340 CVT, 1991 J Reg

[Ian Mac]

Having just fitted a new clutch and CVT belts it looks as though I may be selling the car. I'm not 100% certain but I've just been offered a car that I tried to buy 6 months ago but the owner wasn't selling at the time but he's now given me first refusal.

My 340 was registered in August 1991 and was supplied by Bells of Northampton who have also carried-out all servicing to date. The car has done 43000 miles which is supported by a book full of service stamps. Bells carried-out a welded repair to the offside rear jacking point for the last MOT but otherwise the car seems extremely sound except for the usual 'frilliness' to the lower front panel and bottom of the offside front wing.

The car is a GL and includes a rev counter, time clock, electric front windows, central locking, electric offside mirror (nearside has been replaced with a manual), heated seats, top tint windscreen etc etc. The car has never been smoked in and the cigar lighter and ashtrays are unused.

Having checked the car over it seems that the only work required for the next MOT in July will be a nearside rack gaiter which has a slight split and at least some of the tyres will need to be replaced - the car is currently running the original Michelins which are showing signs of cracking (the spare appears to be unused). I have just fitted new front brake pads - the rear shoes and cylinders are in good condition. A new exhaust system (rear of the catalytic converter) was fitted just before I bought the car in January. The current tax disc expires at the end of July.

Cosmetically, the car is pretty good. The lower front panel needs a bit of tidying and there is a slight crease to the rear bumper but otherwise its not bad. All panels are straight and the dark metallic blue paintwork is good apart from some minor marks caused by bird droppings. The interior is extremely tidy with no apparent wear or damage. Genuine Volvo floortrays are fitted to all four footwells, the tailgate struts are extremely strong, both sets of keys are available (including the original torch key), the original handbook pack is in the glovebox together with the all important and very complete main dealer service history.

All in all, this is an extremely nice Vario which would benefit from a weekends work to tidy-up the front panel. It owes me more than I expect to sell it for but an offer over £500 would probably suffice. The car is located in the West Midlands and can be viewed either at my home in Brierley Hill or at my place of work next door to Birmingham International Airport. I will try to add some photo's later.

Ian

[volvosneverdie]

After all that hard work Ian?

Someones gonna get a bargain.
And good luck with the sale mate.
Though I secrectly hope you dont sell it.

[Ian Mac]

Cheers Mate. To be honest, I will only sell the 340 if the car I'm hoping to buy goes to plan and I'm not particularly worried either way. I'll just wait and see what happens and how many people form an orderly queue to buy the Vario..!!

[trabitom99]

What's the potential replacement? A Trabi ? Or something else from behind the Iron Curtain?

[volvosneverdie]

What's the potential replacement? A Trabi ? Or something else from behind the Iron Curtain?

Pleeeeeaase dont say vectra/mondeo/passat etc etc etc.
I might be sick.

[trabitom99]

Even worse: Touran, Zafira, Sharan, Galaxy.

People carriers are for people who feel they have fulfilled their purpose in life and are now waiting to die

Tom

[Ian Mac]

It is indeed from behind the Iron Curtain - its a 1996 Lada Samara with 20k on the clock. It was supplied by a local Lada dealer and is one of the last sold in the UK. The car is virtually 'as new' and attracts a fair amount of attention at East European meets although not as much as my Yugo it has to be said. I can't justify having three cars and the Yugo is one of only three known roadworthy survivors so I'm inclined to keep it. I love the 340 but I've been trying to buy the Lada for quite a while and something has to give. The trouble is, I want another Trabant later this year to coincide with the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Wall coming down and then it will have to be a toss-up between the Lada and the Yugo. Decisions decisions..

[volvosneverdie]

96 Samara?

wow.
Sounds cool man.

Be very interested to see it if you take the plunge.
Sounds very interesting. and dare I say it, exiting.

[trabitom99]

Great stuff! The eastern bloc cars have a certain charm - particularly for those of us who weren't forced to drive them Is there some kind of "iron-curtain-car-community" in the UK, Ian?

A Romanian friend of mine loves the 343 "the engine noise reminds me of our old Dacia" (Romanian Renault 12 variant).

Tom

PS I was vaguely thinking of selling my Trabi some time this year ... The Volvo bug has bitten me maybe a little too much ...

[volvosneverdie]

Great stuff! The eastern bloc cars have a certain charm - particularly for those of us who weren't forced to drive them Is there some kind of "iron-curtain-car-community" in the UK, Ian?

A Romanian friend of mine loves the 343 "the engine noise reminds me of our old Dacia" (Romanian Renault 12 variant).

Tom

PS I was vaguely thinking of selling my Trabi some time this year ... The Volvo bug has bitten me maybe a little too much ...

ha ha ha. Pops had a Dacia Duster. For about a week. Think he abandoned it/swapped it for a pair of rollerboots or something.
Didnt last long anyway as i recal.

[trabitom99]

Ah yes, the Dacia Duster Not actually a Dacia, but an ARO. That company don't exist anymore AFAIK, whereas Dacia are really booming now ...

[nomead]

1996 Samara? Hmm... Some of them were made in Finland, in the years 1996-1998.

An upmarket version for the European market, the Lada EuroSamara, was assembled in Finland at the Valmet Automotive plant in Uusikaupunki.

By the way, this same plant is at the moment making Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman cars (until 2012).

[volvosneverdie]

I didnt realise you could get any more upmarket than a standard Samara!

[trabitom99]

1996 Samara? Hmm... Some of them were made in Finland, in the years 1996-1998.

Sold in Germany as the "Samara Baltic". The quality was said to be eons better than the Russian-assembled cars ...



I've got a pic of me somewhere, sitting in one at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1996 (no, you're not seeing it )

Tom

[volvosneverdie]

1996 Samara? Hmm... Some of them were made in Finland, in the years 1996-1998.

Sold in Germany as the "Samara Baltic". The quality was said to be eons better than the Russian-assembled cars ...



I've got a pic of me somewhere, sitting in one at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1996 (no, you're not seeing it )

Tom

That looks REALLY cool.
Begging to be lowered a bit.
Or a LOT.
But stylings way cool.

Think I have a new favorite Lada.
Sorry Niva. Youve been relegated.