Volvo 480 Club Europe

Ok, I've chipped in - I think this initiative answers another question recently posed about the forum - being a clear indication that we are a club (i.e. common goals, collaborating and working together). It is a great idea, and one which can only have positive impact on the remaining stock of 480s across the country.

Great stuff!

Martin

Thanks Martin!! Greatly appreciated. We are hoping to go and collect the car 1st August.
You are right about the great community spirit we have in this club - it's almost as addictive as driving a 480 on song !
Just been told Al was spotted on FB - great pic taken from a lorry cab.

Have sent a donation. It’s a great idea let’s get it done. By the way where is the wedge located?

Thinking about this a bit more, we could rescue other wedges even if only to create a large parts pool which members could have access to.

Norm57 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:57 pm

Thinking about this a bit more, we could rescue other wedges even if only to create a large parts pool which members could have access to.

Its a noble cause - I know that there's a similar thing happening for the Lancia Gamma club (now there's a car that rots!). They save all vehicles, then strip them of every saveable component.

It comes down to storage; very few people have enough!

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 20, 2020 1:33 pm

Its a noble cause - I know that there's a similar thing happening for the Lancia Gamma club (now there's a car that rots!). They save all vehicles, then strip them of every saveable component.

Ah, you've seen HubNut's video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQP5c61Wpdo
I now consider a 480 with rusty wheel arches just one that has some surface rust...

Anyway, I love the idea of having a pool 480 in the UK. Makes it easier for me to drop by

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 20, 2020 1:33 pm

Norm57 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:57 pm

Thinking about this a bit more, we could rescue other wedges even if only to create a large parts pool which members could have access to.

Its a noble cause - I know that there's a similar thing happening for the Lancia Gamma club (now there's a car that rots!). They save all vehicles, then strip them of every saveable component.

It comes down to storage; very few people have enough!

I assume they don't strip every surviving Gamma, just the ones that cannot be restored i.e. the HubNut one?

Sorry, yes; anything thats too far gone to be saved is, technically, saved.

The French club buys unsaveble 480s and strips them for spares for sale to club members at very reasonable prices. However, it's a club that charges membership fees so it is properly constituted with President, treasurer and secretary who hold AGMs and file annual accounts . So, in addition to the problem of finding volunteers in different areas willing to collect/strip and store parts we would also have the problem of complying with the law and proving that it isn't a taxable money-making project. All very tricky with the setup of this club, so if anyone wants to do it, it needs to be their own project with the club just being a platform for making contact.
The Save a 480 project on the other hand is clearly never likely to make anyone a profit so I'm much more comfortable with that just being a private enterprise amongst a group of like-minded donors who have simply used the forum for contact purposes.
Clear as mud ?

Incidentally, when I set up the Paypal money pool, my first thought was to not show the names / amounts as I am very aware that a lot of people will be feeling insecure in their jobs or may indeed already have become unemployed. I would have preferred not to embarass anyone, but then decided that it is better to have transparency. Donors can see their hard earned money hasn't mysteriously disappeared and everyone can see how much we have received. I will from time to time post on here details of the costs being paid for from the pool - as we all know Jeff watches the forum like a hawk so he can be the auditor

dragonflyjewels wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 20, 2020 7:06 pm

Incidentally, when I set up the Paypal money pool, my first thought was to not show the names / amounts as I am very aware that a lot of people will be feeling insecure in their jobs or may indeed already have become unemployed. I would have preferred not to embarass anyone, but then decided that it is better to have transparency. Donors can see their hard earned money hasn't mysteriously disappeared and everyone can see how much we have received. I will from time to time post on here details of the costs being paid for from the pool - as we all know Jeff watches the forum like a hawk so he can be the auditor

I did think the same thing - Would people think they had to contribute x amount of ££?

Lets not forget, there will be ongoing costs - its a 480 after all - and so further down the line, we need to decide as a collective if and when to sell it, etc. As I've already said, I'm not going to be charging for my time, I do this for the love of the cars.

For now, lets just relish the thought that we're saving another 480!

Can anyone donate at any time? Or is there a cut off point? As I would like to donate to own a small share of the car/upkeep, but haven't made my mind up completely yet...

Anyone can donate any time or any amount they wish - it will all go to the rescue fund. We will need to think about insuring it, and it may well need more for the parts budget if Jeff finds more needs doing. I'm thinking Jeff could list anything it needs that could be second hand on here in case someone has a part they are willing to donate. Luckily, it's recently had the luxury speedo holiday as well as cambelt/waterpump and window regulators. The target was set at a modest amount I thought would be the bare minimum but only time will tell just how much we will end up needing. The plan is to keep it as a pool car until either a prospective buyer comes along asking if there's a decent one for sale, or we spot another one desperately in need of saving in which case it'll be panic stations !!

