THE CABRIO

084ovlov · Post by **084ovlov** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 2:35 pm

Just a short question:

Why is nobody making a kit for cabrio replica?

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 2:38 pm

Several people around the world have started cabrio projects, but I don't know if any ever completed. When it was last discussed here, getting the correct strength back into the bodywork with the roof missing seemed to be one of the harder aspects to overcome. DBS says he'd be prepared to have a go to make one if someone was prepared to pay up 3k up front...

084ovlov · Post by **084ovlov** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 3:01 pm

Yea, does it exist technical drawing of the cabrio that was originally made?
Maybe the centreconsol could be redesigned and made in steel and something added to the channels, to strengthen the floor. And maybe the rearwheels could have the same distance between them as usually.
If the kit was based on the original and registered cabrio, it might be easier to get such a kit accepted by the authorityâ€¦?
Maybe the club should administer the development of a cabrio kit?

I think this is done with the DS in UK, but are not sure.

Website · Post by **coyote1980** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 4:39 pm

The chance of you getting your hands on the original Cabrio drawings are ZERO... Volvo does well in keeping these secret

Maybe there is a possibility through ex employees of ACT Belgium who made several 480 Cabrio.

chris1roll · Post by **chris1roll** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:09 pm

i expect it would have to become two seater, to brace up the rear end, between the wheels.... 3 grand eh?....

dbsvolvos · Post by **dbsvolvos** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 3:09 pm

yeah 3k is to scare off dreamers , it realistically wouldnt cost more than 4k including a respray , since ther eisnt a roof to spray , come on what you waiting for !

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 3:13 pm

You can do mine if I can pay in installments over... lets say 15 years

084ovlov · Post by **084ovlov** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 4:01 pm

The making of at least 30 toppless carsâ€¦
A prototype kit cabrio may be financed through an advance of 3k/30x30 members and in collaboration with a company that later on delivers the kits?
30 kits with: canvas, carbon reardeck and luggage compartment, panels, steel frames, roll-bar, drawings, registration-papers and so onâ€¦ (1Â½ k for a kit?)

Maybe a steel center consol, continuous between the first and second part, could reach a frame between the rear suspensions, but just behind the backseats?

If Volvo keeps their drawings, the one in Sweden is still available. Or if it was possible to use the red one in a marriage, it might be possible to investigate this furtherâ€¦ A kit will of cause never be like the original, since its transformed afterwards. It has to be carried out in a different way, but it is sure something to learn from it.

All together a kit could maybe give 30 well used 480 a second life, but does it exist 30 members interested in such a cabrio kit?

Daniel480 · Post by **Daniel480** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 6:19 pm

to expensive !

For your private use, itÂ´s no problem to build a cabrio,if you have enough money to pass the MotÂ´s in the different countries.

A replica kit is like a new production car, so im certain that Volvo will not give a permission to rebuild the 480.
And because itÂ´s a new car, you have to pass the newest Euopean emissions testÂ´s, i think E4.
So you need new engines, which are clean enough to pass E4.

Very expensive

So if somebody wantÂ´s a 480 Cabriolet, build it by your own

regards.

Dan

MatBat · Post by **MatBat** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 6:24 pm

I'll get the angle grinder out!

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 12:08 am

Can me and my anglegrinder come play at Matbat's house too?

084ovlov · Post by **084ovlov** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:12 pm

Wellâ€¦,
all the best wishes to the individuals who has started cabrio projects.
Its probably challenging to do it separately, but more fun to see it realised!

Regards

chrispaws13 · Post by **chrispaws13** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:59 pm

There must be a volvo cabrio hidden somewhere by Volvo undercover agents!! I think we shoud try and find it as it looks nice

levensnevel · Post by **levensnevel** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 7:43 pm

Eleven months ago.
Somewhere south of the border

It was a day to remember

In addition to what has been mentioned on this website about the illusive cabrio I dug up following info a year ago

In first instance the Volvo 480 was destined to take the North American market by storm and a cabrio / targa version was developed back in 1986 and scheduled to be presented to the public during the Amsterdam International Motorshow in February 1987. This first public showing was cancelled at the very last moment. Which was a bad omen as, although this version received the official Volvo sign of approval and re-appeared on the 1992 Geneva Motorshow as 'running' prototype, she never actually went into production. Reasons: the British company which would do the conversion, Motor Panel, went bankrupt and, more importantly the 480 never made it across the ocean as Hondaâ€™s Accord Aerodeck was sold in North America for a price which was 33% less than what Volvo intended to charge for her 480.
Later on EBS, a Belgian Company, joined forces with Robert Koch. They built a Cabrio Version without rollbar. And predicted an annual production between 1,000 and 2,000 units. Unfortunately Volvo Headquarters didnâ€™t share that optimism and disapproved this version, which effectively killed this project too. It was one of the surviving EBS & Koch cabrio's which we actually saw south of the borderl.
Even a 3rd version of the Volvo 480 cabrio was developed and produced in a 0-serie. A coproduction from the TonCar, the Netherlands & ACT, Belgium partnership. The same combination which was responsible for the Volvo 440 Estate, another aftermarket conversion. The 0-serie consisted of two units: a green one and a red one. Unfortunately this project was abandoned aswell as they failed to raise sufficient capital for a first productioncycle of 100 cars.
Apart from these three failed attempts some crafty 480 enthousiasts started to created their own one-off cabrio. I've been told that C.P.Motors, Polesworth UK has succeeded to built a blue convertible complete with boot spoiler. Whenever I cross the channel I will surely plan a trip to Polesworth.

atex61 · Post by **atex61** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 7:59 pm

Content removed.

felyx · Post by **felyx** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:26 am

Theres a convertible in a showroom near n solihull birmingham ask "LEE" he knows exactly where it is.

cheers felyx

Sophie · Post by **Sophie** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:56 am

There are a couple of guys around my place who actually make cabrios out of a normal car. I shall take the 480 there and see how much they would want for doing it...

jamescarruthers · Post by **jamescarruthers** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 2:55 pm

@Lee: At a Volvo dealer you mean??? My God this is news to me and I am very interested to have a look

Website · Post by **coyote1980** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 7:33 pm

felyx wrote:Theres a convertible in a showroom near n solihull birmingham ask "LEE" he knows exactly where it is.

cheers felyx

Lee, please fill us in!!!!! Is this true???

lee · Post by **lee** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:11 pm

Its at a volvo specalists. They bought a part completed car from volvo when ford halted the production of the 480 cabrio.

They then did all the fiberglass work themselves to finish the job off.

I have seen this car many time as they go to a lot of the VOC national rallies.

The company is CP motors in polesworth. Not far from tamworth

Volvo 480 Club Europe

THE CABRIO

THE CABRIO

cabrio

Re: cabrio