Volvo 480 Club Europe

Good morning all

For a long time now I have been on the hunt for a Volvo 480, specifically a 1987 model in original condition. I have missed a few good ones but I am now in a position to finally buy one, now I need to find the right one. Preferably, I am after a car in either 184 Silver Grey Metallic(are there any left?) or 217 Red, although the Arctic Blue is also a colour I quite like on later cars. Every day I do check car and classic and eBay multiple times, but it seems that these cars are the hardest to find, and so I have come here, hoping to learn more about these characterful cars and where I can find the right one for me.

I am based around Winchester but I am willing to travel for the right car.




I greatly look forward to a future with the club and I thank you for your time

Hi MisterH,

Hello and welcome to the club. I am a particular lover of the ‎older cars too.

There aren't many 87 cars in the UK but fingers crossed you manage to find one.

Off the top of my head, I can only think of three that I know of. Keith cooper and I have two of the first batch in to the UK. I recently sold my other 87 car to a guy who took it to Germany. There must be others on SORN or not known to this club. The website 'www.howmanyleft.co.uk' has 17 '87 models on SORN-- that will include the 3 I mention.‎

Are you after a project or a one ready to go? If you are after a project, I can tell you that Lake's Autos (a Volvo scrapyard) in Wyboston, Bedfordshire have an 87 car coming to them any day. They will consider selling it complete but you'll have to be quick. I'm afraid I don't know anything about the condition. If you can't persuade them to sell it whole, then it will get scrapped. There's a chance it could be a good car that's just been put away for a while; it could of course be a complete heap!

preferably a light project or road going car is what I am after, however it would all depend on the individual vehicle and its condition, as long as rust is minimal. I will look into the Lake's Autos car, but Bedford is quite a way so I will need them to send photos first, but would love to save a car from scrappage, if it is savable, is there a way I can contact them?

thank you ever so much for the information

Lake's can be contacted on ‎01480212291. It's a bit of weird place which is just run out of habit rather than anything else. The car is coming off a private plate so won't be there for a week or so. 

Maybe let me ring in a week to check if they have it, rather than looking like we are both interested as they could put the price up. Just a suggestion, you can call if you want. Just to clarify, I don't want another 480 so would be happy for you to take it!‎
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I'll warn you now though, I think they might have delusions about the car's price! As we discussed here: ‎viewtopic.php?f=7&t=35788

Keith Cooper on the south coast will have an good early car up for sale soon, but it's a few years after 87... Maybe 90? I can put you in touch. ‎
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jamescarruthers wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 25, 2018 7:22 pm

Maybe let me ring in a week to check if they have it, rather than looking like we are both interested as they could put the price up. Just a suggestion, you can call if you want.
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That would be good thanks, I would need more information before making a desicion, so that sounds like a good plan. I do hope the car is savable.

Thank you so much! It really means a lot

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthre ... ost2470335

Maybe this might be of interest?

'89 not '87 but condition could be what you want.

zapcity wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 26, 2018 4:43 pm

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthre ... ost2470335

Maybe this might be of interest?

'89 not '87 but condition could be what you want.

I am afraid that is way out of budget for me, but thanks for letting me know, there is one out there I am sure...

The asking price may be out of budget, but the seller seems to be quite oblivious to the current market prices. I would try and talk the price down to more reasonable levels. If the rear arches and rear bumper support are solid, I would say 2500 is a much more realistic price.
If your budget doesn't stretch to that, I think you should reconsider buying a 480 at all...

brinkie wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 27, 2018 11:36 am

The asking price may be out of budget, but the seller seems to be quite oblivious to the current market prices. I would try and talk the price down to more reasonable levels. If the rear arches and rear bumper support are solid, I would say 2500 is a much more realistic price.
If your budget doesn't stretch to that, I think you should reconsider buying a 480 at all...

this is a good news/ bad news dilemma

we complain that the 480 is 'under appreciated' by the general 'classic' car brigade , then winge when the prices are about where Mk1 Golf is . . . .

I'd think £2000 - £2500 is 'fair', a runner for £1500? top notch £3500 - £4500, and for that it is/must be 'near perfect'

the 480 at Morris Leslie last week (24th November) didn't sell or was pulled from auction

I am thinking about sending Lake's an email tonight inquiring about the 1987 car and, if they have it, hopefully get them to send some pictures so I can assess the condition, and I will report back when I have more news.

I thank you for all the help, I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the forum, and I hope there will be a 480 on the drive soon!

Email! Haha, they're both about 70! Good luck though, I'm intrigued about this car too!

jamescarruthers wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 27, 2018 5:46 pm

Email! Haha, they're both about 70! Good luck though, I'm intrigued about this car too!

If that does not work, I'll phone them, if that doesn't get it, I'll have to find a Telex machine...