General: 164: ... a little test...

[john h]

Here's a nice 164 for sale in Australia. Can anybody spot the interesting specification difference to UK cars?

(Well, it's slightly interesting, in an anorak kind of way)

Cheers

[Triple-S]

In an anorak-sort of way, if the car is RHD (can't see from pic) are you implying the wipers pivot as if LHD? My 164s all pivot from the opposite side to your pic, but on Amazons at least, that isn't always the case. I have two 122s which have been in the UK all their lives yet the wipers operate from different sides!
Unless, of course, the difference is VERY anorakky and far too specialist for my feeble eyes.
One thing I will say: if the car is for sale, don't you think he would have taken the trouble to wash all those dead beasties off the front before he took that pic?

Paul

[DuncVolvoTurbo]

Shouldn't it have chrome mirrors (and depending on what year it is), they could also be wing mounted?

Can't say that the 164 model is one of my strong points.

[john h]

Paul got it.

All European 140/160s had LHD wiper pattern, including British market cars. It was 2 or 3 years into the 240/260 series before our RHD cars got RHD wipers.

I think I read that the Aus cars were built in South Africa, another RHD market so they beat the Swedes to this improvement.

The black mirror is aftermarket I think.

The car is for sale because the vendor's elderly mother has given up driving, so it's not an enthusiast sale. It needs a clean but looks a good car for $700 (about £325). I'm not buying it... I suspect cost of transport to Yorkshire is a bit steep!

John

[Triple-S]

Dunc, I've had loads of 164s over the years, and every one except my current car-show 164E has had its mirrors on the doors, just below the 1/4 lights. However my late 164TE has them on that little triangular metal section in front of where the quarter-light window would be if it had them. Thats because Volvo had started making the first 240s then, and the 1/4lightless doors/mirrors were common to both models.

My 164E is only different because the previous owner towed a caravan with the car, and had extensions on them. It may have been like that from new, as I can't see any trace of filled holes, although I think weeny wing mirrors on such a big car look naff.

I'll pass the anorak back to my baby brother now.....

Paul

[Derek UK]

A little challenge for you Paul, can you post a pic of your Amazon that has the wipers that work and park the blades to the nearside on a UK car, please. i.e. the blades don't park in front of the UK driver.
As a comment, the two wiper pivots are symetrical on the Amazon.
Oz cars are RHD.

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by john h

Here's a nice 164 for sale in Australia. Can anybody spot the interesting specification difference to UK cars?

(Well, it's slightly interesting, in an anorak kind of way)

Cheers

Bumpers straight !!
Regards
Mike B

[carnut1100]

Slimline straight bumpers just mean it is a 1973 model, like mine.
Bigger straight bumpers on '74s, along with mirrors in the corner of the windows and 240 style doors with no quarter lights and steel window frames. Also '74 has a fuel filler flap instead of an exposed cap.
Chrome mirrors are original, but are often broken and replaced with aftermarket cheapos, like on mine ( similar to that one) and they are not easy to find here in good condition and pretty pricey.

Our Volvos were not assembled in South Africa, but here in Australia, from about '72/73 onwards.
They were the first cars built here to have door intrusion beams, and I think all local assembled ones have the lift up door haldles not push button.
All metallic painted ones were fully imported though, as Volvo didn't trust the local paintshop with metallics!
We imported CKD kits from Sweden and assembled them in Melbourne.