Road test book

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MCHUDD
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Road test book

Post by MCHUDD » 10 Feb 2014 09:21 pm

Hi all.
Not shure if i am posting this in the right place. Last week a good freind of mine gave me a book
about the 300 series. It is called
TRANSPORT SOURCE BOOKS
VOLVO 340 AND 360 RANGE
ROAD TEST ARTICLES REPORTS
THE INSIDE STORY OF YOUR CAR
FROM LEADING UK MOTORING JOURNALS.

It is compiled by someone named TREVOR ALDER.
It was published in 1995 by Transport Source Books limited
32 Springhurst close
Ipswich
IP4 5NU
Tel 01473 270376
There is articles in it from well before the launch date from magazines such as AUTOCAR and MOTOR.
It give you the prices of them new and what there main rivals were. All the spec of each modol and how
safe they were.
What i never new was that Autocar took a 343 before its launch and tested it at Goodwood
They took it around the track and rolled it. Driver a passenger escaped injury and the only
damage to the car was a dent in the roof :D :D :D
The price of a 343 back in 1977 was £3455.00. That was a lot of moey back then.
I then looked up the price of my Jan 1981 Banana and it was £5071.78 on the road including tax and VAT. :shock: :shock: :shock:

Another artice bty Motor tells us that they test a 360 in a freezer. The whole thing was inceased in a block of ice for 24 hours.
The next day it took 40 minutes to chip there way to the car door. Everyone was pleased but not surprised that the car started
first time. The temperature was 30 C Below and there was an AA man to inshure fair play.
The book is a realy good read.
Cheers mark.
sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69

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Hell Driver
Posts: 1415
Joined: 18 Aug 2009 09:58 pm
Location: Doncaster UK

Re: Road test book

Post by Hell Driver » 10 Feb 2014 11:09 pm

MCHUDD wrote: The price of a 343 back in 1977 was £3455.00. That was a lot of money back then.
I always remember, aged 7, asking how the new car had cost in 1977.....I think it was the first time I'd tried to imagine what that much money looked like :lol:

Just as well we got about 25 years out of it then, :D

Looking back at it, to be fair, compared to the Ford Classic that it replaced, I didn't really come up to the mark as far as value for money, reliablilty and build quality was concerned. I think the ford was far less rusty at 15 years old, (although that's what eventyually killed it). I think it's well accepted on here that early cars left a lot to be desired! The concept was good, safetly, hatchback and good mpg for a 1970's auto, it was just a bit rushed in development I think.

That car was the last car my parents bought new!.......but they did stick to the 300 with the next car.
360 GLE Saloon (D 86)
360 GLS (A 84)
343 DL (W 80) :-)
340 GL 1.7 (G 89)
360 GLS (Y 83)
440 Turbo (J 92)
Transit Tipper 125 T350 (02)Alive Again!
Transit Tipper Smiley face Q reg
Mitsubishi Colt 1.1 (54)
R.I.P. 77 343 DL vario :-(

macplaxton
Posts: 3283
Joined: 09 Feb 2008 02:29 am

Re: Road test book

Post by macplaxton » 11 Feb 2014 05:21 pm

Quality!

I've got a couple of these books for other cars. They are photocopy collections of contemporary tests from publications such as Autocar and The Motor. A good few magazine adverts are copied in as well.

It's a good job I'm not a courier in London anymore. Always too tempting if it was quiet to pop into Motor Books in WC2 and spend money :D
72 DAF 44 Estate 78 Volvo 343DL Black BeautyImageImage
82 Volvo 343DL CVTImageImage 88 Volvo 340DL Diesel

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S10NPH
Posts: 461
Joined: 23 Sep 2008 09:52 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: Road test book

Post by S10NPH » 11 Feb 2014 09:39 pm

I also have this book, it's brilliant, has loads of road tests from the early years.
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

MCHUDD
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Re: Road test book

Post by MCHUDD » 12 Feb 2014 08:52 pm

Hi Sion.
And there was me thinking i was the only one to have one :( :( :(
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Cheers Mark.
sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69 sm69

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S10NPH
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Location: Cambridge

Re: Road test book

Post by S10NPH » 13 Feb 2014 12:41 am

Sorry Mark! I've had mine for years, I think it was from a car boot sale, and it's one if my most treasured possessions. I don't know how widely published the book was, it looks a bit amateur really. I've now bought quite a few of the actual magazines from which the articles and road tests in the book came from.
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

Roge1
Posts: 73
Joined: 10 Mar 2011 10:51 pm

Re: Road test book

Post by Roge1 » 14 Mar 2014 01:49 pm

Hi,

Don't suppose you could disclose the ISBN number, in case I wanted to hunt down a copy??

Thanks

Roge W :D

MCHUDD
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Re: Road test book

Post by MCHUDD » 14 Apr 2014 04:04 pm

Hi all.
Maybe having a blonde moment but what is an ISBN number?
Cheers Mark.
sm4 sm4 sm4

macplaxton
Posts: 3283
Joined: 09 Feb 2008 02:29 am

Re: Road test book

Post by macplaxton » 14 Apr 2014 04:21 pm

MCHUDD wrote:what is an ISBN number?
International Standard Book Number
Image
Maybe on the back cover or inside the first pages where the publication info is. :wink:
72 DAF 44 Estate 78 Volvo 343DL Black BeautyImageImage
82 Volvo 343DL CVTImageImage 88 Volvo 340DL Diesel

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S10NPH
Posts: 461
Joined: 23 Sep 2008 09:52 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: Road test book

Post by S10NPH » 18 Apr 2014 05:25 pm

I've just had a look at my copy of the book, and I'm afraid it doesn't have an ISBN number, as it isn't really a proper officially published book I don't think. Sorry.

Maybe one day I will scan the reviews and upload them somewhere.
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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