Hi there again everyone.
I'm still very happy with my new acquisition introduced here but was talking to some fellow enthusiasts at a recent RWDVolvos meet at the weekend. It struck us a being somewhat rare.
It's a Mk II 340 GL with the 1.4 engine and 5 speed gearbox but it appears never to have had heated seats, a radio, speakers or aerial. It's also a colour none of us could remember seeing before.
I'm 99% certain it is a UK supplied car as I have some documentation from the supplying dealer.
So I guess I'm interested to know:
1. Are there many UK supplied Mk II 340s without heated front seats?
2. Is this a rare colour?
3. Were many Mk II 340s delivered without any ICE?
Any thoughts appreciated.
Thanks
Pete
Unusual Spec?
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antiekeradio
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I know that colour, although it is quite rare indeed.
cars with no radio (or even preparations for one) are quite common over here, (Netherlands) but I think you are referring specifically to the UK situation?
heated front seats are quite rare on older type cars. To me it would be more amazing if a car of this year had it, rather than not....
cars with no radio (or even preparations for one) are quite common over here, (Netherlands) but I think you are referring specifically to the UK situation?
heated front seats are quite rare on older type cars. To me it would be more amazing if a car of this year had it, rather than not....
The thing that I'd see as rare in your car Pete is the 5sp box. Mk2 DL's often had very sparse trim, the one in our motorclub was completely different to my later model with blanking plates everywhere.
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
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
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
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
I think most late 1.4 GL Mk2's had a 5 speed box, after 84ish I believe. The seat trim is a little strange, Id've expected a bit more plush than that on a GL.
Lack of heated seats quite common really on that age, I think the switched ones are only in Mk3's? I think it's fairly rare not to have any sort of stereo in the UK but I think they were all options anyway so not surprising
Lack of heated seats quite common really on that age, I think the switched ones are only in Mk3's? I think it's fairly rare not to have any sort of stereo in the UK but I think they were all options anyway so not surprising
1989 - Volvo 360 GLT
1985 - Volvo 360 GLS
2008 - Volvo S60 SE Lux
1985 - Volvo 360 GLS
2008 - Volvo S60 SE Lux
Thanks guys.
Automatic heated seats sound good - I'll let you all know if it has them in the winter!
The seats are actually more plush IRL than they look in the photos - definitely a step up from the ones in the Mk III I used to run around in. That Mk III had the swtiched seats, hence my confusion.
Pete
Automatic heated seats sound good - I'll let you all know if it has them in the winter!
The seats are actually more plush IRL than they look in the photos - definitely a step up from the ones in the Mk III I used to run around in. That Mk III had the swtiched seats, hence my confusion.
Pete
Afternoon all,
Memory is a little hazy but a far as I recall the heated seat issue is as follows:-
'77' & '78' yr models - no heated seats.
'79' to '85' yr models - heated drivers seat only - automatic control.
'86' t0 '91' yr models - both front seats heated - switches and thermostats.
Usually the seat thermostats fail quite quickly and on 'Mk11's' unless you look for the wiring or the heater pads it is easy to think you have no heated seat at all. (as I remember it the only post '79' 300's to have no heated seat at all were the very basic 4spd. '340' (no trim letter) from about '89'.
Your car, Pete, if it is a UK spec GL (B reg could be an '84' model but more likely to be an '85' - certainly the trim is '85' GL - that combination of plush and cloth is absolutly spot on) should have a 5spd box, and the drivers seat only heated (with no switches).
The colour is not common but is an '85' GL option. (green cars have never been popular in the UK).
The factory 'spec' NEVER included ICE but at least a basic radio and front door speakers was supplied on all UK cars, unless the customer specifically requested no radio at all. I think I have only ever seen 3 or 4 cars with nothing at all. An '85' GL would generally have been supplied with front door speakers and a 2band (LW & MW) radio - but in most cases the customer would upgrade to a sterio radio/casette. ALL UK 340s that were supplied with radios were also fitted with the 'roof' aerial - no hole in roof - no kit fitted.
Either your car is one of the few that never had a radio fitted - or is there a chance that it was either an Irish import or was a TDS car (perhaps bought in Germany and brought back by a member og the armed forces ??
The interior looks spotless - with no signs of having had door speakers fitted - and the 'blanking' plate in the dash is 'factory'.
Whatever it is it certainly looks to be a peach - and I wish you all the luck with it. If you have any questions, just ask - there are enough 'anoraks' here to solve most problems!
Mac.
Memory is a little hazy but a far as I recall the heated seat issue is as follows:-
'77' & '78' yr models - no heated seats.
'79' to '85' yr models - heated drivers seat only - automatic control.
'86' t0 '91' yr models - both front seats heated - switches and thermostats.
Usually the seat thermostats fail quite quickly and on 'Mk11's' unless you look for the wiring or the heater pads it is easy to think you have no heated seat at all. (as I remember it the only post '79' 300's to have no heated seat at all were the very basic 4spd. '340' (no trim letter) from about '89'.
Your car, Pete, if it is a UK spec GL (B reg could be an '84' model but more likely to be an '85' - certainly the trim is '85' GL - that combination of plush and cloth is absolutly spot on) should have a 5spd box, and the drivers seat only heated (with no switches).
The colour is not common but is an '85' GL option. (green cars have never been popular in the UK).
The factory 'spec' NEVER included ICE but at least a basic radio and front door speakers was supplied on all UK cars, unless the customer specifically requested no radio at all. I think I have only ever seen 3 or 4 cars with nothing at all. An '85' GL would generally have been supplied with front door speakers and a 2band (LW & MW) radio - but in most cases the customer would upgrade to a sterio radio/casette. ALL UK 340s that were supplied with radios were also fitted with the 'roof' aerial - no hole in roof - no kit fitted.
Either your car is one of the few that never had a radio fitted - or is there a chance that it was either an Irish import or was a TDS car (perhaps bought in Germany and brought back by a member og the armed forces ??
The interior looks spotless - with no signs of having had door speakers fitted - and the 'blanking' plate in the dash is 'factory'.
Whatever it is it certainly looks to be a peach - and I wish you all the luck with it. If you have any questions, just ask - there are enough 'anoraks' here to solve most problems!
Mac.
Thanks Mac,
I need to look at the documents when I get home but I'm pretty sure it's UK supplied - first registered 01/01/85.
It has a good dealer history which suggests that the 56,000 miles is authentic - an average of 2,500 per year! By the weekend I'll have added 1,000 miles in 3 weeks...
I suspect that it was bought as a runabout, maybe even a second family car, that was only ever expected to do short local runs and specifically ordered without ICE. There is no evidence of ever having the roof mounted aerial or any speakers and the factory blanking plate looks like it's never been removed.
I guess I'll have to wait until the winter to find out if the heated seat still works. If it doesn't, I guess finding a new thermostat could be tricky?
Pete
I need to look at the documents when I get home but I'm pretty sure it's UK supplied - first registered 01/01/85.
It has a good dealer history which suggests that the 56,000 miles is authentic - an average of 2,500 per year! By the weekend I'll have added 1,000 miles in 3 weeks...
I suspect that it was bought as a runabout, maybe even a second family car, that was only ever expected to do short local runs and specifically ordered without ICE. There is no evidence of ever having the roof mounted aerial or any speakers and the factory blanking plate looks like it's never been removed.
I guess I'll have to wait until the winter to find out if the heated seat still works. If it doesn't, I guess finding a new thermostat could be tricky?
Pete
Hi again Pete,
It's not quite a simple as fitting a new thermostat - it's built in as part of the heater pad.
The system consists of two plastic mesh pads containing the heating elements - the pad in the squab has the thermostat. The other pad (in the backrest) has no thermostat of its own but just works in conjunction with the squab heater.
The pic below shows a (new) squab pad.
This pic shows the thermostat inside the mesh case.
The other problem with seat heaters is that over time "bum on seat" movement causes the pads to "scrunch up" leading to localised overheating and element failure. I cannot imagine that replacements are available from Volvo - and I very much doubt if it would be economic to replace them anyway (unless you are "preserving" a real gem and can find a rare creature with new replacements - like me). The other option is the "scrapyard search" but in honesty you would be lucky to find working pads now. (the system never was that reliable after the first two years or so!)
Wait until winter and then decide what to do if yours don't work.
ATB - Mac.
It's not quite a simple as fitting a new thermostat - it's built in as part of the heater pad.
The system consists of two plastic mesh pads containing the heating elements - the pad in the squab has the thermostat. The other pad (in the backrest) has no thermostat of its own but just works in conjunction with the squab heater.
The pic below shows a (new) squab pad.
This pic shows the thermostat inside the mesh case.
The other problem with seat heaters is that over time "bum on seat" movement causes the pads to "scrunch up" leading to localised overheating and element failure. I cannot imagine that replacements are available from Volvo - and I very much doubt if it would be economic to replace them anyway (unless you are "preserving" a real gem and can find a rare creature with new replacements - like me). The other option is the "scrapyard search" but in honesty you would be lucky to find working pads now. (the system never was that reliable after the first two years or so!)
Wait until winter and then decide what to do if yours don't work.
ATB - Mac.
Thanks Mac
I've never been convinced that they're fully necessary in UK climates anyway so will probably just leave it if it doesn't work.
Useful and interesting to know how they do work, should I change my mind though.
I've just checked the V5 and it was definitely first registered in the UK as new on 1/1/85.
Pete
I've never been convinced that they're fully necessary in UK climates anyway so will probably just leave it if it doesn't work.
Useful and interesting to know how they do work, should I change my mind though.
I've just checked the V5 and it was definitely first registered in the UK as new on 1/1/85.
Pete
I didn't know that mac... as long as the elements are ok, I'll pull one apart when I get time and see if I can get some part numbers to repair! Don't think I have any spare seats now, but will look, else I know Fake's don't work.
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
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
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
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
