive a BMW.
@@johnjuiceshipper4963so true. I was at a coffee shop with my wife and as we were drinking our coffee, we sat by the window and saw a younger guy with his girlfriend taking pictures of my 240. It was so heartwarming 😊.
@@StargateMaker nah, american garbage.
As a swede this makes me very proud and happy😊
🇸🇪🇸🇪
As a swede, this makes me a vegetable 😊
Let’s gooo brother 🙌🇸🇪
I remember seeing vids of these racing back in the 80s….was great fun to watch
As an Aussie, I’d love to see Saab make a comeback!!
But more so, I just wish the likes of Volvo, Asko (Asea Skandia), Saab and Electrolux could return to their roots… there’s something sooo satisfying about that Swedish use of steel and that “thunk” when you close the door, the electrical contactors and their “clack” when you start the dryer.
🥰🥰🥰
The shot of those Volvos cruising at night is actually so beautiful.
I dont know why the reporter felt like he could speak for the entire Europe when he said volvos are considered not cool. They have been popular for tuning for a long long time and people really like them.
Yeah in Sweden you will see tuned old volvos everywhere many people in seden when they turn 15 they can drive A-traktor/EPA thast goes 30 km/h almost every single one off them are old volvos like the 740 or the 940 and you may see some v70s to
@@eliaswallin9272That's not really true anymore, sure on the countryside, but most EPA I see are v70 or maximally 10-15 years old.
The RWD volvos has started to become expensive.
@@davidcarlsson1396well yeah were i live they still have many older Volvos but yeah the V70 is like the most popular now
@@eliaswallin9272 Well they are tuning them for the worse. Personally I think it's very sad to see these young teenagers chopping the rear up and converting them into EPAs, they are after all becoming less and less and harder to find one in good condition.
@@adam.s007 you mean "more and more"
Here in Jakarta Indonesia, we have a respect for old Volvos. I always pass through a specialised Volvo workshop on my way to work. They work on Volvos from every age there, from the boxy classics, all the way to the newer modern Volvos. My parents were married in a Volvo, cause my dad opted for something else other than the typical Mercedes wedding car at that time. I still see old Volvos driving around the city from time to time, alongside rich SOB's driving the latest XC's.
Any chance you can link that workshop website here?
The condition of these Volvos are insane! 😍
These cars were built to last!
To own a car of this size in Japan costs an absolute fortune, even owning a small car is out of the reach of many. Having a car is a big portion of your wages, so most cars are very well taken care of. It’s great to see these older Volvos looking factory fresh.
@@CyberDunk2077how does the size affect to cost of owning a car?
@@nakit_muusilla Parking Space Requirements: To purchase a car in Japan, you must have a designated parking space. The dealer will ask for proof of ownership or rental of a parking spot within a 2-kilometer radius from your residence. Managing a parking space can be costly. The bigger the car the more expensive it is to park. Average parking spaces are very small, so you would probably need 2 next to each other to park a car this size.
Taxes and Fees:
Automobile Tonnage Tax: This tax is based on the weight of the vehicle.
@@nakit_muusillaTax, insurance and parking etc.
My mates dad had one of those. It had done 250,000 miles, enough I think to reach the moon, and still drove strong.
Friend of mine just got one, it has 320,000m, just needed to replace the belt and it's ready to go another 300k, lol
@@sqlevolicious nice buy, 320,000 miles for a Volvo 240/245 means its just broken in
I was very impressed with my volvo, but when I got my 1984 Mercedes 300SDL and it had 380,000 miles on it, and everything worked, and it never broke down or left me stranded on the road, I really had to give it up for mercedes then. Let it be said that Mercedes Turbo-diesel sedans from 78 to 2006 are probably the best car ever made, just all around for what a car is and what a car should be. My CDI is large luxury car that get's 50mpg on biodiesel and hauls ass effortlessly. and for the same reason volvo are also incredible cars just for what a car is and what it should be, We're not always on a race track, they're just so comfortable and easy going. They make a lot of sense.
