The Volvo 240 series is well known and loved (especially in Portland) for its tall and airy greenhouse, among other things. But that’s no reason why not to improve on it further. And what better way to do so than with the greenhouse from another Swedish car (Saab 96).
CC reader Tim F. sent me this great catch, shot in Portland, natch. he left this comment with it:
One of the terms you hear thrown about in car reviews these days is “Greenhouse”. It refers to your view of the outside world, and headroom. Safety and noise concerns have resulted in modern cars with more than their share of greenhouse complaints.
This Volvo 240 wagon I spotted fueling up in Portland has none of those pesky greenhouse issues. What a charming car this must be. Imagine driving a modern Camaro after spending a few days in this?
I’d rather not.
CC reader Michael Hafner also spotted it back in 2015 at the beach in Pacific City, OR. Note the revised emblem on the tailgate: “VOLVAAB”.
I am more surprised to see the sunshine and lack of rain, I heard weather like that exists. Very cool vehicle indeed and it looks like part of a Saab 92 on the top. I am going to be looking for this Volvo now I know it exists.
A Saab 96, I think. I hope the Saab was at the end of the trail to justify cutting it up like that.
Portland actually does have a nice summer, plus the famous “liquid sunshine”
I find myself wondering if the greenhouse from a Volvo PV544 or P1800ES would fit on a 145 roof.
Ladies,
This is what happens when a man with torches hears, “I wish our old Volvo wasn’t so boxy.” Be careful what you wish for.
What other Swedish car is this added headroom from? Looks pretty ridiculous to me.
Saab 96. What other Swedish car is there? 🙂
+1
Well I really meant what other Swedish model is this? It might have been from a Volvo sold only in Europe that I didn’t know about.
Ugly, must have been bored. Try to go over a low height bridge..lol.
Going over a low height bridge is never a problem, if you stop and think about it. And even going under one wouldn’t be a problem, because this is obviously not as tall as a typical delivery van or such.
Mr. Hatfield, I’ve had to previously point out your tendency to write before you think. And then you did it again this morning, with your “downsized” Chrysler Newport comment. If you had read that article before commenting, or just used a bit of logic, you’d have known that your comment was embarrassing.
I’m not trying to ride you constantly, but there’s a real pattern with your commenting. Commenting at CC is best left to those that really have something to add to the post, or something interesting to share. But that’s increasingly not the case with you. Please engage brain before putting fingers in gear. Thanks.
Commenting at CC is best left to those that really have something to add to the post, or something interesting to share.
That’s why I waited more than a year to start commenting. I was kind of afraid of leaving embarassing stuff around here.
But, I’m glad I can share some knowledge around here, myself being one of the very few representing Portugal (the only one doing it frequently)..
Well, the driver is in for a surprise if trying to enter our parking garage 🙂
Very nicely done, but why? A really tall person would be looking directly at the metal between. Not tall enough for a refrigerator, how would you get it in?
“but why?”
Typical engineer’s question. 🙂
It must have been built for this fellow.
High hair driver?
Obviously, this is the ride for the Pope of Portland. The Pope Chair is being cleaned, I guess.
The real question is whether the bubble has its own hatch. If so, then you basically have a split tailgate that could load some tall stuff… how about a 4×8 sheet of plywood… on its side! (well, almost)
Saab 96s did not have a hatch; only a trunk.
You guys just do not recognize a Grateful Dead concert chaser vehicle when you see one.
Beat me to it…. LOL.
Ah, a Perspectiv Kryssare. At least according to Google Translate. 🙂
As far as city landmarks, Boston has the Citgo sign in Kenmore Square, but Portland being smitten with Volvo, it’s no surprise that there’s a huge blue ‘VOLVO’ sign atop Jim Fisher Volvo downtown that you can see from across the river more than 20 blocks east.
Millenial #1: “Hey Austin, did you see that ‘OVJOV’ sign downtown? Is that a new startup or something?”
Millenial #2: “I dunno Brandon, I googled it and couldn’t find anything. I’ll text my mom about it – it could be a Scrabble word.”
Unscrambled – voila. I know – millenial mom told them just to hold a mirror to it. See, mothers do know best.
Pretty neat pope mobile.
Engineering and knowledge was required to build it, like it or not.
I shoulda read em all before I posted!
