How many 1976 343s still in existence?

[trabitom99]

Hi!

I just wanted to ask if anyone knows how many of the 5000 or so 343s (5,206? 5,381? I'm not sure ..) from the first year of production are still around? 1976 means chassis numbers up to 305381.

I only know of a few cars:
Freerk (V3C) CH 3001800 - the oldest I know of


Herman Sept 1976


a random French Ebay ad from June 2007:


another French Ebay ad from December 2008:


RJV (Belgium, V3C) has one and I know of one in Germany which was first registered in Feb 1977 but could still have a 1976 chassis number.

So that means 5 or 6 Any more out there? And what were the major changes throughout that model year? I've often heard the earliest 300s were changed quite a lot, and that they were thrown onto the market far too early ...

Tom

[Speedy88]

I thought I found one via a tip off. But it was a false alarm. It's *only* a C-reg

[volvodspec]

Freerk's is probably the oldest one that is known, and he's very busy with a proffesional restauration!!

the very poor quality engine components of the B14.0 were a part aswell.. a B14.0 gives up after barely 60.000 miles, 85.000max.. then it allmost automatically throws its rods out. some very low quality steel was used back than (not even mentioning the tiny valves etc) dropping a later B14 in is easy offcourse but back then that didn't happen that often unfortunatly

[Hell Driver]

Freerk's is probably the oldest one that is known, and he's very busy with a proffesional restauration!!

the very poor quality engine components of the B14.0 were a part aswell.. a B14.0 gives up after barely 60.000 miles, 85.000max.. then it allmost automatically throws its rods out. some very low quality steel was used back than (not even mentioning the tiny valves etc) dropping a later B14 in is easy offcourse but back then that didn't happen that often unfortunatly

My old one had problems from day 1 when it was my dads and later mine. In 1977 on our first run the starter jammed (no push start due to vario ). Volvo dealer 'fixed it' then it jammed again weeks later on family holiday to Wales. When I had it I did get a fair few miles out of it but at a cost. One burnt valve, broken piston ring and two sets of both primary and secondary CVT units! Chassis No was 343500HC316306 so is wasn't actually a 76 model then? (it did have Septembre 1976 sticker on the air cleaner box though!) and otherwise identical to those photos especially the metallic blue French one which is missing the hubcaps.

One thing I've noticed which I don't remember anyone mentioning before is the slight difference in the quater light/front winding window dividing strip. Edged with stainless steel on 76 and 77 models and was made of a plastic which got sticky in the hot sun! Soon replaced with a solid black metal strip.

Yes they were thrown onto the market too early. The plastic trim inside was very fragile, air vents lasted minutes, things changed shape in the hot sun and plastic bits cracked easily. It needed a new speedometer after 5000 miles and was a rusty mess by the time I got it Then again it was 13 years old by then!

But anyone guess what the best thing about the early models was?

[elpee]

I hve last weekend spoken with Freerk. The 343 from him is build in May 1976. The original engine is broken and he put's a another engine in this car.

[trabitom99]

My old one had problems from day 1 when it was my dads and later mine. In 1977 on our first run the starter jammed (no push start due to vario ). Volvo dealer 'fixed it' then it jammed again weeks later on family holiday to Wales. When I had it I did get a fair few miles out of it but at a cost. One burnt valve, broken piston ring and two sets of both primary and secondary CVT units! Chassis No was 343500HC316306 so is wasn't actually a 76 model then? (it did have Septembre 1976 sticker on the air cleaner box though!) and otherwise identical to those photos especially the metallic blue French one which is missing the hubcaps.

But anyone guess what the best thing about the early models was?

316306 makes your car an early '77 - probably built around March or so. Sound like it still had lots of the teething troubles though

The best thing about the early models? Chrome mirrors? The colour brown ?

Enlighten me

I hve last weekend spoken with Freerk. The 343 from him is build in May 1976. The original engine is broken and he put's a another engine in this car.

May '76 That is very early, considering they first went on sale in March or so ...

Tom

[Hell Driver]

Yes the best thing is the all round chrome and stainless steel window trims, rain gutter, mirrors and handles etc.

Worst thing they did was go to that nasty plastic stuff (although the later black one faired better and looks OK).

When I do the Mk1 I'll be putting the fixed rear windows in from a DL. for full chromeyness.

I would imagine that if only 5000 '76 models were made there will only be a few left, 10 to 20 maybe?

I do have a photo of 76 metallic blue one in a scrapyard in Dorset reg No. TTT 805R (from 1991) I was amazed when I found it even then! It's a print photo of course (no newfangled digital cameras in those days ) so I need to scan it in to show it.

[volvodspec]

the rear popout windows have plastic trim, on the non-popout rear windows they were all stainless, up till the last 343!!!

on 340 and 360's i prefer the black trim, as the fake plastic chrome isn't chrome anymore nowadays

[L14MNP]

The slammed brown? 343 on banded Nova (Corsa A) SR steels with roofrack could be another uber early car?

I think I have a pic of it somewhere if no-one knows the car I mean?

[Hell Driver]

Here it is, digitally remastered



Wish I'd stripped it bare. I just took all the small brown plastic trim bits and the main prize which I was after, a nice brown clock! Also still have the fuse box lid I used to carry the bits in!

This is the ONLY 1976 car I have ever actually seen for certain, in a scrapyard! Although I do remember seeing a metallic green one at the top of our street when I was about 8 or 9 (1978/9) That was possibly an '76 R reg.

[Jos360]

The slammed brown? 343 on banded Nova (Corsa A) SR steels with roofrack could be another uber early car?

I think I have a pic of it somewhere if no-one knows the car I mean?

1 - june - 1977 is the license plate date.
http://forum.volvo300club.nl/showthread.php?t=4623

[SteveP]

I'm not sure the stainless steel guttering is just the 76 model year? I remember seeing a Mk1 300 in a scrapyard about 15yrs ago and I'm sure it was a 5 door..., probably a 79, but could be mistaken - it was a while back!!

[Hell Driver]

Full of 70's goodness these early ones

Will Volvo ever produce a modern car retro styled on the 343 like the mini/fiat 500 and beetle

I prefer the originals anyway much more fun!

[Hell Driver]

I'm not sure the stainless steel guttering is just the 76 model year? I remember seeing a Mk1 300 in a scrapyard about 15yrs ago and I'm sure it was a 5 door..., probably a 79

No, it's on the 1980 Mk I have, one of the reasons I bought it Not sure when they changed that, MK 2?

I just meant the overall chromeyness, ie everything on the earlier models.

[trabitom99]

I had a go at trying to piece together trim revisions, model changeovers etc in this thread:
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... f=2&t=5363

I really get into anorak-y stuff like that But I never found out anything about actual changes within the '76 MY.

Tom