Only 250,000 miles?! In other words.. it's not even broken in yet? Old Volvo and old Mercedes.. specifically diesel.. they can do millions of miles. Not unknown for MB taxi in Europe and Africa with 2-3 million miles plus on original engine.. OM617, OM602 etc. bear in mine many of these are cars that are not even particularly well looked after, just probably topped up with some generic oil from a barrel, maybe changed once every few year. The guys in Africa aren't going to fancy store and buying little can of specialty oil that costs a small fortune.. they just get whatever is available. Average age of car that goes to Africa is like 17 years old, then it has maybe another 20+ years life ahead of it there. I myself have one W201 with OM602 5-cyl diesel with close to million miles on still drive like new.. I have another with very low miles because some old man owned it, less that 100k I think, need to check again. I have the W202 OM605 turbodiesel with 350 thousand miles and I refer to it as "the new car" 🤭 OM605 and OM606 good engines too. Similar but 5cyl vs 6cyl. Some prefer the 605 but 606 does have a bit more power potential. You can make these engines like 450bhp (OM605), 600bhp (OM606) with relatively few modifications and not a huge amount of money. Just upgrade pump, intercooler, turbo, management, gearbox etc.
@@sqlevolicious 320,000m? 320km is literally brand new, why did they need to replace the belt? Becuase of age?
I absolutely love this. As a Volvo owner for the past 20+ years, I feel it. My parents 240 was a star, and we miss it. Nowadays they are harder to find, and were unappreciated for many years. What a world these cars have around them, and I am so thankful they have a faithful following in this part of the world. Amazing!
You're right, part of the appeal is that modern cars suck! It's stupid the way the engineering ruins the car, like you can't turn of the head lights and pull up quietly in the dark, it wont stop beeping at you, the touch screen is shinning in your face and you can't figure out how to turn of the screen, it wont stop beeping at you for not wearing the seat belt. Nobody want';s this new crap, we all want a old mercedes or volvo and maybe a 1997 toyota trucks or something.
Japanese knows quality when they see it. Cheers from Sweden!
The flying brick nickname “sora tobu renga” (空飛ぶレンガ) is also used in Japan.
However,
“tiny kei cars” (doesn’t show a kei car)
“shockotan” (it’s sha-kotan)
“boosazookoo” (it’s boh-soh-zoku)
Top Gear please, I’m available for consulting next Japan shoot. 😅
Volvos deserve all the love they can get. We love volvos here in Norway, too! My dad had a 164, a 144 and a 240 when I was growing up (in the 90s), so I've always had a soft spot for the angular shapet swedes. I had a '71 144 de luxe, colorcode 04 - turquoise. Lovely, lovely car. Should never have sold it... But I did...
Japan brought us JDM, and now they're creating a new wave of laid-back car culture.
Japanese Domestic Market
Calling old Volvos an unlikely passion shows how little you know car people.
Yeah, it's rather the opposite! The love for old Volvos is huge both in Sweden and outside of Sweden. They can be found in North Korea used as taxi cars, even if North Korea didn't pay for them it's still interesting how they chose old volvo cars and use them still today. Old vovo is just a very good car and those who appriciate quality will like it.
4 cylinder, possibly 5 speed manual, rear wheel drive, relatively light. its the ingredients for a racing machine
Anyone, and I mean ANYONE that's into automotive culture has a soft spot for old Volvos, especially the wagons. They have racing pedigree, are legendary for their toughness, reliability and affordability. They could have been considered boring cars at the time, but there is a lot to be said about how charming it is to sit or drive in.
One of the saddest days for the automotive world was the day that Volvo and SAAB were shut down. They should have never sold Volvo to Ford and SAAB to GM, American companies can't seem to build a decent car to save their lives. That's why the only American manufacturer that sells here is Ford, but it's Ford of Europe, almost a completely different brand than the US counterpart.
Volvo lives on in the polestar cars, they are phenomenal.
Lol, Ford only owned it for less than 10 years. And during that time volvo produced some of the safest and reliable cars on the road (xc70 wagon). Since 2010 Volvo is owned by a Chinese company.
@@Pimpinainteasy91that's an eventough situation not because of.
@@Pimpinainteasy91Management remained in Sweden under Ford, thats why they kept getting safer, not because of Ford. They are still competing at the top for safety to this day, under Geelys ownership, but under Swedish management.
@@JorgenKreedz Geely has managed to let Volvo become a bit less boring. Might be staff that moved over from SAAB as well.
