Volvo 480 Club Europe

What was wrong with them ?

They used to look like two parts that were stuck together with a small lip step between‎ the two parts and the light hole was too large. It sounds like they've perfected it which is good to know! That was being picky though and beggars can't be choosers with 480 parts. 

Just paid a visit to the body shop and frustratingly found no progress - the welder is off sick with a chest infection. Paul the boss is hoping to get their last welder back part time - he retired last year and is apparently bored.

Hooray, progress at last ! The new welder developed pneumonia and wont be back, two new guys tried out weren't good enough, but the one that retired has now started back part time. Holes in the boot are no more, next time he comes in he'll be starting on the wings.

Well, we finally gave up with our usual bodyshop, Snazzy was there for a year and still awaiting a welder good enough to do wheel arches. On the recommendation of our pedantic repairman, we have arranged to have her done at another bodyshop. Significantly more expensive (ulp!) but reassuringly thorough. They will restore all the back end and I was pleased to hear that they use Dynax on all the hidden bits after they've been etched and painted. They regularly do Lotus Carltons - apparently well known in the Carlton club, the last one they did came down from Inverness. They can't guarantee a timescale, they have to fit it in around their insurance work, but should be 4 - 6 months. Phew, that gives me time to save up the rest of the cash. Maybe she'll be on the road for next May's mini meet.
Al arranged to hire a trailer, but then discovered that our recently purchased Saab has had the electrics to the towbar stripped out (why?? no idea). Fortunately, we hadn't got around to selling the 850 which also has a towbar. It was on sorn, so I was going to substitute it onto the Saab's insurance, only to be told by a computer that it wasn't elligible for their cover (why ?? no idea) Plan B was a one day insurance, but when I read the Ts and Cs, it was only for cars not on SORN (why?? no idea) and 2 other short-term companies I tried said the same. So I ended up having to buy a year's insurance so I could pay a month's tax to use the car for 1 day. Now I have to remember to cancel the insurance by the 31st so it's still in the 'cooling off' period and SORN it again. What a pfaff. So we hired the trailer and took Snazzy to our repairman to change the cambelt (now a year overdue) and also fit the stainless exhaust aquired in Scotland. The bodyshop isn't far from him so he will get her there when done. She looks a sorry sight with wheel arches stripped back, no bumpers or front light clusters and a thick layer of dust but at least progress is in sight. With all the stress, I totally forgot to take any pics, but then it's probably just as well in her current state.

The stainless exhaust I bought from Fraser is now on Snazzy as part of her multi-million pound upgrade. When we moved her from our welder-less usual bodyshop to a much more expensive one, she visited the repairman en-route for a cambelt change (she's been off the road 2 years and it was well overdue on age) Whilst there it seemed like a good idea to get the exhaust fitted as well, but needless to say it wasn't a simple job. She's a 93 so Mr Pedantic would not countenance her being de-catted. The bypass section had to be cut off and while he was at it he decided he didn't like the Powerflow fixings or the slightly inaccurate positioning of them (only perfect will do) Anyway, he changed it all and when Al had a look he said it was a fabulous job - sadly no photos cos it was off the ramp by the time I arrived so even I have yet to see it. She is currently tucked away at the back of the new bodyshop, getting worked on in fits and starts in between their 'bread and butter' insurance work. The owner said he'd much rather be doing restorations like mine but they are few and far between - the time estimate was 4-6 months and I don't like to think about the price estimate. Luckily I sell plants from my 1/3 acre garden on ebay and squirrel the proceeds away for spending on the 480s. It's been very successful and even with the extravagance of Snazzy's number plate the pot is just about back up to the price of the bodywork.

Shame it didn't just pop on! I was sure the car it came off of had a standard CAT up front, but was maybe a 'home brew' CAT arrangement... my mistake, but at least its on!

Looking forward to hearing it!

Here we are in not-so-sunny Spain, but a whole lot warmer than back home. Just before we left we dropped into the bodyshop for an update and I was delighted to find that the welding is finally finished. They had found a few more bits of rust underneath and done them, and the new inner and outer wheel arches are in. Snazzy was perched on a ramp in the back room where the restorations are stored, lovely and warm and dry. In front of her was a Vauxhall Lotus Carlton which had just arrived from Inverness - apparently the Carlton club members have a high opinion of the work done there, but even so Inverness to Norfolk was one heck of a hike. Anyway, it's very reassuring that I'm getting a quality job for the quality money they've quoted ! The owner said he'd reserved some time over Christmas/New Year for restoration work, so maybe it'll be done by the time we get home. I am so looking forward to having her back on the road.

