Hello All...

A place to describe in details your 300, close to or in genuine condition
The purchase, story of the car, repairs...
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thebear54
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Hello All...

Post by thebear54 » 02 Oct 2011 12:48 pm

A big HELLO from across the great pond...........

I can understand that this may sound a little strange to most. :) :)
Recently I have purchased a 1978 Volvo 343 DL with Variomatic here in the States. This V3 came from Sweden to California in 1982 with it's first owner.
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The car has very low mileage, no tin worm, is almost mint inside and the price was right. :D :D

"Marilyn" (as I call her) was featured in a soon to be released Richard Gere film called "The Double" just after it was sold to it's second owner in Detroit. They did a facelift in Detroit to make it appear as 1980's Paris. :lol:
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Here is the reason I was able to purchase "Marilyn" at a VERY reasonable price-
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While in storage a rather large tree limb came crashing through the Garage and knackered the roof of the 343. :x :x

I will be making a serious attempt to repair the 343 in order to bring her back on the road.

John
DAF CLUB of AMERICA Director & DAF MUSEUM-USA Director

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volvodspec
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Re: Hello All...

Post by volvodspec » 02 Oct 2011 01:07 pm

haha good to see you on here too John :wink:

macplaxton
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Re: Hello All...

Post by macplaxton » 02 Oct 2011 02:32 pm

I was wondering how long it would take you to tip up here John :lol:

Anyway, you just need to replace the rest of those air-cooled motors you have ;) :twisted:
72 DAF 44 Estate 78 Volvo 343DL Black BeautyImageImage
82 Volvo 343DL CVTImageImage 88 Volvo 340DL Diesel

volvosneverdie
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Re: Hello All...

Post by volvosneverdie » 02 Oct 2011 02:48 pm

Oh dear. Sad cvt.

Welcome in dude.
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Chris_C
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Re: Hello All...

Post by Chris_C » 02 Oct 2011 06:21 pm

Looks a lovely car, glad you are given her a chance! Welcome in :)
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Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

MCHUDD
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Re: Hello All...

Post by MCHUDD » 02 Oct 2011 07:26 pm

Hi mate and welcome.
Great to see another mk1 still alive.
Cheers Mark.
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SteveP
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Re: Hello All...

Post by SteveP » 02 Oct 2011 07:51 pm

Stunning car, bad luck with the tree :( Hope it can be fixed :)

Any idea how EFE 532X is going over there??
1989 - Volvo 360 GLT
1985 - Volvo 360 GLS
2008 - Volvo S60 SE Lux

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thebear54
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Re: Hello All...

Post by thebear54 » 02 Oct 2011 08:09 pm

SteveP wrote:Stunning car, bad luck with the tree :( Hope it can be fixed :)

Any idea how EFE 532X is going over there??
Thanks for the warm greetings Chaps. :D :D

Hello Steve,

"EFY" is doing quite well (she is only 5 hours North of me and have seen her many times). Currently she is getting a face-lift since Bob is doing some minor bodywork (did I say minor? :lol: :lol: ), changing the propshaft and doing some assorted preperations for another Winter in Maine.

Soon after "Marilyn" arrived here I wanted to go for a short spin but could not get behind the wheel due to the collapsed roof. I decided to take matters into my own hands to (sort of :wink: ) fix the problem.
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After removing some of the interior bits and the Headliner I used some "Yankee Engineering". A few well placed blocks and a hydraulic Jack served well to return shape to the roof.

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After seven hours of pushing and hammering I can now get in normally. At least now I can drive this wonderful Volvo (DAF 77) 343.

John
DAF CLUB of AMERICA Director & DAF MUSEUM-USA Director

Evoman
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Re: Hello All...

Post by Evoman » 02 Oct 2011 08:10 pm

Great car, great story too. Hopefully you'll return it to its glory :)
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Hell Driver
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Re: Hello All...

Post by Hell Driver » 02 Oct 2011 11:42 pm

Hi, I was sad to see what had happened, hope all goes well with the car, worth fixing as it's otherwise in great condition and it must be rare for anyone there to have ever seen one!
360 GLE Saloon (D 86)
360 GLS (A 84)
343 DL (W 80) :-)
340 GL 1.7 (G 89)
360 GLS (Y 83)
440 Turbo (J 92)
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R.I.P. 77 343 DL vario :-(

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thebear54
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Re: Hello All...

Post by thebear54 » 03 Oct 2011 11:02 am

Hell Driver wrote:Hi, I was sad to see what had happened, hope all goes well with the car, worth fixing as it's otherwise in great condition and it must be rare for anyone there to have ever seen one!
:lol: :lol: :lol:
The transport driver told me that people were snapping photos of "Marilyn" all the way from Detroit on the Highway and asking questions whenever he was at a rest-stop. He had a delivery at a Land Rover dealership in upstate Vermont (before he did mine), he said the mechanics and sales people went bonkers over the 343.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Do I have a unique car here? Hell, yes! Only three, which I know about, in this country. :wink:

John
DAF CLUB of AMERICA Director & DAF MUSEUM-USA Director

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thebear54
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Re: Hello All...

Post by thebear54 » 23 Nov 2011 02:47 am

Last week Bob C. (who owns EFY and formerly owned by SteveP) brought a present for Marilyn...

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What he called "The Abomination" :lol: :lol: will now be placed on Marilyn's boot. I think it will look stunning myself. :D :D

What do you chaps think?

John
DAF CLUB of AMERICA Director & DAF MUSEUM-USA Director

MCHUDD
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Re: Hello All...

Post by MCHUDD » 23 Nov 2011 12:57 pm

Hi mate.
The proper way to go. Spoiler will look great on her.
I wonder would a late 70s Mustang louvre fit on the back window :lol: :lol: :lol:
Cheers Mark.
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macplaxton
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Re: Hello All...

Post by macplaxton » 23 Nov 2011 03:43 pm

MCHUDD wrote:I wonder would a late 70s Mustang louvre fit on the back window
I'm sure John would love a lourve, but doesn't want to mortgage the house! :wink:
72 DAF 44 Estate 78 Volvo 343DL Black BeautyImageImage
82 Volvo 343DL CVTImageImage 88 Volvo 340DL Diesel

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thebear54
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Re: Hello All...

Post by thebear54 » 24 Nov 2011 12:37 am

LOL....
Just recently I spotted two of the original Type 1 louver units on Flea-Bay-UK. I did bid on them but obviously they went for crazy prices.

I think the louvers would be a good match with the spoiler wing. Now, to find one!! :) :) :D

John
DAF CLUB of AMERICA Director & DAF MUSEUM-USA Director

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