The desert east of LA always offers interesting automotive sights, and last Sunday was no different. I spotted this custom Volvo wagon sitting outside the Autozone in Twentynine Palms, and immediately turned back to my car for the camera. It’s clearly a 245, but identifying an exact Volvo model year always proves difficult. Based on the (single) factory tail light, it was built between 1981 and 1993, and I doubt anyone will narrow it down beyond that.
It appears the side glass and rear doors were sacrificed to support the chop job, and that the driver’s side tail light has been replaced with a steel insert to allow the owner to mount a tailgate side pivot hinge.
I talked to the passenger and discovered the owner worked in the stunt industry, and hoped to use the car in future films. She also said the car had frightened several children in a local parking lot.
As we were talking, the owner appeared and confirmed the car still used a Volvo power plant. I was a bit disappointed to hear this, since this beast really needs thumping V-8 propulsion. However, the owner noted that it’s hard to change out engines here in California, since smog checks are required on this model. At the time of purchase, he did try to find a diesel powered wagon (California does not require smog checks on car registered as diesels), but none were to be had.
The next friendly neighborhood free candy source! UGH!
“However, the owner noted that it’s hard to change out engines here in California, since smog checks are required on this model.” Sorry, but this is just another reason why California sucks. I’ll gladly suffer crappy Cleveland winters for the ability to build pretty much anything I want. Here in n.e. Ohio a vehicle drops off the eCheck program when it hits 25 years old, then it’s game on. As for that ride, definitely kinda cool in a Road Warrior kind of way.
Here in MA, cars get an emissions exemption at only 15 years! Safety still applies to everyone though, and there can’t be any visible smoke.
Smog checks are a reason why people can still breathe in California. It wasn’t always so. As a kid in LA in the ’60s there were times where you couldn’t catch your breath for hours after playing outside. After a few days like that, our parents wouldn’t let us play on smoggy days. Eventually the schools caught on and wouldn’t let kids play on smoggy days either.
How could big government regulate private industry on how to build cars? Don’t they know the private enterprises will eventually do that right thing?
What is a lung full of lead compare to freedom to swap engines? Surely a small price to pay for FREEDOM.
thats actualy the dumbest thing ive heard in a while
In the LA area which is a basin, then I sorta understand, but only to a point. No one wants smog, but at the same time how much freedom are you willing to part ways with?
Realistically, having emissions on everday appliance type cars from the factory Im semi-ok with. I say once it hits 10 years, game on. Anything performance oriented shouldn’t have ANY regulations on it. Too small a market to make a difference in smog, but a passionate market you don’t want to piss off.
Here in Michigan, no smog checks, no safety inspections. EVER. Makes it a real wonderland if not for the snow and cold.
No smog in the air either! And some of us like the snow and cold, it makes driving in the winter fun 🙂
A Winter Water Wonderland!
Sort of a homemade Bertone.
That’s it! I knew it reminded me of another car, and you’ve nailed it.
D/S
Looks a bit hearse like in black. Interesting custom.
How is this for a Volvo hearse?
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/cc-outtake-halloween-hearse-swedish-style/
Since I cannot unsee this I think I will use it for the picture definition when I think of the word Ugly.
Interesting find! I don’t know if it would work in a significant role in a movie. As it’s not really commercial. Don’t know if an art director would choose to use it. Even the bad guy’s cars usually have some marketable appeal. It is kinda homely. I could see it perhaps in an offbeat/quirky independent movie.
Indie or otherwise oddball, quirky films tend to have the most memorable cars, even if they’re not particularly sporty or otherwise attractive.
I definitely agree, and know what you are saying. I think in this case if they exaggerated more than just the roof and grille. As it still looks very much like a Volvo 200 series wagon with a weird roof chop and flat paint. Maybe it’s still evolving. If they exaggerated more features like the tire/wheel sizes, wheel cutouts. Change the ride height, sidepipes… whatever. Exaggerate more features… it could be super cool. I suspect we are only looking at the first mods and there is more to come.
