At $25,000, Is This Restored 1981 Volvo 242 Turbo a Deal?

The one criticism that might be leveled towards at present’s Nice Price or No Dice Volvo is that it’s sadly not a wagon. Aside from that, its equipment and situation are what most of us would need. We’ll must determine if it’s additionally popularly priced.

Whereas the mere considered parting firm with Romeo might have been “such candy sorrow” for Shakespeare’s love-struck Juliet, the thought of parting out yesterday’s 1999 Mercedes SLK 230 ‘mechanic’s special’ was one thing fairly a couple of of you thought of a great factor to think about. At $1,650, although, it wasn’t fairly low-cost sufficient to push that consideration excessive, with 53 p.c of you voting No Cube on the mission Benz.

Right now we’re going to do an entire one-eighty and go from a automotive that wants quite a lot of work to get working, to 1 that appears to wants nothing. This 1981 Volvo 242 Turbo is claimed by its vendor to be in “totally restored situation,” and with its turbocharged 2.1-liter 4 with a four-speed stick, additionally it is kitted in a really fascinating style.

That is an American-spec automotive that was imported into Canada final yr, to be bought there on Bring a Trailer in January of this year. That explains the Quebec license plate on a automotive supplied in Washington, D.C. The present proprietor is utilizing the identical images from the January BaT advert within the Craigslist publish, however we are able to assume that the automotive hasn’t modified all that a lot prior to now eight months.

The automotive is available in black over black, sporting the fantastic manufacturing unit Virgo alloys. The outside has been up to date with all of the brightwork modified to physique coloration which lends the automotive a extra up to date vibe. Simply as the vendor claims, the automotive seems to be exceptional within the pics. That is the two-door (therefore 242) which is the least useful of the 240 collection physique kinds, however can also be the lightest.

Inside these two doorways, there’s leather-based upholstery that appears factory-fresh together with solid-appearing door panels and dashboard. That sprint options the prolonged cluster that features a increase gauge for the turbo.

With the turbocharger, the B21FT SOHC 4 makes 127 horsepower. Later variations of this combo would acquire an intercooler with extra ponies in consequence, however that wasn’t the case on this mannequin yr. Energy is shipped to the dwell rear axle by way of a four-speed guide with Laycock de Normanville overdrive operated by a button atop the shift-knob.

The Craigslist advert makes no point out of any work having been accomplished, however the BaT ad claims that the “drive belt tensioner and air-conditioning condenser have been changed in 2020.”

One other discrepancy between the present advert and the previous is the mileage. The current proprietor lists the odometer studying at 100,000. In response to the BaT itemizing, nevertheless, the precise studying is 142K however notes that the true mileage is unknown because the odo is damaged. The present advert additionally omits point out of the chrome steel cat-back exhaust alternative and the change to R134 for the A/C. Each advertisements do notice, although, that the automotive has a clear title.

So, let’s now run the numbers. Again in January, this Volvo bought with no reserve on BaT for $19,750, which we are able to assume was in U.S. {dollars}. Contemplating that the inflation price for 2022 is someplace round 9.1 p.c, we are able to count on to pay extra for the automotive now. Doing the maths, that places the automotive presently at round $21,547 and alter. Within the present Craigslist itemizing, it’s pegged at $25,000.

Now, that could be a place to begin at which the vendor will come down, probably even to the inflation-adjusted worth we simply calculated. The query for all of us, nevertheless, is whether or not it’s value even that. Who’s to say that the winner of the BaT public sale in January obtained themselves a great deal at that $19,750 endpoint? We’ll simply must metaphorically duke it out over this one.

What do you say? May this very good, well-optioned, and constructed to final 242 be value that $25,000 asking? Or, would paying that a lot for it scar you for all times?

You determine!

Washington, D.C. Craigslist, or go here if the advert disappears.

H/T to S.R. Gooch for the hookup!

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