Adds Saab aerodynamic flair to the boxy Volvo.
I bit of a headache to clean the second windshield at the gas station. Needs a second set of wipers 🙂
Looks like a left over prop from a Wes Anderson Movie. It’s a shame there’s no theatre seating in back.
I see a driver was present. Is Portland a place where They Don’t Ask Questions About Your Unusual Ride? This car needs a two color flyer in clear literature rack attached to the side. It’s the only way you could hope to get to your destination within an hour of projected arrival time.
I sometimes ask about peoples’ rides and usually the reception is quite friendly.
I’ve had several friendly conversations with classic car owners as well. Obviously proud of their vehicles, whether an old AMC or Triumph or Corvette. The only strange experience was with the driver of a Bugatti, of all things. “Nice car,” I said; “thanks,” he said curtly, and left. Anyone can have a bad day, I suppose, and even compliments can get old after a while, perhaps.
Was most of the wagons original roof still there? If so it would make a great over head storage area, or a place for a small dog to ride and look out
Maybe the Pope moved to Portland?
Did anyone else happen to notice that the inside rear view mirror is still visible through what was once the windshield of the Saab, even though it’s useless in its current location? That little touch makes me smile.
I’m also impressed at how the Saab’s B-pillar seems to line up perfectly with the Volvo’s C-pillar, and how well the entire thing matches up at the point where they come together.
Agree…I too am intrigued by this. Makes me smile. Someone did a very good job planting the top on. Impressed. I’d drive it…at least, if it was within walking distance, actually walk over and inquire with the curiosity of child. Hope they wouldn’t think of me as too forward. I guess its automotive art…personally! Love it for what it is.
I spotted this at Pacific City, Or back in October 2015. I’m glad somebody else has seen it!
Looks like enough time has passed for the owner to change the state of registration from NH to OR. That and the Alaska bumper sticker suggest this car has roamed far and wide – what a view on those road trips!
The only thing to have made this even better would have been a Volvo 544 superstructure, but it’s still perhaps the best modified car I’ve seen on CC yet. By the way, in the Shell station picture, is that another CC in the background, an Isuzu Hombre?
sorry to be political but I can’t pass it up.
maybe if Mitt Romney had driven this wagon he and his dog would have won ? 😉
A mini-Scenic Cruiser or a do-it-yourself Vista Dome.
I’ll take the train, thank you.
That car would probably roll over rather easily with all that extra weight.
What this car really needs now is an Isetta greenhouse added on top of the Saab.
I wonder how this car handles in high wind situation? There were times when I was driving my Volvo 240 in high winds and I was blown into the next lane before I could even put my turn signal on.
I wonder how sealed from the weather it is?
It does look pretty cool and it’s owner is not ever going tohave the issue of trying to find it in a parking lot.
Don’t flip it!
I kinda like it, but I can’t shake the question that first popped into my head: “did they leave the safety cage intact?” must be from growing up with Volvos
I would have had the nameplate read Salvo, not Volvaab.
Ah-ha, the rarely-seen Volvo Vista Kryssare … if it had wood-grain paneling, it would be the Volvo Koloni Parkera ….
The car equivalent of Ford’s “two story falcon” H-series, which were basically a C-series cab stacked on top of an N-series frame and mechanicals. Note the C’s wheel cutouts halfway up the cab–the wheelwells were used as storage compartments!
Appears to me that someone really has a love affair with Saabs, but came to realize the dependability of its Sweed counterpart. and if someone down the street just so happens to have a 96 roof laying around their import graveyard property, you happen to be a trained and skillled welder looking for a unique business card…and all the dimensions happen to align….For all who are familiar with a trifecta, this is it.
Spotted it a few days ago at Lombard & Interstate (Portland) while I was waiting for a bus and the car was waiting for a green light. As with the gas station pic, the woman was driving.
The passenger “C” pillar (rear roof support) had what appeared to be a factory plastic “SAAB” attached to it, but I speculate that it wasn’t factory original for this model and year. The chrome-like emblem probably came from another part of another SAAB model/year car.
I looked up to see the car only fifteen feet from me. After taking it all in, and when the man in the passenger seat looked my way, I smiled and offered a modest “thumbs up”.
He replied with the same gesture. The rain fell and the wind blew. The light turned green and the “Volvaab” departed.