Tantalising glimpse of cabriolet

Post by **Cornholio** » 07 Jun 2008 12:51 pm

I'm sorry if pics of this have been posted on here before. I don't remember seeing any.

Seen in the latest edition of 'Driver':

Photo from the Classic Volvo Event 2007, Utrecht, Holland. Didn't get a mention in the text.

Post by **magnumpi** » 07 Jun 2008 07:07 pm

IMHO i'm not sure if i like that, but it is different i suppose.

Post by **trabitom99** » 07 Jun 2008 08:16 pm

I believe that's one of the cabrio prototypes which was moved from Born to Sweden last year, see Shimon's post:

http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... php?t=5511

It looks much nicer from the side and with the roof closed - a bit like a MkII 2-door saloon. I couldn't find the pictures anymore unfortunately ...

Tom

Post by **shimon340** » 08 Jun 2008 12:30 am

hi there

true, the 340 cabrio is now located in the volvo museum workshop behind the museum in Arendel. It is there with the 340 estate, 440 estate, 480 cabriolet (second version) and some others. The red 480 cabriolet was recently restored there and exhibited at the Classic car show at the NEC. I suspect some of the "other" cars there include the 363 CS (volvo only built 7. I know a guy whose mum had one as a company car and she crashed it and wrote it off. They only one crashed!!!!) and the original V30 (based on the S40/V40). Ive heard there is a cabrio and a coupe 340 but that might just be misunderstanding swedish and the interchangabilty of the word coupe for cabrio....

Also, Peter Horbury designed the interior of the 480 and also penned the design chosen for the Mk1 460. Volvo Sweden wasnt so interested in the 460 as they thought it would compete with the 200 and 700 saloons. Volvo BV thought differently and still wanted to build it. Peter also led some design studies into small 3 and 5 door hatch cars based on the 400 series. Kindof the short hatchback design like a Ford Fiesta. The board werent interested in this direction but I think they look very smart. I'd love to build a replica of one of these.....somehow!!?? Im not sure if the cars were build only as clay models or were they built in the metal? If metal, I suspect they are with the others listed above. There was also a small MPV idea, kindof like a Merc A class or Nissan Note. Well ahead of its time!! but again, the board decided against it.

Once restored, they will be shown in the museum

A puzzle is how come Rob Koch (480 designer) developed a separate 480 cabrio idea without the roll bar with a company called EBS. Strangely, the car (cars?) were sold to the public when one would have thought volvo would have stopped that as they were road going models - just prototypes. A guy in Belgium called Guy Vermant owns one of these. Volvo was against the design as it lacked an antiroll bar. However, the car is prettier for it! Ive also learnt volvo America or VCNA commissioned cabriolets of the 262. I think this is the V6 242 model (called 262) rather than a Bertone 262C. Im yet to see it but they only built 5. Again, Guy Vermant has one in Belgium. If I get to see them, I'll be sure to post some pics

S

Post by **Cornholio** » 08 Jun 2008 08:55 am

trabitom99 wrote:I believe that's one of the cabrio prototypes which was moved from Born to Sweden last year, see Shimon's post:

http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... php?t=5511

Ah, sorry to duplicate. I looked at that post yesterday, but for some reason the picture of the cabrio isn't showing on my computer

Thanks for the extra info guys.

Post by **jtbo** » 08 Jun 2008 05:34 pm

How I would like to just walk over and ask politely "How much do you want from this?"

Unfortunately my position is not wealthy enough and I have no such big garage for all toys, I hope and work a lot so that some day I will have

Post by **trabitom99** » 08 Jun 2008 08:55 pm

Cornholio wrote:Ah, sorry to duplicate. I looked at that post yesterday, but for some reason the picture of the cabrio isn't showing on my computer

Not at all, Cornholio - it's good to see that car from a different angle. Besides, the other pictures of that car seem to be offline at the moment.

Shimon, wasn't John de Fries the designer of the 480?

Tom

Post by **shimon340** » 13 Jun 2008 05:14 pm

hello

yes true John de Fries designed one of the four proposals which were made as full size clay model mockups. However, Rob Koch was the chief designer of the volvo BV design department and oversaw the complete project as design cheif. so the car is both their efforts really.

kindof like Simon Lamarre designed the proposal which was chosen for further development for the C30 but Peter Horbury oversaw the project as design cheif.