Volvo 480 Club Europe

Hello hello wedge enthusiasts

I am delighted to be able to tell you that this Friday I will be returning to the 480 fellowship, courtesy of Mitch, who has agreed to let me acquire her 95 plate Celebration

The car is a genuine low mileage (46k) example in decent order (one or two things to sort which I will be sharing with you as they get done) and I hope to be able to join the Derbyshire mini meet in May.

Mitch has been very kind and gathered together loads of documentation, volvo mats and various bits & bobs. The car is very original, basically sound and in my favourite colour - exactly the same s the lovely celebration currently on offer on here in Kent.

Four sleeps to pick up day - can't wait!

Watch this space!

Martin

Excellent news!!!

Brilliant - welcome back to WWOWW (wonderful world of wacky wedges)

Good news I could be back in the fold soon as well. I am going to view the burgundy celeb in Essex on wed. Fingers crossed its as good as it looks. Apparently as only done 3,000 miles since 20004 and has been garaged all the time. Passed recent mot with no advisories . Hopefully see you all in Derbyshire in May, not too far for me from North Yorks

Good news I could be back in the fold soon as well. I am going to view the burgundy celeb in Essex on wed. Fingers crossed its as good as it looks. Apparently as only done 3,000 miles since 20004 and has been garaged all the time. Passed recent mot with no advisories . Hopefully see you all in Derbyshire in May, not too far for me from North Yorks

Whoops thick fingers!

Excellent news Martin - well done! Look forward to seeing both you and the car soon

Norm57 - fingers crossed for when you go to see the car! Obviously you will want to check out all the usual things, and be ready to walk away if needs be, but do remember that decent 480s are getting few and far between now, especially for sale! So my general advice would be to bear in mind that there will be a lot of help on here available to you with numerous minor matters, so don't decline the car without really good reason if you seriously aspire to 480 ownership...

BTW - North Yorkshire (like me ) whereabouts are you?

All the best

David

Thanks for advice David having owned three 480's over the last 20 odd years I am aware of their foibles shall we call them. It will certainly need a cam belt ASAP I imagine and full service, but having emailed the seller it seems to be a bit of a gem but as always head must rule the heart when the wedge is concerned. I am in Knaresborough are you by any chance the driver of a red 480 that I have seen in Knaresborough/wet herby area?

Thanks Norm57 - you have as much experience as me of 480s from the sounds of it so I shall not try to teach my grandmother to suck eggs any further!

I am in Alne, near Easingwold, so just a few miles down the A59. You won't have seen me in a red 480 (yet) but I drive a green GT...

However, I recently acquired a red Celebration like the one you are off to view (but not in such good condition) as a new project, and it has been rattling around the York area for the last few years, so it may well be that car you have seen. It is SORN at present while I work on it but now has an MOT and should be out and about soon - so keep your eyes peeled for either one!

Hope we can get to meet up if you re-join the fold - starting to find local 480 owners is great (I just met Nigel the other day who is only in Leeds) - I really do hope all goes well on Wednesday.

All the best

David

Is that Nigel(yorkie480) or something similar? Think he is or was a guitar tutor and drove a green or blue GT. I used to live in Leeds and met him a few times think we swapped parts. Yes if I purchase the celeb we will meet up and swap stories and I am intending to get to the Derbyshire meet if possible.

Hello David,

I've seen the red Celebration (you came to pick up the towbar in it I think!) and I can say you are understating her condition - very tasty and in very fine fettle (compared to many anyway) - I guess you just have high standards. Actually I know you have high standards - you could eat your dinner off the engine bay in your GT!!

Anyway, thanks to all for the warm welcome back - definitely targeting the May meet up for the first public sightings of McVolvo the sequel.

All the best!

Martin

Martin Mc wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 11, 2019 10:05 pm

Hello David,

I've seen the red Celebration (you came to pick up the towbar in it I think!) and I can say you are understating her condition - very tasty and in very fine fettle (compared to many anyway) - I guess you just have high standards. Actually I know you have high standards - you could eat your dinner off the engine bay in your GT!!

Anyway, thanks to all for the warm welcome back - definitely targeting the May meet up for the first public sightings of McVolvo the sequel.

All the best!

Martin

Thanks Martin, that's kind! After some effort as per the photos in my thread about the Celebration, I'd like to think you could park her next to Lily and eat your pudding off her engine bay now

See you soon!

David

Norm57 wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 11, 2019 10:02 pm

Is that Nigel(yorkie480) or something similar? Think he is or was a guitar tutor and drove a green or blue GT. I used to live in Leeds and met him a few times think we swapped parts. Yes if I purchase the celeb we will meet up and swap stories and I am intending to get to the Derbyshire meet if possible.

Different Nigel - this one is Nigel Poustie and has s grey Celebration no 103...

Hope to see you in Derbyshire if not before.

David

Update on the Essex celeb, i went and viewed it today. Very nice conditon with more or less perfect rear lights. Would appreciate some advice pls. It has only done 3,000 mls since 2004 which is also last service date. Been garaged stored and only driven to local shops, so am thinking of getting cambelt done locally before the 200 plus mile drive back to yorkshire. Also considering draining coolant and replacing with waterless variety. Anything else i should consider?

Oh and forgot to ask, roughly how much is a new power steering pump + fitting?

by Norm57 » Wed Mar 13, 2019 8:22 pm Anything else i should consider?

Oil change ? Good look at all the rubber hoses wouldn't go amiss. Most stuff should have been picked up in the mot. I see it was last Mot'd in 2016 and the one before 2011 - did you try the electric motors ? Pop ups obviously worked for the mot, but the windows might be stuck to their rubbers. If they don't want to open, don't keep trying them or you'll be needing new regulators.

I’d go with a basic service and cam belt.
So, oil, oil, air and fuel filters, plugs.
Then cambelt.

Some would argue you may as well do the water pump whilst there, however, however I’d be wanting to drive and check it over properly before committing to anything.

Just one thought; consider having it transported back so you can have all the above done at a garage you know and trust.

How about starting a new thread for the story of your car ? Lots of pics please.

Thanks for input, i have considered trailoring as an option as train fare down is about £150. Also whats folks opions on wax oiling the undersides as the car has little to no rust that i can see, is it worth the cost?

Norm57 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2019 9:02 am

Thanks for input, i have considered trailoring as an option as train fare down is about £150. Also whats folks opions on wax oiling the undersides as the car has little to no rust that i can see, is it worth the cost?

I'd wait until you get it up on the ramps.

I added waxoyl through the rear cubby holes so that it ran into the top edge of the rear arches, not sure if it helps.

the underside is pretty much well covered with VOLVO applied stuff but no harm in adding a bit more to the leading edges of the cross members.

remove the crap from bottom egde of front wings, possible with coat hanger if pressed via the small gap at base of wings, slacken teh one large self tapper that goes vertical, saves taking teh inner liner off. I chopped the bottom off both of mine and replaced with galvanised as they'd rusted out from the inside

ditto there will be crap up at the petrol filler / breather area