Calling all GT owners

Discussions about meetings, both organised by us and by others, can take place here. If you want to organise a meeting yourself, this is the place to start! If you want to inform everyone of a meeting no one might know, feel free to post it here too.

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dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
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Calling all GT owners

Post by dragonflyjewels » Thu Jun 02, 2022 2:45 pm

Some time ago Jaster suggested a photoshoot of GTs at Weston Manor, to recreate the photos in the GT sales brochure:

Image

Image

The proposed date is Sunday 24th July. Weston Manor is north of Oxford, near the M40/A34 junction.
I have yet to contact them for permission, but am planning to book a table for lunch. It would be very helpful to know who is interested in going so I have an idea of numbers for them.
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

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dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by dcwalker » Thu Jun 02, 2022 6:09 pm

When I first got Lily I took a couple of photos of her there for that very reason - I'd definitely be up for a return trip, especially if we could get a red GT there too.

There was an event on that occasion - ironically a classic car meet - so I couldn't get as close as I wanted...

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

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dragonflyjewels
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Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by dragonflyjewels » Fri Jun 03, 2022 7:57 am

Lunch is off, they don't do it. Afternoon tea is £37.50 so unless we win the lottery it'll just be coffees :lol:
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

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dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by dcwalker » Fri Jun 03, 2022 12:20 pm

dragonflyjewels wrote:
Fri Jun 03, 2022 7:57 am
Lunch is off, they don't do it. Afternoon tea is £37.50 so unless we win the lottery it'll just be coffees :lol:
Blimey! :lol:
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

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dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1584
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
Location: Norfolk

Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by dragonflyjewels » Sun Jun 05, 2022 8:23 pm

Hoping to arrange lunch somewhere nearby - watch this space !
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

phil480
Knows where Volvo is from
Posts: 144
Joined: Tue May 08, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: Littlehampton, West Sussex

Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by phil480 » Mon Jun 06, 2022 1:11 pm

I am currently free for that Sunday 24th July, so should be up for the drive up there :hopping:
Current: 480 GT 2.0 '94 in Red
Previous: 480 ES 2.0 '93 in White K464SWP -Sold in 2009. Presumed dead

GCooper
Started learning about 480
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Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by GCooper » Wed Jun 08, 2022 7:31 am

I have a red GT, I'd be up for it
'94 Volvo 480 GT (project)
'98 BMW Z3 (daily)

Martin63
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Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by Martin63 » Fri Jun 10, 2022 6:56 am

dragonflyjewels wrote:
Thu Jun 02, 2022 2:45 pm
Some time ago Jaster suggested a photoshoot of GTs at Weston Manor, to recreate the photos in the GT sales brochure:

Image

Image

The proposed date is Sunday 24th July. Weston Manor is north of Oxford, near the M40/A34 junction.
I have yet to contact them for permission, but am planning to book a table for lunch. It would be very helpful to know who is interested in going so I have an idea of numbers for them.
I would love to join if that's possible Sylvia - I will keep the ES out of the photoshoot of course :-) (assuming it's not sold by then)
480 ES - M696 UFC - January 1995
480 GT - M586 TMF - August 1994

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dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by dragonflyjewels » Sat Jun 11, 2022 8:50 pm

Normally, I would say everyone else is welcome to join us, but I've yet to speak to Weston Manor. I was hoping to combine a personal visit with another trip, but our week went completely haywire so it will have to be a phone call. Until I have spoken to them, I have no idea if they might have a function on the same day (it's popular as a wedding venue). In the event of a large number of cars in their carpark we would have to keep numbers to a minimum - after all they won't be making money from our visit so they aren't going to want us causing problems to paying guests.
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

Martin63
Knows where Volvo is from
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2020 8:57 am
Location: Fareham, Hampshire UK
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Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by Martin63 » Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:33 pm

dragonflyjewels wrote:
Sat Jun 11, 2022 8:50 pm
Normally, I would say everyone else is welcome to join us, but I've yet to speak to Weston Manor. I was hoping to combine a personal visit with another trip, but our week went completely haywire so it will have to be a phone call. Until I have spoken to them, I have no idea if they might have a function on the same day (it's popular as a wedding venue). In the event of a large number of cars in their carpark we would have to keep numbers to a minimum - after all they won't be making money from our visit so they aren't going to want us causing problems to paying guests.
👍
480 ES - M696 UFC - January 1995
480 GT - M586 TMF - August 1994

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dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by dragonflyjewels » Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:00 pm

Sorry to say we havent got very far with this. Al rang them and the person he spoke to had no idea who to put him through to, so suggested emailing. Apparently they have several events teams. I've emailed twice over the last month and not received any reply.