Perhaps the car could circulate (not sure how) to members specialising in particular aspects of 480 maintenance / restoration. For example, I'm sure there will be someone who is a dab hand at repolishing rear lenses, someone else who is a brakes guru, others who have skills in trim repair, someone else who is good with paintwork or perhaps deep cleaning and detailing. That way there would be a real group effort to bring the car up to a high standard, which will ultimately pay dividends, whilst also spreading the joy.

Just an idea...

M

Perhaps the car could circulate (not sure how) to members specialising in particular aspects of 480 maintenance / restoration. For example, I'm sure there will be someone who is a dab hand at repolishing rear lenses, someone else who is a brakes guru, others who have skills in trim repair, someone else who is good with paintwork or perhaps deep cleaning and detailing. That way there would be a real group effort to bring the car up to a high standard, which will ultimately pay dividends, whilst also spreading the joy.

love it ! great idea - it can have re-furb holidays !

dragonflyjewels wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 20, 2020 7:06 pm

The French club buys unsaveble 480s and strips them for spares for sale to club members at very reasonable prices. However, it's a club that charges membership fees so it is properly constituted with President, treasurer and secretary who hold AGMs and file annual accounts .

Maybe you should give establishing an official club a thought. It doesn't cure all problems around owning a 480, but it does make things a lot easier to organise, like a parts depot, parts remanufacturing or even a pool car. Overhead cost can be kept to an absolute minimum if you decide not to print a club magazine and issue only digital copies. The biggest problem for running a club is continuity, I've been involved with the Dutch club for five years now and have been treasurer and secretary (and technical contact), but it seems I have signed up to Hotel California: I can check out any time I like but I can never leave, because no one else is willing to take my position.

brinkie wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 22, 2020 9:17 am

dragonflyjewels wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 20, 2020 7:06 pm

The French club buys unsaveble 480s and strips them for spares for sale to club members at very reasonable prices. However, it's a club that charges membership fees so it is properly constituted with President, treasurer and secretary who hold AGMs and file annual accounts .

Maybe you should give establishing an official club a thought. It doesn't cure all problems around owning a 480, but it does make things a lot easier to organise, like a parts depot, parts remanufacturing or even a pool car. Overhead cost can be kept to an absolute minimum if you decide not to print a club magazine and issue only digital copies. The biggest problem for running a club is continuity, I've been involved with the Dutch club for five years now and have been treasurer and secretary (and technical contact), but it seems I have signed up to Hotel California: I can check out any time I like but I can never leave, because no one else is willing to take my position.

Presumably an official club won't replace this club? I quite like the "open saloon" feel of this place where anyone can walk in and contribute

Martin Mc wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 22, 2020 8:50 am

Perhaps the car could circulate (not sure how) to members specialising in particular aspects of 480 maintenance / restoration. For example, I'm sure there will be someone who is a dab hand at repolishing rear lenses, someone else who is a brakes guru, others who have skills in trim repair, someone else who is good with paintwork or perhaps deep cleaning and detailing. That way there would be a real group effort to bring the car up to a high standard, which will ultimately pay dividends, whilst also spreading the joy.

Just an idea...

M

So if this car got time with every expert, we may end up with an exemplary example of the model, with every aspect tended to by an expert and therefore being as close as it can be to perfection ...

MisterH wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 22, 2020 11:06 am

Presumably an official club won't replace this club? I quite like the "open saloon" feel of this place where anyone can walk in and contribute

Not at all. There is a Dutch language forum, Facebook group and Whatsapp group, none of which are affiliated with the club. An official club is useful to contact authorities or Volvo, they tend to listen more to a club than a loose group of individuals. Let's call it the Volvo 480 Preservation Society.

So if this car got time with every expert, we may end up with an exemplary example of the model, with every aspect tended to by an expert and therefore being as close as it can be to perfection ...

Hmm, possibly, but I think there are already a few of those documented on this forum in recent times, James, Jay (Kay-Em), Sylvia to name but a few.

I think if we got a very good example out of the process, there would be reward enough and satisfaction in achieving that.

Personally, I love anyone showing interest and enthusiasm towards the marque, especially in these days of rabid consumerism and throwaway culture.

Looking forward with great interest to how this story pans out

M