Owned 270hp 850 T-5 wagon. Rare purple color along with an iconic 5 cylinder turbo B5234T engine. Still have a love for this car! Enormous trunk sizes, quiet inside and never ending torque of turbo engine.
Volvo 4 Life ! ❤
My favorite Volvo model… the 850.
have a purple 850 wagon too but sadly its not turbo. T5 in that color must have been insanely rare.
volvo 240 is definitely the most volvo-like volvo there ever was and ever will be, my orange volvo 245 from 1975 is my dream car and i wil drive it 'till the day i die
As a proud 1987 240 GL Sedan Driver, I am so happy Japan is getting into Volvos, they are truly a cozy, chill, fun and easy going car that last FORVER
In Sweden there is this saying: "Old Volvos never die, they only go faster". I am however happy to see that this culture in Japan are taking better care of their Volvos.
I hope Saab culture grows there in a similar way 😎
It has! The main character in the movie Drive My Car which won an Academy award for best international movie (based on a story by famed author Huraki Murakami) spends 90% of the movie in or around a beautiful Saab 900 SPG in Talladega Red. Absolutely beautiful movie featuring an equally beautiful car.
@@jclouw321 Yeah that was a truly stunning car. I don't think Saabs were imported into Japan in high numbers but those that remain are definitely looked after.
Here I am with a 2007 XC70 and a Saab 9-5 Aero . Whatamachines!!!!!
I think it'd be harder to upkeep a Saab though
@@ScienceStuff15sell the XC70 and get a 9-3X instead. So much more fun!
They look cool. I like the retro style. We are almost forced to get new cars in the U.K. the government don’t make it easy to keep and run older cars. It’s nice to see older cars still on the road.
How true & it’s false economy from an environmental point of view.
We should be recycling, using & preserving what we have instead of being a throwaway society.
On cars, we use to hold onto them for many years, now everyone replaces them every 2-3 yrs like they are some easy disposable throwaway item.
How is this environmentally friendly?
A+ to all the above comments about the 240.
Not really, our government is actually quite supportive, no mot for cars over 40 for instance. However our climate means old cars just don’t survive that well
Spell it out. ULEZ.!
Grew up with a 245 as the family car. My first time driving was in a 240, for the next 2 years leading up to my license I drove in a 740 and a 745. Absolutely love these cars. So happy to see them still turning heads and making people happy.
This makes me a proud 240 owner. My first car that I got from my dad when I was 16. Never selling it. Restoring it bit by bit every season and it is my summer daily driver
makes me happy to hear, these cars deserve to be treated well and be appreciated!
Here in Brazil too, many have a soft spot for Volvos.
I currently daily drive a 98’ S40 (240.000km) in beautiful “sand silver” and a black 98’ C70 T5 coupé (120.000km), and my family drives a 11’ S60 T5 (circa 60.000km). Many friends have Volvos in the family and don’t intend to let go of these “parts of the family” (as Takehisa puts it).
They are thought of as “old people’s cars” sometimes, but that has a charm of its own to many here.
Fantastic, one of the sayings Volvo has had is that you should feel as relaxed when you arrive as when you started your drive.
These dudes feel how Volvo designed the cars and how they are supposed to make them feel.
Relaxed, and safe, while also being boxy giving most people all the practicality they need without buying a massive SUV.
As a Swede, I drove my first Volvo 245 as a 9 y.o. xD Then grew up to be a huge JDM-fan. Makes me happy to see this :)
When Volvo was Volvo. Miss it.
Volvo is still Volvo. nothing stays the same. They're just more modern now.
@@benjaminsmith2287 Not correct at all. In the past, Volvo was different, for better or for worse. But they had something very special. Today, would not consider buying anything owned by the rotten country of China.
For sure, they are trying hard to climb the value lather and compete with BMW, Mercedes and the likes. Hmm, owned now by China...
Show how much you know about cars or Volvo in particular
There is a heck of a lot changed that it hardly could be viewed as the same brand now
@@OTOWN2STOCKTOWN OK. What's changed? What has changed at Gothenburg in terms of design and development and teams that direct the brand?
