Volvo 480 Club Europe

D101 DWP (2) by Nivek.Old.Gold, on Flickr

Not surprised it went on flickr - looking SO different now to the sad and sorry state it was in when you bought it.

OMFG! Geek alert! I got its original launch car registration number back!

Thats excellent news James!

Brilliant !! Well done.

Congratulations! Another piece of the puzzle comes together

D101 DWP doesn't look like a vanity plate to me, how can a car be re-registered on a different plate, both D-reg?

brinkie wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 16, 2019 5:44 pm

D101 DWP doesn't look like a vanity plate to me, how can a car be re-registered on a different plate, both D-reg?

It had a private plate (A1 JOO) on in its early life, inbetween D828 CPV and D101 DWP. When A1 JOO came off, the DVLA's policy was to give the car a random age-appropriate plate rather than its original. It was probably just easier for them. 

Thankfully I think they now give the originals number back as a matter of course but in the '90's things were different.

I got them to check their records and sent the paperwork for the private plate which I found in the history to make things a little easier for them.

All it took was a nice letter, I'm pleasantly surprised! 

Brilliant news... something involving DVLA actually made sense!

Now you need some period, pre-2001 font plates with "VOLVO press office" at the bottom!

It's been a while since I've updated this but much has happened. 

New rear lights (slight crack on R/H one but I'll have to live with that for now) and new rear bumper bar installed along with all heat shields underneath being off for powder coating.‎ Picture above showing off lights and number plate (for the obsessive amongst you, I've changed the yellow screw cover to a black one on the 'V'!)

The new bumper bar is great, being corrosion free and now synthetic, but does require some work to make it fit. We went for Riv Nuts to hold the brackets. As the tow hook fits on to here, I don't think this car should ever tow anything ever again as it's not steel! In fact I might remove it. The car sits a little higher at the rear now with this weight removed.
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The rear end has had a few little welds in the boot area and also had the hole filled in on the L/H wheel arch and below the rear lights  which must be stone chips that got out of hand. It will go to a proper body shop for the arches but for now it looks pretty good.‎

Much improved window scrapers installed. Not the best but certainly better than the horrors that were on before!‎

I have been away so much and when I've back recently‎ I've been away on a training course in my old camper van-- living the dream and about to do the same again for 3 weeks! So the Volvo hasn't been out so much but on its few trips out it has been magnificent. ‎ I might take it down to Southampton soon for a good run and to visit Keith.

I must change the spark plugs today and see if it sorts the occasional running-on problem.‎

For the future, it is basically mechanically new but I have to do a few jobs:
‎
1. Send instrument cluster to Mssr. Brink as the odomoter has recently stopped counting and I think it needs a bit of solder reflowing on the Info Centre connector (intermittently unable to select left side information)

2. Repair interior light loom with spare supplied from member on here

3. Install cruise control (yes, you read that right, I got offered a set and couldn't resist!)
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4. Convince myself that I need to spend silly money at the body shop. That decision to be taken at the end of the month. 

5. ‎Sit patiently for the May meet, which can't come soon enough!

6. Install some decent speakers and wire in rear cubby hole ones. Right now it's sounds horrific!‎


There have been lots of good updates on here and I need to catch up on the forum and respond to them. Particularly good are the selection of new cars!‎

jamescarruthers wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 15, 2019 9:59 am

3. Install cruise control (yes, you read that right, I got offered a set and couldn't resist!)

Hate you!

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 15, 2019 10:27 am

jamescarruthers wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 15, 2019 9:59 am

3. Install cruise control (yes, you read that right, I got offered a set and couldn't resist!)

Hate you!

Likewise - the dream accessory!

All sounds excellent stuff though James - looking forward to seeing it in May

David

While I was without a 480 in my life (sad). I used to browse the forum to keep up to date with the latest news and finds.I must say you have done a fantastic job with the launch car it is a real credit to you and shows what can be achieved with time and dedication and I guess now a much smaller bank balance! Great work hope to see it in May

That is looking superb! Really well done, a credit to your skill and passion!

MisterH wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:02 am

That is looking superb! Really well done, a credit to your skill and passion!

wot he said

Perhaps you should post a before and after photo next to each other, the difference is just incredible. And yeah, we're dead jealous of the cruise control....