1984 Volvo 244 DL: A Rusty Classic

Another 240 in Newport! While at first glance, it may seem like another white 240 sedan, it may be more than what meets the eye. This one is a bit more of a vintage 240, being a 1984 244, making it all the more a unique find. It's also very much a New England survivor, as the many patches of rust and primer show its battle scars from New England winters and rough roads. Nonetheless, despite the rust and probable high mileage, the 240 still presses on, serving its owner dutifully. 

The Volvo 240 is an honest car. It doesn't pretend to be a fast car, and it doesn't hold itself to a higher standard. It presents itself in a modest manner and offers the driver a car that's both safe and reliable. While the 240 isn't a fast car (unless you have the Turbo model), the 240 offers a driving experience that allows the driver to be present with their surroundings and fully understand the car that they're driving. 

In the present day, most cars have incorporated safety features that do most of the important work for the driver. These include blind spot protection, automatic headlamps, and self locking brakes. This is so that the driver can have a stress free driving experience, and take more time to enjoy car play, surround sound, and other sources of entertainment without having to be as engaged in the driving experience. Driving a 240, or any old car for that matter, in the 21st century is the other side of the coin. What if driving could be entertaining without a fancy stereo system or while watching your analog odometer roll through the digits. There's something an old car offers that new cars can't, and that is a genuine relationship with the car formed through driving. 

If you want to get into classic cars and want one to drive daily, buy a 240! They're excellent cars for anyone who wants something old, reliable, and safe. Volvo made over 2 million of these cars world wide, so there's plenty of them around at affordable prices. 

Seeing this 240 was really enjoyable, as I didn't know it was a classic 1980s model at first. I was able to identify this as a 1984 car based on two key details. '84 was the first year for the front air dam as well as the final year of the front Volvo badge mounted on the upper righthand side of the grille. 

In 1983, Volvo introduced the 6x6 tail light design, which would be kept on the 240 for the rest of production. If you recall from early March 2023, I found a 1982 244, which had the early '80s tail light design. You can check that car out to see an example of an early '80s Volvo. 

I love the poverty spec dog dish rims on this car. I've always liked how they look on the 240, and I really can't say why that is. There's just something appealing in the look, or maybe its because they subconsciously compliment the 240's simple design.