Old Volvos have been a thing in Norway for as long as I can remember. The Volvo 240 is a whole cultural phenomenon. I remember we bought a 90's Volvo 940 in like 2009 (because of its reliability, not the cultural part of it), drove it well beyond 250k km, then sold it some years later with a solid profit to some youngsters who came from >1000km away who wanted to restore and pimp it up. Interesting to see that this old volvo culture is in Japan as well! These people keep their Volvos in a cleaner state than the ones in Norway though, I like this better.
My v70 is still alive 330,000 miles and counting. It’s a stick shift too which adds extra cool factor
More videos like this please! Always interesting learning about the people who buy these cars on top of learning about the cars themselves
I own 2015 V60 D5 AWD Ocean Race Polestar with 230 000km on the clock and Im loving every minute of It. My other one is 2002 S60 Sedan 2.4i , small comfy strong.
As an owner of a 1989 Volvo 240 GL, these cars are a classic, simple to use, and still can be driven in todays date!
A friend of mines dad had a Volvo estate when we were kids and I went camping with them. It seemed like a camper back then. The amount of space and comfort it had, with the huge back seats. It was able to hold so much stuff. Great memories of the tank .👍
My family used to carpool to school with another family on our street, and they had a manual 240. I can still hear the timing of the shifts in my head 30 years later.
There is a famous comedian and entertainer in Japan called Tanaka Naoki, who also owns a 1993 Volvo 240 Estate. He sadly gets a lot of stick for it whenever it's brought up on a TV show for him still owning an old car, but I think it's awesome that he sticks by what he likes and continues to run and use that car.
beautifully shot, thanks for that TOP GEAR
It's a great relationship. We swedes love JDM cars and the Japanese our old Volvos.
🤝
Hell yes more videos of this kind of Japanese car culture. Top Gear cinematography is still amazing
I love my 240T and will love it forever
*My uncle had a motorway crash in one of these. He stated had he have been in any other car, he might not be here today. Just suffered from whiplash and bruising ..... thankfully :)*
The thing about modern cars being rounded 👏
I own a 1988 245. The 240 is a special vehicle for sure.
Dear Top gear. THIS is what we want! This is just amazing filming, editing and grading. Kudos! And please... More volvos 😍😍😍😍
Paul Newman Volvo 960 with the super charger. He secured one for Letterman which you can see on Comedians in cars getting coffee. The ultimate sleeper.
Japan continues to be awesome
Redblock for life iv owned two one being one of the last off the production floor. Out of all the cars iv owned the 240 is truly a special car and they came with race parts from the factory if you wanted to make it fast. Good old b230ft loves boost and super reliable. Let's not forget all the rally and racing pedigree that's behind it
What a cool little film. Beautifully shot and edited and some great people and their beloved Volvos.
Really awesome segment, hope to see more like this in the future! ❤
My first car was a 240 glt at the beginning of the 1990s. I loved it.
In Scandinavia these cars are very popular, and loved.
"It doesn't encourage speeding"
Meanwhile every swedish and finnish guy with a turbo brick (Like myself) : *GAS GAS GAS IM GONNA STEP ON THE GAS*
bought an old '88 744 a few months back and absolutely love it to bits
I own a 1998 Volvo 945 myself and am a big fan of Volvos but also a huge fan of 90s Japanese cars. I've always wondered if there was any appreciation and or culture to the old Volvos in Japan and thanks to this video I just found out there is. So cool!
Shout out from Sweden. Cool to see the cars we grew up with appreciated on the other side of the planet. Really nice examples too. Awesome!
I always get happy being around japanese people.
This does bring back the feeling of nostalgia when seeing older cars from the 70's and 80's on the streets. I also agree that retro look kind of blends nicely in a large city like Tokyo. Fast exotic cars don't really impress me as much now as much as old classic cars because it gets you thinking like they really care about that car or they would have bought a new one already.
Everything looking fresh in Japan☺️🥰They Are Impeccable country and clean
Those are some seriously nice looking Volvos, look like the just came off the factory floor! 👍
The A in Volvo stands for Aerodynamic.
The flying brick ❤
Japan is in the resurgence of 50-60s aesthetic starts from their Americana fashion style in the last 5-10 years. Of course, the idea of mass market product with attention to the quality unlike nowadays counterpart, like they perceive from the product of old America will translate to other aspect of life too. Thus, what does represent the same value for a car? VOLVO!!
