Group A Volvo 240 - Info and pics thread

[Jesper OH]

Originally Posted by VolvoGroupA

I also have been doing some background check regarding to the VR-0000003 and your story is very correct Jesper.

The car is now in back here in Sweden and are in very good condition.

You whouldnt happen to have any pics of this Volvo?

I think I mailed you a magazine scan of this car some time ago, but I'll dig it back out.

You mentioned Birger Schanke, who, at one point was rallycrossing a 240 Turbo, while he was among several Norwegians to race Sports 2000 by the mid-1980's.

Chunterer, I will post what I know of Danish Ford Capri, but beware, what I know is the Danish history of these cars.

Jesper

[VolvoGroupA]

Yes you did Jesper but I thaught that you might have a better photo of the VR-0000003 car. Or do you know anyone that perheps might have?
I have by the way updated my homepage with pics and some history about the VR-0000003 car.

I had what you whould call a conversation with Birger Schanke a while ago, he was looking for his old GpA Volvo. The one that my good friend Rolf Öhberg is proud owner of.

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

I think I mailed you a magazine scan of this car some time ago, but I'll dig it back out.

You mentioned Birger Schanke, who, at one point was rallycrossing a 240 Turbo, while he was among several Norwegians to race Sports 2000 by the mid-1980's.

Jesper

[GBRM]

Apologies for the delay:-

Motorsport News 10th October 1984 - VOLVOS FOR BRITAIN?
A passing sparrow recently informed us that a leading British Saloon Car Championship preparation expert is currently nurturing a couple of Volvo 240 turbos, with a view to honing them into GpA trim for next year.
Although our enquiries have been unable to track the cars down to an exact location, our source suggested that they were being considered for British GpA, to avoid clashing interests in other saloon car areas.

Motorsport News 7th November 1984 - ROUSE; NO VOLVO!
"No, that is completely misinformed," commented Andy Rouse last week, about rumours that he was preparing a Volvo for use in British GpA next year.
Rouse conceded that he had spoken to Volvo GB, "but it isn't really interested, so I think you can safely say that's a non-starter."
As yet, Rouse isn't in a position to announce what he will be doing in 1985, but expects to make a decision within the next few weeks.

Autosport 21st November 1985 - SEASONAL REVIEW;
...Rouse's driving was as smooth and disciplined as always, although the Sierra was quite a handful for the driver. After the early laps Andy usually had an appreciable gap to the rest and didn't have to force the car along, although when under pressure from Dave Brodie, Andy was as firm as a rock. A remarkable achievement and the Sierra is clearly the car to have next year, unless some bright spark turns up with a Volvo 240T, aEuropean-spec Rover Vitesse or perhaps a Colt Starion on European Pirelli tyres....

[chunterer]

Cheers Gregor well found! That's not what I thought I remembered, but must be the rumours from the time as it's in print.

I thought there was something else at a later date, off season before 1986 or something?

OT: I like the closing comment in the 85 review about people ought to be running a Volvo, ex ETC Rover or Pirelli shod Starion against the Sierra! They would have been good competitors as well if anyone had the proper foresight and managed to get the money and right bits together. TWR only appeared to let privateers have their cars after 1986 when they stopped the works programme......

[opelman]

Nice thread and very lot of info in your pages on volvo 242 group a car. I have seen somewhere of test drive this car made in 84 or 85 trying to find it and put link in here.

[chunder]

Am trying to think of all teh guys that ran Volvo's in European rallycross!!

Most of them would ahve been running similar of not higher engine specs than WTCC.

I know Kenny Hansen ran one for a year, Peo Davidsson, Hakan Ivarsson, Eivind Opland ran an ex Nystrom car that heold the lap record at Lydden for years!!

There were loads of them around in Sweden/Norway I remember, aswell as pretty potent Saabs from Norstedt, Kallio, etc

And guys, quick note.

I ahve Birger Schanke in a 240 finishing in teh points in a few rounds in 1988 in European rallycross

And also Tom Einar Aaserud ran one for a while, Tomm Vestli (Fina car)

You can tel I ahve my Laumanns books out!!

