Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 how do you tell?

[360beast]

So how can you tell what's what?
Mine are 86's so what mark are they?
I found this for sale and I noticed it's bumpers aren't colour coded and it's an 85 so what mark is it?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=551071891

Also my dying 360 GLE is the same colour as this one, can anyone tell me what colour it is and the colour code please.

Thanks in advance.

[Chris_C]

That car is one of the reasons some of 300 lot don't like mks. That is a "mainly mk2 with a few mk3 bits thrown in for good measure" or a late MY85, early MY86.

In general, the "approved consensus" (i.e. Volvo never used it, it's just what the UK enthusiasts have been using for the last 10 years) is round lamps with stick on grill, mk1. Later style front lamps with side repeaters in wings, mk2. Later style front lamps, side repeaters in bumper, mk3.

But it really is a whole level harder than that, they changed lots yearly.

[360beast]

Thanks Chris.
Both of mine have the later style lights and the indicators in the bumpers so they are mark 3's right?

[345DL]

I agree with Chris.

As a reference, here is a Mk1, model years 1976-1981:


Here is Mk2, model years 1982-1985:


Here is a Mk3, model years 1986-end:


All the above are/were mine.

Remember, model years usually started in September of the previous year.

As Chris said, every model year changed (fairly significantly, especially 1977-1986). I have a little guide I made myself at home with some of the changes to identify which model year is which, I'll paste it here later.

[345DL]

As promised, here is a year-by-year guide, as far as I am aware.

The pictures are of either my cars, or ones I have found on the internet. The ones of each model year may not all be the same car, as it depends on the quality of pictures I have.

There are people who are far more expert than me who may be able to correct me (RJ, I'm thinking of you), and some changes I'm sure were introduced mid-model year.
1976
(Feb) Launched. One-Piece seats, brown interior, old basic dash, no side indicator repeaters, silver thin mirrors, silver window trim, front nose-cone, 3 door only.




1977
As 1976 as far as I can tell.




1978
A-frame headrests and Volvo style seats
Black dashboard and steering wheel with extra air vents by centre clock, and knob for light controls
New door card trim
Black mirrors


(this is not the standard steering wheel)

1979
Wing badging becomes ‘Volvo 343 DL’
Front number plate moves up to front bumper
Revised dashboard and steering wheel
Manual gearbox
Side indicator repeaters




1980
345 5-door introduced
Thick plastic door mirrors
Revised font on boot badges and wing badges
Front doors gain diagonal interior door pull




1981
Wrap around bumpers
GL trim level introduced




1982
Revised front




1983
Revised dashboard & door cards.
Revised trim - tweed
360 GLT and GLS introduced
343 and 345 now both called 340.
(These are pictures of a 360)




1984
Window-mounted wing mirrors
Loses front quarterlight pillars
3-door loses rear air vent




1985
Saloon introduced.
1.7 litre engine introduced
Revised trim with piping around edges
Smiths dashboard instrumentation replaced (fuel light now has central yellow dot)




1986
Redesigned front and rear
(later in model year) Blue-red heater controls




1987
Revised seat trim, tweed
Rear wash wipe on all hatchbacks




1988
Wider side rubbing trim, approx 3cm.
Recirculation button disappears from heater controls




1989
Black window trim introduced
Rear wash/wipe
Rear third brake light
340 (no DL/GL) introduced




1990
Saloon discontinued, 360 stopped
GL gets contoured steering wheel and plush interior
GL gets wide side rubbing strips
Models are only 340 and 340GL




1991 (Mar) Ceased
Catalyser standard(?)

[macplaxton]

THERE ARE NO MARKS!

***says he frothing at the mouth***

[Beetledrive]

reaches for popcorn

[345DL]

Calm down Rich :-p, that's why I took the time to break it down into model years, and as Chris said we have to concede that it seems to be a common way amongst some enthusiasts to identify the three main differences in the overall 'look' of 300s.

Within 300s, of course there are no real "mk's"(as there would be with several different models with the same name e.g. Cortinas, Fiestas, Astras, S60s, V70s etc), as the design never actually changed other than in the detailing.

Perhaps a better word would be 'phase', if one did want to split the 300s into the 3 different looks?

[Chris_C]

I like Mk's, I can hear Rich's teeth gnashing from here, it's why I came back to check the thread

[TonyS9]

A little additional info since the original question was on 360s;

MK 3 / 86-on 360
Thicker door bump trim inline with bumper mid strip, (also added to 340s in 1991).
Colour coded bumpers
Flatter style alloy wheels (GLT and SE models) and steels
Single button thicker steering wheel
Bonded rear window/revised tailgate/rear lights (also 340 in 86)

After that (360) there were changes in compression, cats+parifinalia, PS, leather seats, elec mirrors.