Hey guys,

Well, I'm definitely getting there with my 240 ID guide project- pages and pages of notes are starting to make some kind of sense. Thanks to all for answering all my questions- here's a few more:

First, my '78 244 DL has thin stainless trim that runs along the front edge of the hood, surrounds the blinkers and the grille opening. Is this standard 1975-'80 all models, or?
What's a GLE?
Identifying trim for Turbos? Diesels?
"Lambda Sond" grille badge: '79-?
Rear headrests- '88 first year?
'86-up GL I.D.- just badges?

Also, when I get this stuff together, I'm gonna need photos of all the models, photos that show evolutionary differences, etc. For example, the 242 GT. I'd need like a good front 3/4 view, say- but also a rear view of a '79 (different taillights) and an '80 (different wheels and the addition of spare-tire wells in the rear quarters). I figure between all the 'boarders, just about every year and model must be represented.

Thanks again,
Matt

This would be a great coffee table book. I'd love to get it as a gift.

the late 240s (92-93???) have no chrome thim around their
rear liftgate windows. Also, the windows look like they're glued
in rather than gasketed, and I've heard that the liftgates are
aluminum.

-b.

The rear glass in the wagon was done with a flush gasket like the '91+ 240. I'm not certain of this year change.

I've also read that the hatches on the late 245s were aluminum. Mine isn't.
--
1991 245, 61k miles, looking for a 5 speed 92-93 245 cheap.

What's a GLE?
Identifying trim for Turbos? Diesels?
"Lambda Sond" grille badge: '79-?
Rear headrests- '88 first year?
'86-up GL I.D.- just badges?


GLE means, I think, Grand Luxe Extra, and may mean extra goodies some years.

The models that were Diesel, or GLT, or Turbo, got the GL trim goodies. BTW GLT = Grand Luxe Touring.

In 1983 the 240 badging was dropped, only GL or DL on the trunk. Then, with the advent of the 740 series, the 240 numbers reappeared, but with the third digit always a zero.

The DL and GL badging continued to the 89's. My daily driver 1986 240GL and 1988 240GL have the GL trim, Corona wheels, chrome plated door lock knobs, power windows, courtesy light delayed shut-off, and tachometers. For those and earlier years the DL and GL meant more than just badging.

As production runs declined, the DL/GL was dropped and a new car buyer could choose any and all the features.

The Lamda-Sond system was indicated by the blue capital Lamda on the grille. I think it was for the 02 sensor closed-loop system. My 1979 and 1981 had that, gone in 1983 when the LH-Jetronic fuel injections made their debut.

Can't wait to get a peek at the finished compilation.

Regards,

Bob

:>)

As was mentioned, '80-'85 were identified by trim level only, meaning no "24x" or "26x" designations. DL, GL, GLT, GLE, GT, DIESEL, TURBO, COUPE, etc.

'75-'79 were "24x" or "26x" with 'x' being the number of doors.

'86+ in the US regained the 240 badging, but lost the specification for number of doors. Near the end of the model run they lost the DL/GL badging for some years.

240 SE in '91 only.

240 Classic in '93 only.

1980 does not have 240 badging, in the case of my 1980 wagon it is just DL.
1980 has the Lamba Sond emblem on the front grille.
the DL has the four round headlights, a nice looking front end - IMHO that is!

In 1983 the 240 badging was dropped, only GL or DL on the trunk. Then, with the advent of the 740 series, the 240 numbers reappeared, but with the third digit always a zero.

I don't think that's correct... my 80 is just a GT, and my neigbors is a DL, no 240 badge. No lambda badge on my CA 80, but it might have vanished over the years.
--
Kyle
Santa Rosa, CA

1980 242GT 198K
1990 744Ti 115K
1972 Riviera 130K
1972 240Z 1K (since restoration)
1972 Datsun Pickup 87K(187K?)

