10,000 miles driven

Here you can talk about the joy owning a Volvo 480 brings. Non-technical discussions take place here, like what is the difference between an ES and a S version.

Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel

Post Reply
User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

10,000 miles driven

Post by MisterH » Wed Nov 03, 2021 11:10 am

I did a similar post on my thread, but felt it really deserved its own topic :lol:

About a week ago, my speedometer flickered over onto a historic figure: 80,074. 10,000 miles prior, we fixed the speedometer leading to the quelling (mostly) of the biggest issue my car faced (non bodywork wise).

To celebrate, here is a small roundup of a 10,000 mile story far more enjoyable than some Proclaim...

Image
My first drive out on my 17th birthday, after a long time of personal struggle it felt like a new era was dawning. That and I had one helluva lot to learn (still do)

Image
The summer of 2020 was a special time, for many reasons. While the car was a bit shabby, it was already starting to stretch its legs and enjoy being out again

Image
While someone thought Panic At The Disco was a good name for a band, I wonder if they ever thought about Panic Painting Rear Wheel Arches? Winter was fast approaching so I decided to paint the exposed outer arches with the only paint I had available. Technically it was a Two Tone for a while.

Image
16th October 2020. At long last, after a failed first attempt, I was somehow able to pass with no faults at all. I am sure I made a couple of mistakes, but maybe the examiner was charmed by the burble of the B18E and the smell of slightly damp velour (with blue piping)

Image
At last, paint could finally be donned and the car could look it's best. I gave strict instructions to save as much original paint as possible, so the roof and bonnet still retain the original Arctic Blue shade...

Image
Image
Image
...and the result was absolutely astounding. Jon and the lads did an incredible matching the paint to the bonnet and roof, looked like it had always been there.

Image
Proper plates, toyed with the idea of going Full Plastic Serck but decided to save those for when I get a pair of colour matched bumpers (the summer wardrobe)

Image
Image
Dense fog allowed me to take some of my best shots Ever

Image
February and at last I was able to take some snow shots! Ok the roads were quite salty but I was able to finally get a photo that said "Arctic Blue"

Image
At last able to put some faces to names! A lovely run down to the Lair of Lies with Sylvia & Al. Car enjoyed it so much it suffered what can only be described as an automotive stroke, with the car becoming possessed by CEM demons.

Image
I got my name in the paper! The paper, or rather magazine, was the debut issue of Classic.Retro.Modern. Knowing one of the editors I put a good word in for the wedge and got to flex my writing muscles, as well as helping out a fantastic mag.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
The Odd Couple. Through the Beige Forum I was able to meet Skizzer Martin, one of my best automotive friends. Who had an Aerodeck. Now we must know how to tell a 480 isn't an Aerodeck, so we made a nice video to help with that :lol: :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGx17mUIL4M

Image
An unlikely pairing, but an amusing day had chasing a ropey Triumph 2.5S around Poole driven by one of my young car mates

Image
At last seeing a healthy number of 480s. Other than club events, and Bosnia, I have never seen a 480 on the road other than mine

Image
A-Level results day allowed me to get one last shot in the photogenic grounds of my old haunt

Image
Image
Image
I was able to display the Wedge at the Forgotten Favourites display, as part of the Beaulieu Autojumble. While I couldn't find anything for the 480 in the masses of interesting chod for sale, I was able to find a couple of contacts (or rather they found me) with 480 related happenings.

BUT. On the way home the alternator stopped working, meaning the Rover was able to get its swansong in our ownership with a trip to the Isle of Wight Festival with some friends of mine
Image

But with that alternator fixed, and the Rover sold to a Bus collector (no that couldn't be further from how it drove :lol: ) and new shocks, it is mostly all fine now. The headlights need to be aligned properly, hopefully without taking the nose off, and I need to sort a squeak and I need to find out why the radio makes a ticking noise whenever I listen to any station that isn't Radio 2.

But I've driven 10,000 miles in a piece of Dutch Tat. Try singing that while drunk on New Year's Eve...
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

Martin Mc
480 Rookie
Posts: 457
Joined: Tue May 29, 2012 11:57 am

Re: 10,000 miles driven

Post by Martin Mc » Wed Nov 03, 2021 5:55 pm

Great stuff! Lovely pictures, and a reminder why we keep these cars on the roads - because modern motoring is as soul-less as it gets, and unexpected CEM problems are actually a gift from the automotive gods! :lol:

Thanks & Well Done on 10K up!

Martin
1991 ES White / 1995 ES Red / 1995 ES Red / 1994 S Black / 1995 Celebration Red / 1994 S Paris Blue / 1995 Celebration (again!) Red - Currently free of all extramarital cars, wrench-loose and fancy free :)

Post Reply