The design of the 300 series, ugly?

[garethreece]

The mk2/3 are nicer on the front (I think anyway!) but they are certainly NOT ugly

[mickt]

A famous design person has owned a 340

He headed up the conversion of the power station on the River Thames into an Art Museum

I believe him. But I also believe that there is something unbalanced about worshipping appearance as much as he does. In General Knowledge , Bayley reprints an article he wrote in 1991, about the cars museum directors drive, in the course of which he says that he once saw Nicholas Serota driving a Volvo 340 and could never take the Turner Prize seriously again. And yet he says now that he deeply admires Tate Modern, so doesn't he see that he was wrong to write Serota off purely because he drove the wrong car? 'No. I believe in Corbusier's definition, that design is intelligence made visible. And if you are someone like me, suffering from my delusions, you believe there is no such thing as an innocent gesture. Everything we do, wear, buy - or everything we reject - says something about us. That's part of the fascination of the modern world - there's no such thing as innocent choice. So Nick and his Volvo 340 is significant. Because how can you have a fine eye and not want to apply it to everything? He is supposed to be the leading national spokesman for modernism. And yet he can suspend his judgement enough to drive a crap heap, one of the worst machines ever made. And if you think art is very important how can you drive a Volvo 340?'

At the end of our conversation, Bayley insists on walking me to my car. I wish, wish, wish it were a Volvo 340, but I am confident that my Mondeo will have the same effect. Unfortunately, it doesn't - the Mondeo for some weird reason comes within his definition of approved design. So, Nick Serota, if you are reading this - trade down, swop your Volvo for a Mondeo and you can earn the admiration of a Stephen Bayley. But I am inclined to think that, having built Tate Modern, you don't really need to bother. Let those who worship the teapot live by the teapot.

A Volvo owner replies


Sunday December 10, 2000
The Observer


My artist wife was happy to see that Nicholas Serota drives the same car as her. But what is Stephen Bayley doing making fun of the Volvo 340 (Life, last week)?
As an amateur design consultant, I could make a good case for the 340 as a statement for our time - restrained styling, de Dion rear axle, some of the best seats available. Above all, the rear hatch and com modious boot offer exceptional facilities for carrying items such as pictures, bedsteads or bricks. What design-conscious artist could ask for more?
Laurence Cook
Stockport
Gtr Manchester

Cheers Mickt

[SteveP]

Nice find Mick! I certainly wouldn't call the 300 series ugly, considering that the car started with the 3 door design, Volvo did an exceptionally good job at broadening the range by introducing a 5 door and saloon models at a later date. The Mk1 models are a bit ugly - but personally I actually really like them, and compared with other cars of a similar era the styling is a-ok in my eyes.

Overall, I think the 300 series is gradually becoming a bit more in demand by those in the know. Only time will tell if it ever becomes an appreciating classic! Which it surely deserves!?

[petefarrell360]

That is a grand find Mick. Can't really add much more to this, Steve has summed it up nicely. There are some cars on this forum, I'm not going to pick any in particular, that really do look stunning, some are completey bone stock original as ever, some are modified in many ways, but deep down are 300's and often the mods emphasise the original shape and style.

I must say, when I see a 300 parked in the street near modern cars, it still looks right, despite having 70's and 80's styling, it hasn't aged too badly. It wasn't outrageous styling, which is why is was called boring and bland, but it worked!

I prefer the angles and lines to a 300, I'm actually not too keen on the curves in modern cars, as they all look too similar. Infact in order for the doors to keep their shape, some of the curves in them look like they've had an accident and been rammed in the side!

I think Steve's spot on, those who appreciate 300's and know their cars are cherishing their cars, so hopefully there will be some fine examples around when the 300 finally reaches the classic status it deserves.

Pete

[SoLaMaNdA]

Personally I think they are great looking cars. Modern cars look awful and too similar. Ok the 300 is not a fashionable look but fashion is for the masses, they don't know what they are missing! I get more looks and positive comments about my car than if it were a sports car etc. It’s unique and certainly not flash.

[Carl]

I dont think the 300 is ever going to be a massively popular design in terms of something good to look at, but I think it's actually starting to become 'retro-cool', perhaps not because it's the best looking car in the world, but it's got that 'X Factor' - there's just something about them. Something everyone here has obviously realised.

Personally I think the GLT models look great, with a mk2 3dr GLT being one of the nicest in the range and overall a very good looking car. IMHO I think the 'lesser' models look a bit bland (no offence to anyone), but then I've always liked 80/90s sporty models - hence the BX 16v, Manta GTE, XR4x4, Swift GTi etc etc that I've owned to date.

[redline]

come on guys lets face it the 300 is damn ugly ( at least compared to the sleek sexy lines of a calibra ) but lets be honest thats why we love it .

Looking at some of the ugly mugs around here it can only make us look better lol

[jtbo]

I don't like looks of Calibra, it already looks like designed by ppl from Tupperware, like 99% of modern cars...

[MJ]

And Tupperware wen't out of business

[340cbr]

Calibra is a Xunning car like we call that cars here in Portugal.

To much show

[jtbo]

And Tupperware wen't out of business

No wonder we see cars what we see now days, easy to guess where designers found new jobs,

[MJ]

Tupperware is very good for putting electronics in to keep dry. Just drill a hole for the wires to come up, and seal it up

[340GLT]

I dont like any cars that look like they could be made from a jelly mould!!!!
Adam

[dalahare]

come on guys lets face it the 300 is damn ugly.... .... but lets be honest thats why we love it .

I agree, my 360glt is one of the ugliest little cars out there, I rescued it from the side of a dealrship where it had been sitting for 3 years, no one wanted it. I was looking for something reasonably economical, reliable, RWD and in a hatch shape, that was a tough call here in oz, the 360 is the only car i can think of that meets all those requirements, and to boot it's injected so no starting issues on cold morniings, hae central locking and power windows, it's a great little package and i don't really give a stuff what it looks like.

[redline]

And Tupperware wen't out of business

yes thats true,but it is now very collectable and going up in value