DL-53-66

Volvo 144, dutch registration DL-53-66

Note: Most of this text was written years ago, when I built the first incarnation of this site. I thought it suitable to keep it, even though it's been given the general site look&feel, and is now a seperate page (it used to be part of the main page).

My Volvo 144 was first registered in May of 1970, in Switzerland. It was imported into the Netherlands by a student who financed his holidays by importing classic cars, and I aquired it from him in August of 1995. Unfortunately I didn't receive any documentation about the Swiss origins of this vehicle.

It was a good car, with a few known problems: Water pump needed replacing, rust on the rear wheelarches (both sides), paint was a bit faded and the drivers seat has some tears in the cloth.

Upon getting it home I had a local mechanic give it a good checking over, replacing all fluids and the water pump (I didn't have enough time to do it myself). The wheelarches I had fixed after the winter months, and I had it rustproofed as well. After a few months it also needed a new master brake cylinder.

It has given reliable service since.

Of course I am slowly restoring it to it's full beauty, as well as making some enhacements to increase the pleasure of driving it.

Enhacements to date include replacing the headlights with Halogen units, replacing the 4-sp M40 tranny with a completely rebuilt 4+OD M41, fitting an LPG system (much cheaper than petrol in the Netherlands), fitting a rebuilt cylinder head with hardened valve seats, replacing various door and window rubbers, and a set of front and rear fog lights.

Future enhancements will be a getting rid of some small spots of rust before they turn into big spots of rust, a repaint, having the interior reupholstered, new floor mats, fitting new rubbers and seals around all doors and windows, rebuilding the suspension, and probably some things I think of as I go along.

All in all I'm very pleased with this car, especially as I got it at a reasonable price (considering what they currently cost, very resonable).

Update: After a holiday in the USA I've fallen in love with 6-cylinder engines, and bought myself a 164. While trying to sell off another car (a white 144 that was only a transient member of my fleet) the potential buyer fell in love with this car, and we came to an agreement. So as per early February 2000 this is no longer my car. He's planning the comprehensive restoration I have never gotten around to, so this old lady should be gracing the roads for many more years to come. Yes, after almost 5 years, 100,000 km and saving my skin at least 3 times without a scratch I did feel some regret at selling her off. Unfortunately, 3 cars are just not possible in our neighborhood, and each would get too little use and care to remain in the condition it deserves. Already, the rust spots were getting bigger, and the engine pretty tired. I did, however, ask (and got) first refusal should the car be sold on. Call me a sentimental fool, I don't mind in this case.