Spotted Alconbury : Black J-plate

[Jay-Kay-Em]

I haven't seen a 480 out in the wild for many a year.... then I only go and spot one in my village!

It was a proper moment!

Black with red stripe JxxxTBW on traditional 5 spokes (Pollux or Atlas type)

Couldn't see if Turbo / ES as it whizzed passed me.

From Alconbury Weston -> Alconbury, past the sports & social club.

Genuinely flabbergasted!

[jifflemon]

I’d guess ES (cos I’ve no TBW’s on the turbo lists). The only time I’ve spotted them “in the wild” is as they typically turn up on my doorstep!

[Themasteryeti]

A chap I work with has spotted that one before too! Unfortunately it wizzed past so he couldn't see what it was either!

[dragonflyjewels]

It's an ES auto. Result of a lot of patient research....

[AmBaer]

I know I'm super late to this post, but that was me! I live in the area of Alconbury and I've had that Volvo for about a year. I've been working on it hoping to take it back to the states with me in about a year and a half. Glad to see someone caught me!

[Jay-Kay-Em]

Wow that's great feedback for a spotted thread! Got you in the end!

Considering how rare they are, to see one in your own village, absolute

Welcome to the forum.

I was typing a reply to your "flooded" thread but it seems to have disappeared

There's a few 480 owners in the USA now. Think it's something to do with your "25 year rule". You'd be one of a select few.

[AmBaer]

Yeah I was hoping to bring it over since the age was perfect to do so. I had worked on restoring body work and the inner bits in order to prepare for it to be shipped over. I ended up deleting that "flooded" post, just so I could repost when I got word from the insurance company. They just happen to tell me its a total loss and will be scrapped.

[Jay-Kay-Em]

I ended up deleting that "flooded" post, just so I could repost when I got word from the insurance company. They just happen to tell me its a total loss and will be scrapped.

Yeah that was the basis of my reply. Don't get the insurance company involved in any way, shape, or form it said. Most of the problems - fighting moisture and erratic electrics are just normal 480 traits anyway

Spongy brakes is just a brake service. Poor running is just an engine service. Insurance companies aren't getting involved in any of that, especially when all parts are NLA.

Sylvia recently had a flood - whip the carpets out and deal with it.

Is there an opportunity to withdraw the claim - or buy back the scrap and accept it's now got a category write-off marker?

My experience with flood damaged cars is that they become a "Cat A" or "Cat B" due to the risk of sewage = bio hazard. Cat A & B are forced dismantling for parts never to return to the road.

To scrap the car would be criminal.

[MisterH]

I’d guess ES (cos I’ve no TBW’s on the turbo lists). The only time I’ve spotted them “in the wild” is as they typically turn up on my doorstep!

They tend to breed in captivity at your place, they multiply every time I show up


When is the Attenborough doc coming?

[AmBaer]

Sadly it's too late to take back the insurance claim, and since I use U.S insurance I fall under different rules that I have to follow. I would've played my cards differently if I had known this would be the outcome though

The company came and picked it up from me the other day. It went to Cut Maple Salvage. They said they aren't scrapping it though and thay they intend to sell it.

I feel horrible for that car but at that time I had no room to rip things out and let them dry. I was able to get my money back though... which just went in to my new '92 manual 480 ES which I was lucky to find on sale not even 20 minutes away from where I live. I still feel devastated for my '91, but I hope someone who has a lot of spare time and money on their hands will take it and do what I couldn't. Now that I have room I will start from the beginning with the new 480 and do what I couldn't with the other.

The new one has a few quirks (almost the exact same as my last one), odometer is broken, sun-roof sticky, ect. But I hope to get it mostly restored within the year.

Here's to learning from my mistakes...
(Also the new one is red, with a J plate in the *general* Alconbury area)

[jifflemon]

this one by any chance?

[Jay-Kay-Em]

this one by any chance?

Oh dear

Well, as suspected, that's CAT-B now. What could be a perfectly serviceable 480 is now "terminated" following a paperwork exercise.

In which case, £2800 doesn't make sense - and I can't see a big queue forming for export (being RHD).

I suspect its another one to be broken for bits give it time.

No reason it can't still go to America though AmBaer!