1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Here you can start a thread about your 480 days. Only the starter of the thread is allowed to fill his thread, and only one thread per person. Threads are simply a personal diary.

Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1175
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by MisterH » Wed Dec 23, 2020 1:42 pm

At long last, justice has been done to how the car looks

Image

Romsey Car Accident Repair have done a stellar job in recreating the Arctic Blue Metallic paintwork and transforming the way the car looks. The wheels were also refurbished at the same time, while not perfect matches to the centrecaps, it is very good indeed. Most importantly though the car now looks authentic, it is not a complete respray, and the good areas of original paint have been kept, such as on the bonnet.

The door mirrors have also finally been given the correct inserts. But they say a picture is worth a thousand words as we all know, so I will let you lust over some Wedgeograhpy:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

My mother was shocked at the £2100 cost of getting it done, but I reckon the car would now be worth around that mark, given it's very good mechanical condition and now good bodywork (The car's not perfect, interior and little things still have issues, but it does at least have a straight MOT :rofl: )
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
edie_fox
480 Rookie
Posts: 424
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:05 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by edie_fox » Wed Dec 23, 2020 2:02 pm

That looks great, I bet you're so happy to get it home. :hopping:

Yes, the money certainly flies out but you're chipping away at that neverending to-do list (however much it costs) and that's a positive point....at least that's what I keep telling myself as my bank account drains! :lol:

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1175
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by MisterH » Wed Dec 23, 2020 2:12 pm

edie_fox wrote:
Wed Dec 23, 2020 2:02 pm
That looks great, I bet you're so happy to get it home. :hopping:

Yes, the money certainly flies out but you're chipping away at that neverending to-do list (however much it costs) and that's a positive point....at least that's what I keep telling myself as my bank account drains! :lol:
Thanks Edie, glad to see I am not alone with that! Though as a daily, I don't get much time to fettle, and without a garage it has to be fettled in the cold :scared:
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2537
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by jamescarruthers » Wed Dec 23, 2020 2:52 pm

That looks absolutely lovely mate! Really pleased you have it back and can get it used.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

Helmert3
Started learning about 480
Posts: 53
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2020 7:43 pm

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by Helmert3 » Wed Dec 23, 2020 3:45 pm

Looks phenomenal mate 👍

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1175
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by MisterH » Wed Dec 23, 2020 3:53 pm

I won't say it looks better than the quattro, but if they were parked together I'd say they'd look right. Arctic Blue is such an amazing colour, and contrary to the designer's opinion, I quite like the black bumpers (also means I don't have to worry as much with SUVs in tight spots)
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
Jay-Kay-Em
Advanced 480 rookie
Posts: 502
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:42 pm
Location: Huntingdon
Contact:

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by Jay-Kay-Em » Wed Dec 23, 2020 6:42 pm

Congratulations on paint completion!

Not many F-reg examples looking like that nowadays. A credit to you.
Jay-Kay-Em
-------------------------------------
Click here for My 480 Turbo Diary
Click here for My Cars

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1175
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by MisterH » Wed Dec 23, 2020 9:33 pm

Jay-Kay-Em wrote:
Wed Dec 23, 2020 6:42 pm
Congratulations on paint completion!

Not many F-reg examples looking like that nowadays. A credit to you.
Thank you, early cars suffer a bad rep which in my experience is unjustified but it certainly a really nice looking thing now
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2563
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:03 am

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by jifflemon » Thu Dec 24, 2020 4:51 pm

MisterH wrote:
Wed Dec 23, 2020 9:33 pm
Thank you, early cars suffer a bad rep which in my experience is unjustified but it certainly a really nice looking thing now
I'm finding it fascinating seeing the evolution of the cars - R1 & R3, even though very similar in age have their very subtle differences. The later ones suffered from cost cutting exercises which really are mind boggling... :shock:

Make sure you get plenty of cavity wax in it now, keep the insides looking as good as the outside!

