volvo 122
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volvo850black
- Posts: 124
- Joined: 19 February 2010
- Year and Model: volvo 850 1994
- Location: tennessee
volvo 122
I have a line on a 1966 volvo 122 that has good body and runs interior is rough. The seller is only asking $500. Should I jump on it? How hard to restore would it be? I would be restoring it for my daughter wgen she tuns 16. Any advise is appreciated.
MattC 94 854 NA and 96 855 turbo
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kcodyjr
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I can't say for sure, I'm an 850 guy. I'd guess it'll be hard to find good OE interior parts, but aftermarket restoration might be easy, if perhaps expensive.
Note the older Volvo's don't have all the new whizbang safety features; they're built like rocks, but meant to collide with other longitudinal-engine rocks. An off-center head-on with a newer FWD engine can be painful.
Also, unless you plan to have _her_ put in the wrench time, I doubt such an old vehicle is a good idea. Any of a hundred things can go unexpectedly wrong with old machines, and unless she's developed some skills, she'll be calling you for a bailout.
There's 850's aplenty to be had for under $2000, under $750 for the mechanic's special.
That's the practical answer.
The other answer is that if you're going to restore it together, it's wonderful bonding time, and a perfect choice.
Note the older Volvo's don't have all the new whizbang safety features; they're built like rocks, but meant to collide with other longitudinal-engine rocks. An off-center head-on with a newer FWD engine can be painful.
Also, unless you plan to have _her_ put in the wrench time, I doubt such an old vehicle is a good idea. Any of a hundred things can go unexpectedly wrong with old machines, and unless she's developed some skills, she'll be calling you for a bailout.
There's 850's aplenty to be had for under $2000, under $750 for the mechanic's special.
That's the practical answer.
The other answer is that if you're going to restore it together, it's wonderful bonding time, and a perfect choice.
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2006 S60 2.5T AWD, ice white on oak textile
5 others that came and went
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matthew1
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I agree with kcody -- maybe not a good car for a 16-year-old girl. My then-16-y.o. sister drove for a short time a 1971 Dodge Dart 2-dr and hated it. It was a small car for that era, but big for a girl.
Even though it was very pretty and rare -- low mileage, yellow with a black hardtop and a 318 V8, plus rare "rallye" wheels -- it was hard for her to drive because it was large and had no power steering or power brakes.
She didn't treat it right and it was a bad decision to have her drive it, in retrospect.
On the other hand in high school a good female friend of mine had a '70s MG that she rebuilt with her dad and it was her pride and joy. I think it depends on the girl, to be honest.
She'd drive us to school and on even the coldest mornings the top would be down, and we'd have a blanket across us and many layers of winter coats, hats and gloves. This was in Baltimore, MD suburb. The car had no heat. Honest story.
That car did break down (electrical often) and she would just deal with it in good humor. This was before cell phones so she'd walk to a house and use their phone to call her dad.
Even though it was very pretty and rare -- low mileage, yellow with a black hardtop and a 318 V8, plus rare "rallye" wheels -- it was hard for her to drive because it was large and had no power steering or power brakes.
She didn't treat it right and it was a bad decision to have her drive it, in retrospect.
On the other hand in high school a good female friend of mine had a '70s MG that she rebuilt with her dad and it was her pride and joy. I think it depends on the girl, to be honest.
She'd drive us to school and on even the coldest mornings the top would be down, and we'd have a blanket across us and many layers of winter coats, hats and gloves. This was in Baltimore, MD suburb. The car had no heat. Honest story.
That car did break down (electrical often) and she would just deal with it in good humor. This was before cell phones so she'd walk to a house and use their phone to call her dad.
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Also -> Amazon link. Click that when you go to buy something on Amazon and MVS gets a cut!
1998 V70, no dash lights on
1997 850 T5 [gone] w/ MSD ignition coil, Hallman manual boost controller, injectors, R bumper, OMP strut brace
2004 V70 R [gone]
How to Thank someone for their post
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kcodyjr
- Posts: 1236
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Pride comes from personal investment. If she's going to work on it side-by-side with you, then she'll likely become the kind of driver that can take care of a meticulously restored antique. If she sits there texting her friends while you're turning the wrench, then it will not end well.
I can tell you this much from personal experience, if you do a restoration together, it'll become one of her fondest memories. Someday she'll be telling her own children about working on cars with Grandpa, probably telling the story with a wrench in her hand. No children yet, but I tell my wife all the time about working on that 242 (and the 79 MGB) with my Dad.
That's really the root question right there - what kind of motorist are you going to teach her to be?
There's two kinds of drivers, in my opinion - those who understand their machines, and those who don't deserve a license. The former have well used tool kits and spare lightbulbs in the trunk. The latter have overblown stereos, 20K mile old oil, and evidence of collision repair on all four quarters. The former seek older, simpler cars that can be understood and kept up without dealer intervention. The latter view cars as mysterious as the contents of a McDonald's burger patty, and just as disposable as the wrapper it came in.
It's ultimately her choice, and she'll make it subconsciously while observing how you drive and take care of your cars.
If she's grown up watching Dad take meticulous care of his wheels, all that remains is imparting the skills.
If not, start looking for that dealer-certified used car and saving her pennies.
I can tell you this much from personal experience, if you do a restoration together, it'll become one of her fondest memories. Someday she'll be telling her own children about working on cars with Grandpa, probably telling the story with a wrench in her hand. No children yet, but I tell my wife all the time about working on that 242 (and the 79 MGB) with my Dad.
That's really the root question right there - what kind of motorist are you going to teach her to be?
There's two kinds of drivers, in my opinion - those who understand their machines, and those who don't deserve a license. The former have well used tool kits and spare lightbulbs in the trunk. The latter have overblown stereos, 20K mile old oil, and evidence of collision repair on all four quarters. The former seek older, simpler cars that can be understood and kept up without dealer intervention. The latter view cars as mysterious as the contents of a McDonald's burger patty, and just as disposable as the wrapper it came in.
It's ultimately her choice, and she'll make it subconsciously while observing how you drive and take care of your cars.
If she's grown up watching Dad take meticulous care of his wheels, all that remains is imparting the skills.
If not, start looking for that dealer-certified used car and saving her pennies.
2012 C70 T5 Platinum, ember black on cranberry leather
2006 S60 2.5T AWD, ice white on oak textile
5 others that came and went
2006 S60 2.5T AWD, ice white on oak textile
5 others that came and went