480 Celebration.

[CliveD]

I have reluctantly decided, due to space considerations, to part with my 480 Celebration.
To simplify matters, I am pasting the text from my current ad on the Car & Classic website:

The 480 was introduced as the first car of the Volvo 400 series in 1986. Manufactured at the companies Born Plant in the Netherlands, production continued until 1995.
The final batch of vehicles was named the 'Celebration'. These cars were manufactured to a high specification including full leather upholstery, air conditioning, unique alloy wheels and a choice of three special paint finishes. Production was limited to 480 cars, each bearing a dashboard plaque denoting its number in the series. This car is 202/480.
This car was purchased from its original owner earlier this year, having covered fewer than 50,000 miles during its 18 year history, when she made the decision to give up driving, due to infirmity. The car has in the intervening period undergone a program of light restoration, returning it to close to concourse condition.
The car has been garaged for its entire life and continues to be. Issues, such as corroded rear arches are not a problem with this car. This happens when road muck accumulates between the arch return and the inner panel. This area has always been kept clear as part of the cars ongoing maintenance. The bodywork is completely clear of even very minor damage and, having been garaged the paint finish is like new.
When the car was purchased it was noted that the rear lamp units were just beginning to go a little cloudy. A common fault with this car. I was fortunate enough to purchase what I believe to be the last set of NOS items available in the whole of Christendom!
The Information Centre works faultlessly, as do the 'pop up' headlamps.
New tyres have just been fitted at the front of the car, the rears are in good order. The car has a brand new MOT, with no advisories.
The car is being sold only to free space for my next project, an MGA Coupe.
The car is eminently practical as an everyday vehicle, retuning around 35mpg. It is presently comprehensively insured on a Classic Car Policy at a cost of £120 annually with no ncb requirement.
There are no 'bad points' with this car. Were I keeping it I believe that I would, as a precaution, renew the cam belt at some point. The current belt is around 5 years old, but has only covered around 10,000 miles. This is not a difficult or expensive job on this car. The air conditioning, whilst being fully functional, did struggle to maintain icy cold during the recent 30 degree plus temperatures. A £40/£50 recharge should solve this.
This car may well be the best 480 in existence, it will, no doubt, be the best available. As such you would not expect it to be the cheapest. It is nevertheless first class value for money.

As to the price; I estimate, without any consideration for my time, that the car owes me £2,500.00 and that's what I would like to see for it.
Please don't bother to respond telling me that it's expensive. I know it is! However if you wanted one of these as a 'keeper', this is probably the one.

[jakobandhismakarov]

It looks very straight, but if I was laying out £2500 for a 480 I'd want everything - and I mean everything - to be working properly, and that includes the air-conditioning.

You don't get your time back when dealing old cars and you can't put a price on it. I wish people would learn this. 'Oh well I went and did this and spent three hours fixing a door regulator so the car owes me £100' etc etc. It doesn't work like that. It never has, and never will.

Cue the 'If I pay top money I expect a top car' pish.

Best of luck with the sale.

[CliveD]

You possibly misunderstood my text. The air-conditioning does work. I merely commented that it struggled a little in the recent 30 degree temperatures. So did I!
I know full well that you cannot expect to get a return for the time that you spend working on a car. That's why I said 'without any consideration for my time'.

[lyron]

clive, thats one stunning looking car. although i am not in the market for such a motor i do wish you good luck with the sale


ron.

[CliveD]

Thanks Ron, for your kind words.

Clive.

[shaun w]

really nice car but not the best 480 in existence mines got 10560 mile on it from new got every receipt and the air con hasn't been gassed up ever but good luck with sale mate

[CliveD]

Point taken Shaun! Bet that it's the best available though.

Thanks
Clive.

[CliveD]

My 480 has now been sold to Dennis and Jill from Poole. The intention is that the car will in future be used on a daily basis.
Final price agreed upon was £2,300.00 with an allowance for cam belt replacement.

I still have the V50 R Design, so will continue to visit the site on a regular basis.