1977 343 at NEC Classic Car Show

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S10NPH
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1977 343 at NEC Classic Car Show

Post by S10NPH » 19 Nov 2015 08:43 pm

I'm sure some of you will know, but I was invited to show my early 343 on the Volvo Owners' Club stand at the Classic Car Show at the NEC this year.

Sadly, the car is not exactly in concourse condition, and the torn seat fabric and the bubbling paint on the bonnet let it down. And it was parked next to an immaculate Volvo 66 which had just come back from a full restoration at a bodyshop the previous week! But I still got a lot of interest and some really good comments. The really good thing is that I've been able to educate a lot of people about early 343s, which I really enjoyed :D.

Here are a few pictures (and for all you sticklers, despite being a 1977 model year car, I actually call it a 1976 343 in the bio, because it was in fact built on 14 September 1976, but hung around for 6 months before it was first registered in April 1977. I wonder what it was up to in the meantime!)

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1977 Volvo 343 DL 1.4 Vario TUJ 247R
1980 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 PGH 590V
1981 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 ECR 312W
1985 Volvo 340 DL 1.4 Vario B168 DTU
1982 Volvo 245 GLT 2.3 Auto VKN 137X
1997 Saab 900 Convertible P290 DDF and 2018 VW Tiguan S10 NPH

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SteveP
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Re: 1977 343 at NEC Classic Car Show

Post by SteveP » 19 Nov 2015 09:57 pm

Didn't make it this year but great to see your car in the pics - I'm impressed there's room for the funny dutch things :D :lol:
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trabitom99
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Re: 1977 343 at NEC Classic Car Show

Post by trabitom99 » 20 Nov 2015 08:12 am

Wow, thanks for sharing those pictures. That's a real museum-spec car you have there, an absolute rarity.

Cheers

Tom
343 GL Touring B14.1E CVT (155) 98000kms 1980 (sold)
343 L Junior B14.3E MT4 (155) 229000kms 1981 (scrapped)
343 DLS B19A MT4 (155) 167900kms 1982
360 GL Injection B200F MT5 (231) 348598kms 1988 (scrapped)
360 GLT B200F MT5 (302) 230000kms 1988

MCHUDD
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Re: 1977 343 at NEC Classic Car Show

Post by MCHUDD » 20 Nov 2015 10:35 am

Hi Sion.
Just stunning mate. The 66 looks just as good.
Cheers Mark.
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trenning
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Re: 1977 343 at NEC Classic Car Show

Post by trenning » 20 Nov 2015 11:31 am

Nice pictures of your '76 indeed! I do like these real MK1's very much.

If you come across the correct colour and pattern of the upholstery: I'm interested as well, since the rear seat on mine is dissolved as well (the front seats are strangely doing OK..)

Freerk

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S10NPH
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Re: 1977 343 at NEC Classic Car Show

Post by S10NPH » 20 Nov 2015 11:48 am

trenning wrote: If you come across the correct colour and pattern of the upholstery: I'm interested as well, since the rear seat on mine is dissolved as well (the front seats are strangely doing OK..)
Ahh, this is really a problem for me too! I'm going to try some trimming places soon to see what I can find, but it's such an odd material, I think it's called Bri-Nylon.
1977 Volvo 343 DL 1.4 Vario TUJ 247R
1980 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 PGH 590V
1981 Volvo 345 DL 1.4 ECR 312W
1985 Volvo 340 DL 1.4 Vario B168 DTU
1982 Volvo 245 GLT 2.3 Auto VKN 137X
1997 Saab 900 Convertible P290 DDF and 2018 VW Tiguan S10 NPH

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trenning
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Location: Almelo, Holland

Re: 1977 343 at NEC Classic Car Show

Post by trenning » 20 Nov 2015 12:48 pm

For now I've covered it with a contemporary cover in beige fur. Not original but the kids love to sit on it! :D

Freerk

volvomania
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Re: 1977 343 at NEC Classic Car Show

Post by volvomania » 20 Nov 2015 07:03 pm

Sion, now that is nowadays called a "survivor" car.
Some people prefer their cars to be original incl the 40-year wear and tear.....
Great pics, you've certainly educated the readers of the flyer at the NEC!
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