Fingers crossed. Looking forward to seeing this in the flesh. 

Here we are home from Spain, and very pleased to find it quite mild in East Anglia so it hasn't been too much of a shock. Lily went in for her mot this morning (passed first time) so while we were over in Attleborough we popped round to the body shop to see progress on Snazzy. Needless to say he's swamped with insurance work in the winter so not many hours spent on her while we've been away, but here's a finished wheel arch :



and this side is even primed !



softly softly catchee monkey.....

Well, one good thing to come out of the lockdown is that the body shop have made good progress on Snazzy. Apparently the insurance companies have closed down so there is no accident work. They have 2 separate workshops, normally one for insurance jobs and one for restorations, but now have one restoration job in each so 2 can work and stay well apart. The spraying is finished, so they can start putting her back together.
Next stop will be Mr Pedantic the repairman as she needs a service and mot, but he furloughed his mechanics and is just doing breakdowns.
Whether I get to drive her anywhere this summer remains to be seen. O, how I miss her !!

Hey Slyvia, this is good news indeed and hope it works out that you get the car soon

We had a call from the bodyshop to say Snazzy's bonnet and sides have been sprayed



love that colour !!

He wanted to see Eva to check the black trim lines on the bumpers - he was a bit concerned that the moulded shape was wider than the lines on the side rubbing strips and thought it wouldn't look right but was much happier when he saw Eva's optical illusion. He also wanted to check the shape where they end - attention to detail is great.

He'd had to take the ss exhaust back off to remove the petrol tank as they found some more welding needed and there is now a small leak from one of the brake pipes so he's been on the phone to our repairman to let him know.

Luckily this is all funded by my online garden plant and seed sales - orders have gone through the roof since lockdown so the 480 money tree is fruiting really well. From that point of view it couldn't have happened at a better time of year because the plants I sell now don't have to be despatched until August/September so I'm not having to go to the post office. I'm just not looking forward to having to get all these orders packed and despatched !!

wow! Just look at that colour...... Inspiring to say the least!

Looking good Sylvia!

Very smart, front wing missing on EVA at present, easier to spray then set flat to stop any runs and fairly sure when it goes back on it won't be as pretty

I adopted the same technique when the panels on the SS1 needed done, had to wait until most of smell of cellulose solvent had gone before taken into dining room for paint to 'properly' harden . .. . .

Glue sniffing galore with dinner ! It's the sort of thing Al does in the kitchen when I'm cooking, only he doesn't wait for ANY of the smell to go...

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Fri May 15, 2020 12:34 pm

Inspiring to say the least!

Sure is! Lovely to see a 480 with fresh paint. An inspiration to keep cracking on.

omg omg omg
Had to go to the old bodyshop to collect Snazzy's spoiler lip and a few other bits which they'd forgotten to give me when we moved her and take them to the new bodyshop. Drat and damnation, they've now got to mix some more paint as the lip is already primed BUT she is mostly back together and had a polish and YE GODS she's looking fabulous !! I was already bubbling when he said 'of course we've still got the final polish to do'....
They've also got to finish off the last of the cavity waxing and put the brackets back on the front bumper that secure it to the reinforcing bar which were also left behind. One or two other bits have vanished into thin air, but I suspect we have replacements lurking in the stash.
Also brought home the scruffy 2 litre badge, I'm the only person I know with the patience and microscope eyes to repaint the silver so that'll keep me busy for an hour or so. The Volvo badge from the bonnet was also too scruffy to put back on but they are still available as they are the same as the side badges on the 340 and 360 (useful snippet of info from the book I've been editing)
So, it'll be another few weeks as their insurance work is starting to come in and they are expecting an avalanche next week.
Mr Pedantic still has his mechanics furloughed but he's not been overly busy as he has a lot of long-time customers who are now retired and going nowhere plus of course people aren't bothering with MoTs. Anyway, he is on standby so fingers crossed she will be home by the end of next month.
Eva is on the road this month, Sven's turn next month then Snazzy and Lily in July and August and back to the Saab in September. Got to keep them all moving, but blowed if I'm taxing more than one car at a time when Al's only doing a weekly 25 mile round trip to collect our supermarket order. Can't see pubs/restaurants and hotels being open much before the end of the year.

dragonflyjewels wrote: ↑

Thu May 28, 2020 7:12 pm

The Volvo badge from the bonnet was also too scruffy to put back on but they are still available as they are the same as the side badges on the 340 and 360 (useful snippet of info from the book I've been editing)

Nows that's a gem of information! Need to find a part number now!