Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel
Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stsUQXCxGsI
Just seen this, credit for being really well researched and going to extra mile to get an interview, really good video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4z8bZF8tF0&t=3s
Just seen this, credit for being really well researched and going to extra mile to get an interview, really good video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4z8bZF8tF0&t=3s
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild
Re: Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
Nice. Good to see all those photos of the cabrio too.
- jamescarruthers
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 2530
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
Very good!
I propose our fixer Sylvia tries to get Steve Harper along to a meet one day!
I propose our fixer Sylvia tries to get Steve Harper along to a meet one day!
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
Re: Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
With John De Vries too? Fight! Fight!
Re: Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
I did notice JDV wasn't mentioned all that much, the British input to the car was more substantial than I thought, but then if Harper was more involved with the final touching up of JDVs design that would make sense
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild
- Jay-Kay-Em
- 480 Rookie
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:42 pm
- Location: Huntingdon
- Contact:
Re: Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
Been subb'd to "Big Car" for six months and they are really quite good histories. Only watched the 300 series the other day. I have a fondness of the 300 as it is in the same bloodline... and my Grandad had a few.
Nothing much learnt with all the Gxx cars but I like the comparison with the Ferrari 308 grille below bumper styling. Any comparison with a Ferrari and i'll take that!
I quit my TV licence last year and only watch on-demand services. There is a seismic shift going on right now with the TV Licence and YouTube is getting better and better.
Going to crack a beer and watch the dedicated interview with Harper and the Escort Cosworth.
Nothing much learnt with all the Gxx cars but I like the comparison with the Ferrari 308 grille below bumper styling. Any comparison with a Ferrari and i'll take that!
I quit my TV licence last year and only watch on-demand services. There is a seismic shift going on right now with the TV Licence and YouTube is getting better and better.
Going to crack a beer and watch the dedicated interview with Harper and the Escort Cosworth.
Jay-Kay-Em
-------------------------------------
Click here for My 480 Turbo Diary
Click here for My Cars
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Click here for My 480 Turbo Diary
Click here for My Cars
Re: Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
Did this nearly 20 years ago! All the decent car stuff is on the tube; in general you’ve not got a production company going “ooo we need a back story” just some honest people wanted to share what they do.Jay-Kay-Em wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 6:06 pmI quit my TV licence last year and only watch on-demand services. There is a seismic shift going on right now with the TV Licence and YouTube is getting better and better.
Just like real TV, there’s some dross out there (the ones who start it thinking it’ll make them rich and famous), but the good stuff absolutely kills anything remotely similar in TV land.
Re: Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
Yes I do get fed up with the "Murican-Custom-Aggro-Blitz-RestoBling" style shows that keep getting aired, but I have to say, Car SOS has been a real break from the mould, quality features with a great set of presenters, and a feel good premise - it's not all badjifflemon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:52 amDid this nearly 20 years ago! All the decent car stuff is on the tube; in general you’ve not got a production company going “ooo we need a back story” just some honest people wanted to share what they do.Jay-Kay-Em wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 6:06 pmI quit my TV licence last year and only watch on-demand services. There is a seismic shift going on right now with the TV Licence and YouTube is getting better and better.
Just like real TV, there’s some dross out there (the ones who start it thinking it’ll make them rich and famous), but the good stuff absolutely kills anything remotely similar in TV land.
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild
Re: Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
See I’d disagree; it’s all about the “story” and less about the restoration as they feel they have to appeal to ordinary people. Me? I’d love to find out about the various cottage industries they use (usually when Tim is “robbing parts/sticking a “rush job” through).
Go watch project binky - stunning stuff, and true to actual project cars, 4 years on and it’s still not done!
Go watch project binky - stunning stuff, and true to actual project cars, 4 years on and it’s still not done!
Re: Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
Yeah, of course there are limitations as to what can be done, even the most die hard enthusiast may find it hard to stomach a show that is pure restoration, but personally I find the balance good with not much time wasting going on (to understand what I mean see Wheeler Dealers Hypermiling film where they did a whole segment on Mike learning to hypermile instead of restoring the car with Edd). SOS has a bit of backstory on the car but the majority of it is workshop issues and cottage industry, and importantly, how it all works and why.jifflemon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 1:36 pmSee I’d disagree; it’s all about the “story” and less about the restoration as they feel they have to appeal to ordinary people. Me? I’d love to find out about the various cottage industries they use (usually when Tim is “robbing parts/sticking a “rush job” through).
Go watch project binky - stunning stuff, and true to actual project cars, 4 years on and it’s still not done!
At the end of the day though, while I watch a lot of YouTube, I do prefer to relax on the sofa in front of the TV than I do the PC
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild
- dragonflyjewels
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 1608
- Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
- Location: Norfolk
Re: Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
Back to JdeV and Steve Harper, I have seen some of John's drawings done back when he was working on the 480, and whatever input Steve Harper had seems to be quite minimal by comparison. John's drawings show the same elegant sweep of the bonnet line as our cars, whereas I find Steve's drawings more snub-nosed. I do know John was adamant the cars should have colour-coded bumpers with the pin stripe along the rubbing strips carried on around the bumpers. He felt that the side view with the continuous colour and line gave an impression of sleekness and speed, whereas the black bumpers fashionable back then made too much of a full stop at either end of the car. Whether it was Steve Harper or Volvo who changed it to black bumpers after John left I don't know.
I did contact Steve Harper some years ago when he was selling prints of his 480 drawings on ebay and describing himself as 'the original designer of the 480'. Just said I thought the designer was John de Vries, and got a really shirty reply that didn't even mention John so it seems to be a sore point that he didn't do the whole thing. With a cv as impressive as his, I found his attitude quite surprising.
I did contact Steve Harper some years ago when he was selling prints of his 480 drawings on ebay and describing himself as 'the original designer of the 480'. Just said I thought the designer was John de Vries, and got a really shirty reply that didn't even mention John so it seems to be a sore point that he didn't do the whole thing. With a cv as impressive as his, I found his attitude quite surprising.
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
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
- brinkie
- 480 Connoisseur
- Posts: 871
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:20 am
- Location: The Netherlands
- Contact:
Re: Big Car video on the 400 series + interview with Steve Harper
The story begins where John de Vries left off, covering the period 1985-1986. I think the creator/presenter of the Big Car videos got a bit carried away with the fact that Steve Harper is amongst one of his viewers. Harper tells in the interview he took on details like the 480's grille and designs for the 480 Cabriolet, and some bits of the 440 interior and 460 exterior. According to his LinkedIn bio, his first stint at Volvo was less than 2 years (returned later in the 00's), until August 1986, then moved on to Germany to become a freelance designer. After all, he was a junior designer, just graduated from Coventry University. But part of the 400 design team none the less! The interview gives very good insights how things worked at Volvo, I loved it.
Here's another interview with Steve Harper: https://brinkie.home.xs4all.nl/volvo/Mo ... series.pdf
Here's another interview with Steve Harper: https://brinkie.home.xs4all.nl/volvo/Mo ... series.pdf
Robert.
Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum
Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum