Yet another V3C-member! I'm Niels and somehow I ended up with a penchant for the 300-series. I tried to find one while looking for a nice first car a few years ago, but ended up with a 460 GL since the only 340 with a manual transmission I could find was a bit of a heap really: a variomatic or a 360 was simply not an option for me at the time.

I sold my 460 a year later to make room for my company car, which enabled me to buy myself 'something on the side'. A 340 was very high on my list and because it wouldn't have to suffer that much mileage being a hobby project, I chose a belt-driven one. There are loads of these for sale in the Netherlands thanks to all those caring elderly people who made them survive.

It's this car I'm rather attached to: a 340 GL Special which was first registered in September 1991, even though production ran out six months earlier. The poor thing was sitting on a garage lot for months since its previous owner decided to swap it for a younger motor rather than bringing it in for a service. I paid the price for that since I have encountered all the usual worries: a rough running engine and a seriously malfunctioning variomatic. Those problems have largely been solved since then, even though it was very off-putting to have the engine cutting out at traffic lights with a transmission that doesn't allow starting when in gear.

There's still some work to be done - but at least it is rust-free and in pretty good nick. I fitted some nice rims off a 360 GLT and that huge clock in the instrument panel has been replaced with a rev counter to be able to monitor whether the transmission shifts properly. Due to it being the 'top of the range' 340 in its final years, it's got electric windows, central locking and heated seats!



This '85 360 GLS is a recent addition to the collection. It was salvaged by another V3C member and some welding has been done to make it pass the MOT. There's still a huge amount of work required, apart from the bodywork.

Welcome to the club Niels!

Welcome to the V3M Niels.

Both look like tasty portions of Volvo.

Good on yer.

Thought an update was necessary for my olde thread (december 2008; o tempora o mores) since some cars moved on and others have taken their place.

The 340 GL Special is still my main means of transport after 2,5 years of service. It's got a new front bumper, headlamp wipers (just for showz), two extra dials in the instrument panel and a rear spoiler, plus some technical upgrades consisting of a refurbished carb and a complete variomatic overhaul. Even though the car has tempted me many times to just take it to the breakers I'm just holding on to it. It might even get its bodywork sorted out in the future.



I've been looking for a DAF for some time now, scavenging on all the ad sites, only to find cars that were either a) badly corroded, b) hideously expensive, c) a beige Volvo 66 or d) all of the above. This one however was sitting in a dry shed at a DAF-friendly workshop for some years after the engine had given up on life. The body was in very good nick however, being completely restored a few years ago, with some of the anti-rust goo still oozing out from under the window trims!

Anyway, it's mine now since last weekend after it was overhauled (brakes, transmission, new engine) and I absolutely love it. It's a Neona yellow DAF 66 Marathon Coupé first registered in december 1972. Along the goodies are a old Philips radio with one (1) Philips speaker in the back along with all the paperwork, the original owner's manual, Volvo 'GLS' wheels, a certificate indicating a year's worth of warranty from when it was bought secondhand in 1976 and even a booklet with all the DAF dealers in Western Europe as of 1975! That should come in handy if I take it on a holiday trip now shouldn't it



The Volvo 360 GLS has left the premises, as it was just sitting still for ages. The day I took it out for a spin, it literally died on me when the alternator stopped working. It was picked up by two nice blokes driving exactly the same car albeit in burgundy. It's been without a MOT since this summer, hope it'll see the road again one day.

Even though I sold my first car (a 1992 460 GL 1.8i) a few years ago, I've been keeping track of it through the online Dutch DVLA service, but its license number expired some months ago, ie it's dead.



This Toyota Corolla was with me for a very short while. It belonged to a colleague who used it as his winter workhorse until the radiator (23 years old, as was the car) suddenly developed a severe case of coolant incontinence. He wanted to get rid of it but had nowhere to go with it, so I stepped in and bought it off him so I could replace the radiator myself and use the car while refurbishing the carb of my 340. It was in very good nick, and a nice drive as well with its simple 3-speed automatic. Selling it was very easy: the advantage of a Toyota badge. I still take some pride in having saved this car, even more so considering the scrappage malarkey that started just a few months later.

DAF 66 Marathon Coupé - way cool, and the BEST colour too - NICE ONE ! - I`m well jealous !

I have major Daf envy.
One day, ill have a coupe.
One day.

volvosneverdie wrote:I have major Daf envy.
One day, ill have a coupe.
One day.

I'm thinking EXACTLY the same... or maybe an early 343 vario

don't have a coupe but i have a neona 66 saloon and an early 343. i would love a coupe 55 or 66

I also have to pick up a 33 van on sunday

I had a go at sliming down the fleet but it has grown by one and a half cars?????

More pictures of DAF coupe please!!!

Right-o:

!

Blue coupe just like that for sale on the Daf owner forum

It even has the same wheels on it

I am a very happy man now my car has grown a beard.



And another DAF pic because I know y'all like it.

Sexy sexy Daf.