I met this guy with a real old renault car of some wagon-type just recently. It was kinda cool and even had these sizable fin-like tail-lights. I have never seen one like it in all of Portland in my time here.

Anyway, I got into a talk with him as I admired it and he was telling me that even though his odometer only went up to 99,999, there was some kind of clicker on his transmission that tallied each time the odometer was turned over. He was maintaining that his had been turned over ten times... but I don't know about that...

I sure wish volvo had thought of some kind of clicker like that, or put in another digit, or two... (if what he was saying was true).

Did volvo just put in 5-digits because they just didn't think these cars would ever be driven as far as they will go with proper care?...

Both the 122's that I've had the pleasure to own have had such mutt-like scraggly histories, that I don't know what to make of what their odometers say. Sometimes they stop, then somebody fixes them, etc. etc... You only know if you have a meticulous record-keeping PO or series of PO's I guess.

- V

Hmmm....

I'd say the fella you met, nice as he may be, is full of you know what.

For one, Renaults don't go a million miles. Period. They rarely make the first 100k. I agree though that some of them silly French cars look sorta cool, and have some nifty features. I've been temped.

For two, there ain't no clicky thing in the gearbox that counts each 100k miles. In any car. I'd love to hear otherwise, but I don't think I will. THere is a gear thing in the transmission that spins a square sorta hole that accepts the speedo cable. Thats all. A gear train that could tally the the number of cable turns equal to 100k miles would have to be something like the innards of a Brietling Chronograph, but much, much bigger and more complicated.

Best I can tell, Volvo was the first ever to add the extra digit on the odometer with the 140 series, and they advertised that feature appropriately... something about other car companies lacking confidence. Cool ads.

You are correct in that the only way to be sure of mileage on your early vintage Volvo is a comprehensive collection of service records.

Cool as that French car may have been... be happy with your Volvo. It's a better unit all around.

-Matt

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-Matt '70 145s, '65 1800s, '66 122s wagon, others inc. '53 XK120 FHC

Hey Matt,

Yah, I kind of thought the guy was a bit full of it...

I wasn't tempted per-se by his car, but just interested because I'd never seen another one like it and that sparked a conversation. The only frenchies I've been tempted by are the air-suspended citroens... weird as they look.

Thanks for the confirmation on the tally thing. I kind of knew as much but thought I'd throw it out there.

- V

I sure wouldn't call what I typed a 'confirmation'... More of a strong hunch.

As much of a pain it would be, I'd be tempted by a Citroen as well.... especially a Maserati powered CM. Of course, a pre-war Bugatti racer would be fun as well.

$$$

-Matt
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-Matt '70 145s, '65 1800s, '66 122s wagon, others inc. '53 XK120 FHC