Wtf has volvos to do with america, its european brand and volvos has huge scene in scandinavia.
@@purplehaze7615
Americana is the idea in the minds of Japanese people about the American Dream era they try to emulate these last 10 years, especially in fashion. It has nothing to do with the real USA, but more like a fantasy of the ideal postwar American society would look like.
Japanese perception of old American product is those made for blue collar people. Tough, hard to break, made for last, thus they associate it with jeans and denim. The Americana Japanese fashion stems from that ideology of old western America from 50s-60s (that's why brands like Dickies or Carhartt are so popular there).
If we're talking about cars, the car from that era with a boxy design represents that value the best with the steel rigid body, made to survive the crash unscathed. But my guess is, since it's so hard to get a hand on American car brands from that era in Japan they turn to Europe with similar design and quality value. Thus the old Volvo is the obvious answer to that same "perversion" the Japanese have for that Americana value. Long-lasting and made for the blue collar people.
top gear on youtube is really one of the best channels. thank you
Imagine owning a fully rebuilt 850r in Japan!
Fabulous to see classic Volvos getting love
The presenter of this has a very old and outdated view of car culture. Older Volvo's have a considerable fan base with younger people, even in the UK. 200, 300, 700 and 900 series are all considered retro and very popular nowadays. He must be living under a rock.
As a Scandinavian this makes me proud and happy. Volvo = S. O. L. I. D.
Finally, at age 45, weird school-boy me, the one who loved Volvo’s (and still does) is vindicated
Currently I own a P2 XC70 and a 911. Best of both worlds. Love the older box shapes of Volvo. I have had 5 and will continue to own at least one.
Reliable ,strong,safe,comfortable...After nearly 40 years driving,I bought my first Volvo 2 years ago..Wish I had discovered them years back..
Great video. Would love to see more like this from Japan.
I have a Ford Mustang GT and a 2009 Volvo XC70 with 200,000 miles on it - it's in absolute immaculate condition and I love it. Everyone most definitely has a soft spot for Volvo Wagons.
They are cool! No matter what. I have had 3 already....still going
I'm Swedish and i've had 3 240's. A 77, 87 and an 88. Miss all of them :'( Mostly my 77 because it was the 50 year anniversary edition, only 3000 ever made. I bought it for about $400 and sold it for $650. Still my biggest regret because nowadays one in similar condition goes for like $15-20k... Nowadays i drive a S60. But still miss the old volvos, 140,240,740 etc all are too expensive nowadays
With kids suddenly (!) I was forced to buy a 245. And then addicted... The sluggishness and low maintenance is what gets you. Going fast? Get a motorbike!
Love from Sweden 🇸🇪
The 240 is cult everywhere
Interesting because it's the same body as the 144, 145. I like the 164. Best front end styling of that body style for Volvo.
Fist car was volvo and I've never switched, love the boxy 90s bricks.
That turbo wagon was my favorite. A real sleeper.
I bet old Volvo prices will start rising thanks to this😂😂
Sucks for me as I’m looking to buy an 850/V70 for cheap… 🤷🏼♂️😬
You're fine for some time as 850/v70s are fwd and are not much sought after, except 850r or v70r
Yea if you look for Na 850, you should find one pretty cheap. Also manual 850 is really easy to repair
Well, i want to thank Top Gear for making this video because of you i just bought my very own 240 GL Bignose 1985 Sedan in Pale green! After this video i went looking on marketplace and i found my dream example. Earlier this week i went to take a look i was sold. Can’t wait to take it for a spin this whole summer.
Those Volvos look mint despite their age. It’s really awesome to see. I want one now😆
Such love and happiness makes the Volvo owner in me so very proud.
Love my 2015.5 T6 XC70 I know the feeling these guys have for their Volvos.
The XC70 T6 can become quite the force with some mods. Our 13 on 1-1/2 inch lowering springs, Bilsteins, the IPD sway, and wider R wheels handles like its on rails and pulls like a missile!
My first car was a Volvo 850… I hated it at first. I thought my family had me driving an old man car. It was. However I grew to love it. The wipers on the head lights and the weird kirks made it a very memorable car. Always have a special place in my heart for them.
Apparently you didn't have no turbo on that 850 because if you did as soon as you stepped on the gas you would have liked that car.
