General: 140: 142 Population Density UK

[don kalmar union]

Originally Posted by bertiebandit

They made 142's in 1978?!

Sorry, my mistake PYM 348F.

Don.

[bertiebandit]

Originally Posted by Pigeon

Interesting how said expectation does not fit with my own... I regard 2 doors as a more desirable specification than 4, as it leads to a lighter, stronger and more rigid bodyshell and also looks better. I love my 164 but I can't help wishing they'd made a 162... and a 165.

I've seen 142's with 164 front ends grafted on- and they look fantastic!

Originally Posted by john.wigley

Bertiebandit:

I am happy to bow to Jack's encyclopaedic knowledge of the 140 series cars. Clearly the 142 was officially imported to the UK. I was incorrect in my belief and appologize for the error.

Like you I do not recall seeing one on the road here, but I have seen a great many in use in Sweden - certainly upto about the mid-90s.

Pigeon:

I was not suggesting that 4 doors are in any way more desirable than 2, only that I believe cars in this market place were (and, indeed are) 'expected' to have 4 - high end coupes being an obvious exception.

Maybe that is why Volvo did not produce a 162 variant as it might have been perceived as too 'down market'. Also - again only my personal view - perhaps they did not produce a 165 variant because estate cars had a 'utility' connotation that again did not sit comfortably in this market sector at the time these cars were current. On the other hand, their reasons may have been of a technical nature and nothing at all to do with marketing policies.

Kind regards, John.

No need to be so formal with me John!

I have to agree with you about the perception of 4 door high end cars.
The idea was that the 2 door car would be a cheaper version, or a base model- whereas now the 2 door version of a car tends to be the high end version or a homologation version for racing.

I personally prefer the look of the 2 door.

[Pigeon]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

I was not suggesting that 4 doors are in any way more desirable than 2, only that I believe cars in this market place were (and, indeed are) 'expected' to have 4 - high end coupes being an obvious exception.

Sure, I was just commenting on how the expectations of the market do not fit with my own...

I nominate the Jaguar XJC as "star exception"

Originally Posted by john.wigley

Maybe that is why Volvo did not produce a 162 variant as it might have been perceived as too 'down market'. Also - again only my personal view - perhaps they did not produce a 165 variant because estate cars had a 'utility' connotation that again did not sit comfortably in this market sector at the time these cars were current. On the other hand, their reasons may have been of a technical nature and nothing at all to do with marketing policies.

It could be argued that there was some error of judgement there... there was sufficient demand for a 165 that some garage not a million miles from Liverpool whose name eludes me got the angle grinder and welder out and stuck 164 front ends on 145 tails. They produced several tens of these IIRC... if a garage producing specials could sell that many I'm sure Volvo would have sold a lot more. And certainly more than they sold P1900s

[bertiebandit]

It has to be said that a 164 sans front bumper looks very nice indeed.

[Pigeon]

Originally Posted by bertiebandit

I've seen 142's with 164 front ends grafted on- and they look fantastic!

Oh ****...

They would, wouldn't they...

[bertiebandit]

I've just sent an email to Volvo GCR requesting details of the car. If the stats on this site are to be believed then only 5190 were made!
Although there is a disclaimer on the site saying the 140 figures weren't always accurate.

[bertiebandit]

Woot!

Just had a phone call from a fella in Preston who does 140 and 240 parts and he's found me a bootlid! £45! Bargain!

[222s]

Originally Posted by Pigeon

Oh ****...

They would, wouldn't they...

Very nice! I've been thinking about 162s recently as well!!!

BTW, what's GCR?

[bertiebandit]

Global Customer Relations. I spotted it in another thread so used the email address to send a request for specific information to the car and UK 142 information in general. If I get any of the latter I'll pass it on to the club so it benefits all interested members.

gcr@volvocars.com if you ever need it.

[Audrey Old]

If I can get the hang of attaching photos here, you will see a pic of the 142 I bought from the widow of a friend. It was entirely original except that some little s*ds nicked the mirrors and wing badges whilst it was in the garden waiting for me to take it away after the funeral. Mirrors replaced, but correct badges never found.

It had incredibly low mileage (about 40k) and after a service and new core plugs went very well with its twin carbs and big-valve head. A real eye-turner, but as I fundamentally don't like 2-door cars I sold it two years ago to someone in the Worcester area.

From what I heard a few months ago its still going strong.

Paul