Volvo 480 Club Europe

Don't really know if this will mean something in the end, but still it's worth trying. Maybe if we get 1000-1500 signatures that might change something.
And yes. It looks quite inappropiate to use a social, political, etc demands site to this consumist matter, but still I don't think I am hurting anyone by using change.org.
Come on and sign for rear lights !!

https://www.change.org/p/volvo-car-corp ... e_petition

Well done. I have just shared the link on Facebook groups, fingers crossed

Not a criticism, but even if they did listen (doubtful) they could make 10 sets, and list them for €1000 Euro a side.

They’ve technically fulfilled their side of the deal.

I’d sooner petition to have the patterns/blue prints for all parts that are no longer produced realeased to general public so that they can be freely replicated.

Surely someone somewhere must know someone somewhere who could scan in 3D, no?

jifflemon wrote:Not a criticism, but even if they did listen (doubtful) they could make 10 sets, and list them for €1000 Euro a side.

They’ve technically fulfilled their side of the deal.

I’d sooner petition to have the patterns/blue prints for all parts that are no longer produced realeased to general public so that they can be freely replicated.

I know it is unlikely that this petition is going anywhere. I also know Hella had the molds and that they were supposedly scrapped years ago. I am also aware that producing a small batch is not viable.

You can go through all the pros and cons of making this petition or call me naive. There's also a discussion going on about the subject on the Facebook group. But still if you make the small effort of signing the petition and we reach 500 maybe and only maybe we can achieve something.

Joep Vriling has also exposed his experience in trying to make resin and other material replicas, even without the central reflector. Here in Spain there are some people trying to do something as well. Thing is that they're supposed to be made in layers as there's 3 different colours in the plastic (white, red and orange). Also Joep explained that even he was told that the rear bumper molds were scrapped he eventually found them so no information is definitive unless confirmed by the manufacturer and even then it still isn't definitive.

Peoples experience with some Italian lens manufacturers has also been explained in that Facebook thread.

So I guess we should gather as many signatures as possible and move from there. What if we suddenly had 200 people ready to but a complete set of lights for 350-400 the set. Would anyone be interested in producing.

Are we ready to accept fate and watch our 480s slowly fade to non road legal?

Give this a try. Sign the petition. There's nothing to loose.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/538118651 ... oup_header

Hear hear

I'm in

Done, and sent on to all my contacts in other clubs.

I'm not a member of Facebook, Twitter or the likes, as you may read I'm too old to bother. But may be any of you enlightened people could make me join in some quality like grandfather? If credentials are needed, I'll be glad to provide them via PM. Better still this post will do.

It's as easy as clicking the link above and adding you name on the site.

Up on 170 signers and running!

Got it! And opened a thread on the Dutch forum.

We're up on 215 signers and running.

I will leave this for another two weeks and then ask aroun in the forums and facebooks wich is the best way to proceed of where it should be headed to.

Is it only 215 of us interested in this ?

A month and a half has gone now since I started the petition. We're up in 232 signers. Not a like it's a public outcry for rear lights, but still a decent number. I think it's time to head this to whom it may concern.

I've been wandering through the Volvo Car site trying to find their Classic Car Dpt email but I cannot find it.

I could use some help with the mails I should send the petition for them to see, and whether to send them to Volvo / Hella / Skandix at the same time or not.

PLease PM me any mail directions to head this to.

PM sent with heritage contact

Fingers crossed and anything else that does not hurt.

First answer came today.

Seems like Skandix or Hella won't be able to make it. Still waiting for Volvo answer, but I'm afraid it won't be much different.

I copy the mail I just received.

Dear Baltasar,
today I have double checked the possibility of producing the lights 3468207 and 3468208 and I have to tell you that there will be no new production! We got the message from the OE factory Hella that all tooling have been destroyed already in 2014. Due to very high costs its not possible to start new tooling!

I am sorry but this is the way it is! You may want to announce that information so everyone knows how the situation is like!

best
Matthias
(CEO)

And here the answer from Volvo Car.

At least I have tried. That's the spirit!



Dear mr Moratal,

First of all my appreciation for your engagement for a classic Volvo model, the 480. I fully understand the need of the remanufacturing of the rear light in order to carry out restorations in a satisfactory way.

However, Volvo Cars currently don´t have any remanufacturing of parts for classic models, not even for models where the demand is bigger, like the PV444/544, P1800, Amazon etc. The reason for this is simple: there is no business case for it, the demand for classic Volvo parts are not big enough to justify this.

The global responsibility for older Volvo parts has been transferred to GCP, Genuine Classic Parts. They also carry out some remanufacturing and in 2013 they did this with the 480 rear lights, 250 sets were made. The reason it could be done was that Skandix in Germany bought 80 % of the production. The tools, however, was in so bad condition that they had to be scrapped afterwards. And the cost for making new tools is so big that it can´t be justified from a business point of view – according to GCP.



VP Autoparts in Sweden is the biggest supplier of remanufactured Volvo parts, with a big selection for PV:s, P1800s, Amazons etc, but very few for the 480. They would be the company with capacity to remanufacture the 480 rear lights, but I have no information if they have any plans to do this.



Kind regards,









Per-Åke Fröberg



Volvo Cars Heritage

well at least you got a reply, many of these big companies can't be bothered . . . . . .

in all honesty would the answer to be to 'cast' them from a clear plastic , using a silicone mould for out side, then coloured bulbs.

BUT maybe the lights have to have the 'lens effect' on the inside as well to meet some 'obscure' EU regulation(s) ?

We only need the outer bit.

Next step: this guys.

https://www.facebook.com/daf3344465566v ... cation=ufi

They do already manufacture lens and other parts for Volvo 300 series and some other models.