A Dodge Magnum-inspired sedan delivery?
Yes! I sure hope the designer still plans to evolve the Volvo’s design. As the lowered ride height, chrome dubs, etc., really do add to the whole effect of this Magnum. Even if it’s not the most attractive to everyone.
To me, it looks like the reinvention transformation has just begun on this Volvo. As it’s not really quite fully unique and commercial… just yet! My guess is it is still in early evolution.
“Bob had great ideas for a new safety breakthrough in rollover accidents. Needless to say, Trollhattan engineers were not particularly enthusiastic towards the prototype……”
“Hummph…..their loss”, Bob mused.
A Frankenstein car if there ever was one, right down to frightening kids and the flat head.
Whatever you are on, kid, it’s a hell of a drug.
I like the Bogan Blak paint but the styling leaves much to be desired, was it a revived rollover?
It’s ugly, but it’s an improvement!
Way to go Carl!
I’ve always wanted to make a 240 series Volvo look like a Lada, and chop the roof down to 6 inches… darned if somebody beat me to it :/
This car (a 240 btw) is still unfinished as it is about a month old, so more to come!
It’s a Volvo 264 Bertone Wagon.
Being in Twenty-Nine Palms, which is the site of a large Marines base, wonder if this is a specialized military vehicle for “hull down” applications (low profile = less exposed to enemy fire)?
I’d expect to see that sort of vehicle closer to Downtown LA. There’s not a lot of spurious gunfire in the Twenty Nine Palms area- it’s mostly concentrated at the base gun range.
In Arkansas there are no smog checks and we eliminated vehicle safety inspections a decade ago. As long as your plates are current and your personal property (i.e. your car, truck, boat, motorcycle, RV or ATV) taxes are paid up you can modify to your heart’s content here. He could mount a B-17 gun turret and a 6-71 supercharged 454 and not get hassled.
The windshield’s shorter than the taillight. We’ve seen Volvo 240 pickups, V8’s, turbo Ford’s etc. They seem to bring out the car crafters.
Drive this in Melbourne and it would take an hour to go and get some milk from the corner shop for all the cops pulling you over. Love me plenty an Ovlov wagon, always interested in custom jobs, but this is wrong. So wrong. Delta mentions more work to come, but how could this possibly be spruced up? A paint job and billets aint going to cut it.
Don’t drink and customize, folks!
I hope that wasn’t a genuine Turbo.
Put another round taillight on and a set of fat black steel wheels would help it.
Cool, you could drive under the barriers in parking stations!
I’ll bite: I believe this front section came to the US in ’84 and Europe in ’81, so I’ll narrow it down to ’84-’93.
@Delta – technically it was a 245; the “5” designating the number of openings which have now been reduced to 3. Driver’s side shot shows the ghost outline of the door.
Odd that it retains stock wheels and ride height. My lowered 745 now has a roofline often below Nissans, VWs and Toyotas. I like this Road Warrior!
On the later series they dropped the door designation and it just became a 240. Those taillights and the headlight/indicators point to one of these. That’s in oz at least, we only got 740s here, no 745s.
As it’s in the US, I’d say it is a 1986-up. 1985 and earlier versions had the quad rectangular sealed beams here.
Not having to go through smog check used to be an advantage of having a diesel car in California, assuming you could even find one for sale (VW for example wasn’t allowed to sell them in the state for a few years) . But, 1998 and later diesels are now required to be tested; a retroactive sting for people like me who owned one and thought they were safe.
At least it is clear today and will be over 70 at the beach ….
Replacing the opaque headlight lenses would be a nice upgrade.
This thing is badass! I don’t see any ‘chester molester’ in that one bit. Mad Max-esque…absolutely.
Better than this thing, which looks like a cross between a freak steamroller accident and someone’s first attempt at Photoshop:
This is an update on the desert chopped Volvo
I live in yucca valley next to 29 palms and saw it tonight 🙂 he’s done a lot to it since the above pics
One more