UK Launch Cars

[jamescarruthers]

I thought I'd try and keep a list of the few UK launch cars that we hear of here.


The two known survivors:


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D864 CPV (previously owned by me, James Carruthers; now owned by Keith Cooper, not on the forum)
chassis number 507167

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=35477

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D828 CPV (owned by me, James Carruthers)
chassis number 507274
was registered A1 JOO and then D101 DWP before returning to original registration

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=35570



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Owned by forum member Rob Marshall/"triumphtoledo"'s mother from 1989 to 1993. It was the WA Lewis Telford or Shrewsbury demonstrator.:
D808 CPV
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1121





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Owned by forum member Andy/"gingerheed", broken for spares and shell scrapped, tailgate lives on Keith Cooper's car!
D707 CPV
engine possibly still in Southampton
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4845


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Spotted at 2002 UK Meeting (first UK meeting of this club, organised by Dave Slater/"dbsvolvos":
D838 CPV

http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/clubdat ... 812-UK.php


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D*52 CPV from a UK car magazine
. will add pic at some point when I find the magazine again!


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D900 CPV

https://www.psychoontyres.co.uk/worth-g ... lvo-480es/


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D753 CPV


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D873 CPV
Aylesbury demonstrator

https://autoshite.com/topic/7820-shite- ... ent=214072

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D562 DGV

https://autoshite.com/topic/7820-shite- ... ent=214041

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D740 CPV
D738 CPV
photo sharing



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Video c/o Brinkie of UK test cars, which apparantly are not the UK launch cars but were specials sent over from NL and possibly destroyed
https://youtu.be/TVM6H0UyVUo

[Alan 480]

all those broken headlight lift motors........




amazing that they survived

[MisterH]

I do love that we know of these cars, sometimes I dream of opening up a barn and finding several, covered in dust just waiting for me...

[jamescarruthers]

Edited first post to add
D*52 CPV
D900 CPV

[MisterH]

https://www.alamy.com/volvo-car-dealers ... edoptin%3D


Here is one to add, D753 CPV, last on the road in 2002

[jamescarruthers]

Thanks. Edited first post to add D753 CPV.

One more to come when a friend sends me a better copy of this
photo sharing

[jamescarruthers]

Edited first post to add D562 DGV and D873 CPV

D652 DGV on test:

[jamescarruthers]

Video c/o Brinkie of UK test cars, which apparantly are not the UK launch cars but were specials sent over from NL and possibly destroyed
https://youtu.be/TVM6H0UyVUo

[dragonflyjewels]

This got me sufficiently intrigued to spend the last hour trawling through DVLA records. I started at
D680CPV, which was an Austin.
D688CPV Austin
D689CPV - no details
D690CPV - red Volvo 1721cc reg May 87 so the batch starts either at 689 or 690

then the end:-

D948CPV - red Volvo 1721cc reg May 87
D949CPV - silver Volvo 2849cc so the batch ended at 948 - only 259 records to check !

Starting back at the beginning I've got as far as D806CPV, all the ones that have records are red Volvo 1721cc, all registered May 87. Totally bored now, but I'll probably carry on tomorrow if I've spare time. Latest survivor I've found so far had MoT to 2008. Shortest life shows last tax expired Sept 1987.

[MisterH]

Shortest life shows last tax expired Sept 1987.

Last one could be transferred to a personal plate perhaps? They did come in around that time I seem to remember...

[dragonflyjewels]

I dont know how long the dealerships would have kept their launch cars? I wouldn't think a private plate would go on until it was sold.

[jamescarruthers]

edited first post to add D740 CPV and D738 CPV.

Slight better pictures here of them but I can't add to the first post now because the forum software hates me and keeps locking me out!

image of a safe

[MisterH]

Why is this thread making me drool?

[dragonflyjewels]

I've finished trawling through dvla, and sorry to say Keith and James own the only 2 launch cars with a current MoT
I was hoping that there would be at least one or two others driving around that we didn't know about.

The 259 breaks down as follows:

78 no record - presume dvla have been told they're broken OR they've moved onto a private plate
177 last taxed anytime up to 2013 (bizarrely the one that's tax expired then has no MoT history online )
1 declared sorn - obviously not many people knew about this although it came in in 98.
1 broken by forum member
2 alive and well

Only 2 of the 177 had an MoT history (most dropped off the radar around 98 - 03, before MoT's went online). Both of these had a fail before the final pass which showed fairly serious corrosion

So, there should be 178 in store somewhere I'd think it's more like 8 at the very most ! Makes me realise how very lucky James was to chance on D828 CPV.

[jamescarruthers]

This must have took up loads of your time. Thank you Sylvia. I presume you have square eyes now.

I guess the next great hope is the SORNed car turning up?

[dragonflyjewels]

I wouldn't hold your breath on the sorned one James, it had no mot history so unless that's another quirk, it's been sorned at least 14 years. How long was yours in store for ?

[MisterH]

I have said before on here that there is very much a chance for more survivors out there, as cars do fall off the radar and resurface, I have said about the shed of invisible quattros in Newbury before, the DVLA doesn't know about them, but really well done for the internet detective work, that is true dedication!

[jamescarruthers]

I wouldn't hold your breath on the sorned one James, it had no mot history so unless that's another quirk, it's been sorned at least 14 years. How long was yours in store for ?

Yes, its unlikely, you are right.

Mine was las on the road in 1998 and MOT'd again in 2018:

[jamescarruthers]

edited first post to add D808 CPV pictures captured from Rob Marshall /"triumphtoledo"'s home videos from 1992!

[MisterH]

edited first post to add D808 CPV pictures captured from Rob Marshall /"triumphtoledo"'s home videos from 1992!

but are you sure it was from 1983?

that would make her the first ever 480 owner anywhere...