Volvo Memories

10

Growing up my dad was a car guy, he used to take me to the Toronto International Auto Show, buy me remote control cars and got me hooked on building models.

For almost as far back as I can remember his 91 Volvo 940se was his pride and joy. This car was my first introduction to RWD luxury and my dads ‘family compromise’ so to speak. He loved this car and would often take me for spirited drives showing me the effects of over steer as we went. I often hoped this car would be mine but sadly this was not the case.

One tragic winters day my dad brought his car to his mechanics house for a head gasket replacement and while there the mechanics son took it out for a joy ride.

Unfortunately for my dad and his car this kid just had his G1 (learners permit) and had no idea how to handle a rear wheel drive car in the winter more so one with boost.

He ended up over cooking a turn, sliding into oncoming traffic, and striking another car.

Not only did that thief write off my dads car he also wrote off the car that he hit and put that driver out of work for about a year. The thief was perfectly fine (Volvo safety) but he was promptly sued by the driver of the other vehicle for lots and lots of damages.

While my dad was not physically injured by this incident having his pride and joy taken away from him basically shot a hole into the heart that once loved automobiles. Sure my dad will come out and wrench with me when I need a hand but he absolutely does not car about what he drives, his own cars have been tools to him ever since that incident.

I often wonder what he and I could have turned that Volvo into should it still be around, maybe it could have ended up looking something like this 740?

The stance on this brick is right proper
I don't know what it is about boxy cars but they just take well to dish

Guess we will never know, but if I win the lottery I know the first thing I am buying my dad.

10 COMMENTS

  1. thats a shame man ive got a similar story obout my dads gordini rallye car eny way did you guys in the states ever get the volvo amazon ?

  2. @Ollie p/ DaveT, according to wikipedia (by no means a reliable source at all) the amazon was assembled in Halifax,Nova Scotia. I’m also pretty sure some amazons made their way into the US, as I’ve actually seen about 3. Although I’m not sure if they were specifically sold here.

    You’ve just renewed my passion for an 83′ 242 group A homologation special, and a 262/C. Fear the sexy squareness!!

  3. your right thay do egsist in the america ive been doing my own bit of diging but i dont know if thay wer asembled in the us or imported the thing about the amazon is it only wieghs 1200 kilos so with a bit of tweeking thay fly (check out the get away stockholm amazon vid on you tube and theres also the famus vox) but after that thay started to get heavyer so my interests wane lol but i do have a perverse love for the 53-69 duett estate/ambulace i just think one would look sooo sweet on droped 20iners with a stainless steel roofrack and malibu on the roof

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