@@rainbowwarrior2635 It did. Like I stated above, I grew to love it but being 16, it wasnt the car you’d love to have as a first car but I’m glad I did.
1:36 sounds like Lagom
Sveriges livsprincip. Gamla Volvo visar den sanna svenska identiteten. Säker, pålitlig, kvalité.
It's wonderful to see that thoughtful and restrained design can cross cultures, boundaries and languages. There's something about a beautiful brick we can all get behind.
Quite a good idea. Now we must do the same with Crown Victorias/LTDs and Celebrity Eurosports.
Wow, these look immaculate. The designer of the 240, and many other classic Volvo, Jan Wilsgaard said:
“The functional is often the beautiful. You follow the laws of nature and don’t make things more complicated than they really are. Functional, pragmatic solutions are often the most beautiful, too.”
That's exactly true with the 240. It's got organically perfect proportions, not just a box on wheels, but a gorgeous box on wheels. And when these guys pick sturdy and solid as their adjectives of choice, it's exactly that...try killing a B230 engine. I've driven these dry and they still survived. Sort of. Never had a Volvo die on me.
Gen X here, almost 50. Back in '06 searching for a car to replace my beloved E30 (I didn't like BMWs of the 2000s) I chose a Volvo S40 as it still had some elements of the past decades at its design and philosophy. I still enjoy it to this day, cruising relaxed across Europe. If I feel adventurous I ride my bike!
So yes, Volvo for life...
the 244 turbo was the dream car of many kids growing up in Sweden in the 70s and 80s rear wheel drive turbocharged 155 bhp, that thing moved for its time.
And it won the European Touring Car championship in 1985, beating the Germans ;-)
Great video, really nicely shot and edited too
I had a similar Volvo back in the days and I still miss it to this day.
Volvo's are such underrated cars sadly.
It's good to see ( relatively ) young people wanting to treasure and keep older cars. Volvo, Toyota, VW it doesn't matter as long as someone loves and cares for it, and keeps it alive for the next generation. Mottainai as he said is their word for too good to waste. Very sensible, very good.👍🇦🇺
All the older Volvo drivers I've met, have been some of the most down to earth and caring people. One 960 owner literally went several hours out of her way to get me fuel, after my fuel guage broke in Scotland 😄
Did he just say boxy Volvos are almost not cool in the UK! Urm... no they are cool everywhere
Im a Swede and may come across as a traitor now, but Volvos are not cool. You dont "wow" when one drives by like you would with a R32, however they are one of the most respected cars there are out there, especially the bricks. I think that is way more valuable than being "cool".
There's a guy up the road from my who has a 740 Estate. Nicely looked after too. Not a young person either.
Slow works - top speed around town is 60kph, 110 out on the expressway. Aside from the **really** steep hills, I can't see the cars being put under much stress. Should last a few decades yet!
@TopGear, Thank You! I follow a SAAB fellow in Japan on UA-cam. He puts out nice driving video content of SAAB groups cruising the islands. I still have a soft spot for Volvos, so my 21 year old son has both a 960 wagon and a classic 900 convertible. Both fantastic in their own right.
Wish I could support these guys from California somehow. . .
Hej Have you seen the japanese movie from 2021 named "Drive my car" A major part in that movie plays by a red SAAB 900 😊
@@bengtniklasson1698 Ja det var en bra film, inte bara för 900 SPGns (eller 900 Aero i Europa) skull. Härligt att se den i så många scener dock 👍
I can with confidence say that old Volvos are the most sought after cars by Swedish country boys. Especially the 700 models. That's why an old beat up Volvo 740GL can cost around 50000SEK (5000EUR).
Prices are starting to go up here in Belgium as well. I have a 1989 740 GLE (petrol, 2.3L), in excellent condition. I bought it in 2010 for 900 Euros and now it would quite easily fetch 4.000. They are too cool to be thrashed around, though.
Always love Tom’s videos!
I have a 1995 Volvo 940 here in Peru, thinking on moving to Japan next year, and i want to buy another 940 there, its just an amazing car
Love it, unique and also saving old Volvos from scrapping. Meanwhile young folk in the UK all want to drive the same Fiestas, wear the same clothes and have same haircuts lol.