Volvos were available new (and manufactured in SA) until about 1975 when sanctions were introduced against SA. Parts were still available long after, you just could not buy them new. Then in the mid 1990s Volvo came back, but with no support for old models (understandable). But that means SA missed out on the whole 240 and 740+ series.

There was always a Volvo club, but mostly in the Transvaal area (low rainfall and humidity, which means zero rust). We lived in Cape Town which is like the opposite end of the country, and were never involved in the club. It is my perception that it is only in recent years that the club really grew, before it was more a matter of people wanting their cars to survive. It is also only more recently, with the Internet, that people could find each other and find overseas parts suppliers. Before that no one wanted to deal with you due to the perception of everyone being a horrible racist (the media did a lot of damage due to a few individuals, as always).

There is a link to the SA club from www.volvoadventures.com with contact info.

Hey bloke ther a lot of Volvo all to gether there. I love to hear some statistics. How many, oldest, etc.
Great pictures.
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EJO now a 1993 944T 197K; ex '65 123S; ex '75 245; and ex '81 242GT; also 2001 Kia Sportage, Chrysler 2002 T&C and 2006 MINI Cooper