Hey Bob,

"For those and earlier years the DL and GL meant more than just badging." Yeah, my neighbor's '85 244 GL has a lot more "toys" than my old '84 DL did, and is certainly fancier than my '78. And it's got the all-silver grille and those cool turbine-looking wheels to prove it. But later GLs look about the same to me... I was thinking about noticeable differences sighted from the distance in a parking lot, for instance. "My daily driver 1986 240GL and 1988 240GL have the GL trim, Corona wheels..." GL trim ('86-up) would be all black? And what are "Corona" wheels? Thanks for the further info.

Matt

GLE means Grand Luxe Executive.

I thought it meant Grand Luxe _Electric_ as in, electric overdrive.

-b.

"Identifying trim for Turbos? Diesels?"

All Turbos that I have seen have the "Turbo" Badge on the right side of the trunk lid. It is the darker insert kind, not simply chrome like the Volvo badge or DL/GL badges. I could explain for pages, but just look at a picture. My site probably has some... http://www.nd.edu/~kgalyan/Volvo I haven't updated in forever, sorry.
The Diesels have a badge that says "Diesel" in the same location and style as the Turbo badge.
Lambda Sond badges were gone by 81 at the least on the Turbos. I added one to mine.

Good luck with the guide.
--
Logan
1981 242GLTi 1967.5 122S Automatic (tempermental)
Unemployed Architect in Vancouver, WA

"All Turbos that I have seen have the "Turbo" Badge on the right side of the trunk lid."

'81-'82 models had "GLT" if they were turbos (or possibly non-turbo with the GLT trim package), '83-'85 had "Turbo".

My 81 242 Turbo has the "Turbo" Badge on the right side of the trunk, as do most of the 82 junkyard Turbos I have seen (can't remember ever seeing a junked 81). The only GLT badges I have seen in person (and been able to inspect the cars) have been on non-turbo versions, specifically a couple 81 245 GLT's.
Thanks for the tip on the Neptune rims, for some reason I was thinking they were 19". Shows how much I know about new Volvo's.
--
Logan
1981 242GLTi 1967.5 122S Automatic (tempermental)
Unemployed Architect in Vancouver, WA

My '81 had the Turbo badge on the trunk...
--
don hodgdon '89 744ti, '81 242t, '71 D-35

Hey Logan,

Nice brick..."Neptune"- That's pretty good. Does that mean it floats? :)

Thanks. I haven't tried to float it yet. Doesn't leak that I know of, but I'm still not real interested in submerging it.
No idea why, but the previous owner had a plastic and chrome trim piece that says "Neptune" stuck below the center heater vents. I really have no idea why it is there, but it works for a name.
Now if only the XC90's Neptune rims were small enough to fit...
--
Logan
1981 242GLTi 1967.5 122S Automatic (tempermental)
Unemployed Architect in Vancouver, WA

"Now if only the XC90's Neptune rims were small enough to fit..."


They're only 17". An easy fit with the proper spacers/adapters to correct the offset difference.

My '78 is named Katharine (for the late, great Ms. Hepburn). My '84 was Gretchen. I usually wait for the car to show it's personality before naming it, but they don't all deserve a name. I had a blue '89 LeSabre whose only (non-profane) name was "The Bluebird of Crappiness". A rusty '81 Mustang? "Rustang" fit pretty well. One car I had WAS named by somebody else. Came out of my apartment one morning to go to work, and someone had "tagged" my '73 Dart. They wrote the word "EYE" on the back fender with a Sharpie. Huh? Oh well, good enough for me. My mechanic ever gave her a last name: "Sore"

Matt

Here's another pic of the Turbo nameplate:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~kpecor/240turbo.jpg

Also, the Turbo models have completely black trim pieces. There are no chrome accents.

Keith
--
1983 245 Turbo, 165K miles; 1987 244 DL, 272K miles; 1980 244 DL (RIP); 1966 Ford Bronco- straight six, three-on-the-tree, NO frills

Oh, and let's not forget the all-black trim (including the grille) on the 92 "base" 240s.
--
1991 245, 61k miles, looking for a 5 speed 92-93 245 cheap.

89 was the first year for rear headrests in the US.
--
1991 245, 61k miles, looking for a 5 speed 92-93 245 cheap.