Al and I will be in the area on the 24th so we plan to just turn up mid-morning and see what happens. If anyone else would like to join us, please feel free, but it might just turn into an opportunity to arrange a later date. I'm thinking we'll have a pub lunch half a mile down the road so it could turn into a micro meet if anyone is up for that.
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

phil480
Knows where Volvo is from
Posts: 144
Joined: Tue May 08, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: Littlehampton, West Sussex

Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by phil480 » Thu Jul 14, 2022 12:34 pm

Thanks for the update. It's a shame they seem to be useless. Hopefully another time then. Given the price of petrol right now, and not to mention the hot weather that may still be around next weekend, I think I'll wait and see if there is another opportunity at a later date.
Current: 480 GT 2.0 '94 in Red
Previous: 480 ES 2.0 '93 in White K464SWP -Sold in 2009. Presumed dead

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Laurie945
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Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by Laurie945 » Sun Aug 27, 2023 8:10 am

I'd be very keen to be a part of this. I'm based in the West Midlands, so this would be an easy arrangement for me, providing it was arranged for a Sunday. In all my years, I still haven't met anyone who currently owns a 480, and I guess the nature of it all has culminated in such a great forum.
F726 OPF - '89 ES 1.7 - Grey
M211 FAD - '94 GT 2.0 - Green

Martin63
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Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by Martin63 » Sun Aug 27, 2023 12:03 pm

Me too Laurie 945 - and for the past 3 weeks I have also been lucky enough to own a GT too :D
480 ES - M696 UFC - January 1995
480 GT - M586 TMF - August 1994

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dragonflyjewels
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Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by dragonflyjewels » Sun Aug 27, 2023 8:00 pm

Al and I did go there last year, and met a manager who was very accommodating but under the impression that we would all have a meal there. The restaurant prices were scary to say the least !
We looked at the location of the original photos, and it has changed so much it is barely recognisable. The gateway has different lamps on the posts, plus metal sections reducing the width so I'm not sure a 480 would fit through. The gravel area in the second photo was inside the same gateway and is now a garden. We wouldn't be able to park in the same positions even if we could squeeze in, the paved path between the flower beds is only wide enough for one car. All the ivy has gone and window frames are painted white. The door in the second photo is now red and all the stone walls have been cleaned.
Here's a half-hearted shot, which we didn't even line up properly - it was a very hot day and we had our cat in the car plus a load of 'stuff' so I was anxious to move it into the shade asap.

Image

We'd be up for another visit if other GT owners fancy going.
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

Martin63
Knows where Volvo is from
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2020 8:57 am
Location: Fareham, Hampshire UK
Contact:

Re: Calling all GT owners

Post by Martin63 » Sun Aug 27, 2023 9:37 pm

dragonflyjewels wrote:
Sun Aug 27, 2023 8:00 pm
Al and I did go there last year, and met a manager who was very accommodating but under the impression that we would all have a meal there. The restaurant prices were scary to say the least !
We looked at the location of the original photos, and it has changed so much it is barely recognisable. The gateway has different lamps on the posts, plus metal sections reducing the width so I'm not sure a 480 would fit through. The gravel area in the second photo was inside the same gateway and is now a garden. We wouldn't be able to park in the same positions even if we could squeeze in, the paved path between the flower beds is only wide enough for one car. All the ivy has gone and window frames are painted white. The door in the second photo is now red and all the stone walls have been cleaned.
Here's a half-hearted shot, which we didn't even line up properly - it was a very hot day and we had our cat in the car plus a load of 'stuff' so I was anxious to move it into the shade asap.

Image

We'd be up for another visit if other GT owners fancy going.
Count me in please Sylvia - especially as I now have a GT!

The old Volvo car "holding tank" just off the A40 is not too far away from the M40/A34 junction so that might be another place to visit the same day.
480 ES - M696 UFC - January 1995
480 GT - M586 TMF - August 1994

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