Volvo’s Legacy: The Practical Estate Car
In a surprising move, Volvo recently announced that it would no longer be selling its estate cars, citing the increasing popularity of SUVs. This news comes as a disappointment to many, as Volvo has built its reputation on producing practical and reliable estate cars. Let’s take a look back at where it all began for Volvo’s estate cars and why they became such a beloved choice for families and professionals alike.
The legend of Volvo’s estate cars began in 1967 with the introduction of the Volvo 145. This compact estate car quickly gained popularity and by 1974, around 268,000 units had been produced. Building on the success of the 145, Volvo developed the 245/265 series, which included their first six-cylinder estate car. In 1978, the high-end GLE version of the Volvo 265 was introduced, priced at £7598 (equivalent to £39,520 today).
The Volvo 265 GLE was powered by a 2.7-liter V6 engine, co-developed with Peugeot and Renault. While the engine wasn’t particularly quiet or smooth, it provided adequate performance with 140bhp and fair fuel efficiency at 19.6 MPG. The manual gearbox was praised for its slick operation. However, the ride quality left much to be desired, as the car struggled to absorb everyday bumps and jolted over them. The steering was also criticized for being vague and rubbery, lacking confidence-inspiring feedback.
Despite these shortcomings, the Volvo 265 GLE had one standout feature that won over many buyers – its generous stowage compartment. The ample cargo space offered by the estate car was unmatched by rivals like the Datsun 260C and Ford Granada. This practicality factor played a significant role in the car’s popularity, as evidenced by the production of 2.86 million examples of the 200-series estate cars until 1993.
In another surprising turn of events, Chrysler made a shock withdrawal from the European market in 1978. The American giant had acquired several European car manufacturers, including France’s Simca, Britain’s Rootes Group, and Spain’s Barreiros, under the umbrella of Chrysler Europe. However, poor sales and industrial action at their UK factories led to significant losses for Chrysler. As a result, the company decided to offload its European division, which was swiftly acquired by Peugeot.
Peugeot, having successfully turned around the fortunes of Citroën, saw an opportunity to further expand its production capacity and economies of scale by acquiring Chrysler Europe. This move propelled Peugeot to become the world’s third-largest carmaker. Unfortunately, the rebranding of Chryslers as Talbots didn’t last long, and today, both brands are part of Stellantis.
In the realm of executive travel, Ford introduced a unique concept in 1978 – the Ford Execubus. This luxurious mobile office was based on the Transit van and offered a more affordable alternative to traditional limousines. Priced at £7500, the Execubus featured shag-pile carpeting, reclining and swiveling velour armchairs around a conference table, reading lamps, a radio, tape player, dictating machine, and even a TV. While this concept may have seemed novel at the time, similar vans with improved ride quality have become commonplace today.
Finally, in the world of sports cars, Ferrari’s Daytona continued to reign supreme in 1978. Despite the introduction of the 512 BB with improved performance, many still considered the V12-powered Daytona to be the best GT car of all time. Its combination of stunning looks, exceptional performance, stability, and practicality made it unmatched by any other road car. Even today, the Daytona remains a highly sought-after classic car.
As we bid farewell to Volvo’s estate cars, it’s clear that their legacy will live on. These practical and spacious vehicles have left an indelible mark on the automotive industry and will be remembered fondly by those who appreciated their versatility. While SUVs may be the current trend, there will always be a place in our hearts for the trusty estate car.