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1175
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by MisterH » Thu Dec 24, 2020 5:23 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Thu Dec 24, 2020 4:51 pm
MisterH wrote:
Wed Dec 23, 2020 9:33 pm
Thank you, early cars suffer a bad rep which in my experience is unjustified but it certainly a really nice looking thing now
I'm finding it fascinating seeing the evolution of the cars - R1 & R3, even though very similar in age have their very subtle differences. The later ones suffered from cost cutting exercises which really are mind boggling... :shock:

Make sure you get plenty of cavity wax in it now, keep the insides looking as good as the outside!
Thank you, the brown oily stuff will do for now, but I think the spray shop did say they did something to help with rust proofing, but will look into cavity waxing. Is it offered as a service? it is something I think I'd prefer to be done professionally
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2537
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by jamescarruthers » Thu Dec 24, 2020 6:00 pm

Did you ask them to paint your light pods or were they always done? They always look much better painted IMHO
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1175
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by MisterH » Thu Dec 24, 2020 6:29 pm

jamescarruthers wrote:
Thu Dec 24, 2020 6:00 pm
Did you ask them to paint your light pods or were they always done? They always look much better painted IMHO
They were always done due to its MY, but the offside had a little patch were some thinner had spilt on it. As I'm sure you know, the pods were always coloured on this era of 480 and still retain most of the original paint
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
brinkie
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 872
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:20 am
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by brinkie » Sat Dec 26, 2020 7:47 pm

MisterH wrote:
Wed Dec 23, 2020 9:33 pm
Thank you, early cars suffer a bad rep which in my experience is unjustified but it certainly a really nice looking thing now
The only bad rep the early cars have is dodgy electronics, and even that can be sorted out.
The rest is just neglect, early cars are older than the latest.

Yours looks stunning now. :D
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1175
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by MisterH » Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:13 pm

New Year New Plates at last
Image

Image

What do my fellow plate enthusiasts think?

Happy New Year All!
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2537
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by jamescarruthers » Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:50 pm

Thank God for that! Please burn narrow font plates! :wink:

Happy New Year to you too!
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1175
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by MisterH » Fri Jan 01, 2021 5:51 pm

jamescarruthers wrote:
Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:50 pm
Thank God for that! Please burn narrow font plates! :wink:

Happy New Year to you too!
Thanks James, glad they get your approval, I take it the blue border is ok, as I have seen them around on period cars
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2563
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:03 am

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by jifflemon » Fri Jan 01, 2021 6:08 pm

Gets a thumbs up from me - Thanks to our amazing laws, they're technically illegal.

That for me, gives extra kudos, as they're geekily illegal (rather than "Silver on black or Stupid font" illegal)

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1175
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by MisterH » Fri Jan 01, 2021 6:20 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Fri Jan 01, 2021 6:08 pm
Gets a thumbs up from me - Thanks to our amazing laws, they're technically illegal.

That for me, gives extra kudos, as they're geekily illegal (rather than "Silver on black or Stupid font" illegal)
Yes, although these plates have all the required legal details (I ticked the box to include them) so technically while I am breaking the law, I am also legal :boom:
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
edie_fox
480 Rookie
Posts: 424
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:05 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by edie_fox » Fri Jan 01, 2021 9:41 pm

Looking good :)

Which company did you use? I keep looking but it's just something that gets pushed to the back of the queue!

I had to just get some quick when I put my plate on!

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1175
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: 1988 Volvo 480 ES - A New Era Dawns: One year on

Post by MisterH » Fri Jan 01, 2021 9:47 pm

edie_fox wrote:
Fri Jan 01, 2021 9:41 pm
Looking good :)

Which company did you use? I keep looking but it's just something that gets pushed to the back of the queue!

I had to just get some quick when I put my plate on!
I used platesforcars they have a range of options and classic fonts, A1 show plates have a good repro Serck font, but in my view, the plate material wasn't very nicr
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

Post Reply