[KA]

Originally Posted by chunder

Am trying to think of all teh guys that ran Volvo's in European rallycross!!

Most of them would ahve been running similar of not higher engine specs than WTCC.

I know Kenny Hansen ran one for a year, Peo Davidsson, Hakan Ivarsson, Eivind Opland ran an ex Nystrom car that heold the lap record at Lydden for years!!

There were loads of them around in Sweden/Norway I remember, aswell as pretty potent Saabs from Norstedt, Kallio, etc

And guys, quick note.

I ahve Birger Schanke in a 240 finishing in teh points in a few rounds in 1988 in European rallycross

And also Tom Einar Aaserud ran one for a while, Tomm Vestli (Fina car)

You can tel I ahve my Laumanns books out!!

There were certainly plenty of Group A Volvos in Division 1. From memory though, they fell off the pace to a large degree once the RS500s started to appear in force in 1988

I also remember sometime BTCC-racer Tommy Rustad hurling a 240 around Brands in a pretty extrovert manner at a Rallycross GP meeting- think that was a long way from a Div 1 GpA car though- something like 2.7 litre normally aspirated?

[chunder]

Yes thats right, if you look at rallycross online the sort of modified classes in Sweden and Norway are still hugely populated by the 240 and 850 shape Volvo.

Rustand actually qualified for the C or B Final at Lyngas against all teh supercars!!
The Supernational cars use a 3 litre only 2 valve per cylinder engine that kicks out over 300hp!! Amazing tech

Most of the 240's ahve now been reshelled into S40's, but there are all sorts of different sorts of car from BMW, Lexus, Escort, Mercedes!! Its a brilliant class.

You are right about 240T, it was utterly outclassed from 88 onwards, but as result was a cheap way to get into Euro rallycross and maybe get into a final.

There were 20 or so guys using 240T at one tiem!!

[Tonka Tonka 242]

Is this perhaps a good point to shout .... HELP !!!!

I am importing a 1982 Volvo 242 (2-door) Turbo from Reno, Nevada U.S.A., into Scotland. Why? , cos it has lived it's life in the desert and has NO rust , AND, I want to turn it into a Classic Special Stage Rally car .

What do you mean ? .... MAD ??? ...... perhaps. . but I do need some help.

I need information on who today still supplies competition parts for these cars, also any technical information that I can find out about the build specs for those used for rallying, and finally contact details of anyone who is perhaps selling goodies for this model.. I am not concerned about the location of parts, well ... having imported the car from the U.S.of A. why would I.

ANY help you can give me will be GREATLY appreciated .

Thank you

[Euromontagna]

here are some results of european hillclimb championship and Volvo 240 gr. A... http://www.euromontagna.com/makes.ph...pe=240%20Turbo

[Gaz170]

Mark Petch, who posts in the Australia/NZ forums occasionally, owned and entered the 240T that won the 1985 Australian Touring Car Championship.

Perhaps a PM to him might turn up some info.

[Herbert]

I did talk to Heinz-Friedrich Peil recently who raced the Kissling-Volvo in the DTM in 1985 and 1986. He told me they build the car themselves, Kissling did the car and Peil did a lot of the engine work. It was more or less a private effort as opposed to IPS-Volvo of Per Stureson who got a support of Volvo Germany and their Motorsports coordinator Rainer Kühl. The Kissling-Volvo is – if I’m not mistaken – the only 4 door 240. All the works cars had just two doors.

[KA]

Originally Posted by Herbert

I did talk to Heinz-Friedrich Peil recently who raced the Kissling-Volvo in the DTM in 1985 and 1986. He told me they build the car themselves, Kissling did the car and Peil did a lot of the engine work. It was more or less a private effort as opposed to IPS-Volvo of Per Stureson who got a support of Volvo Germany and their Motorsports coordinator Rainer Kühl. The Kissling-Volvo is – if I’m not mistaken – the only 4 door 240. All the works cars had just two doors.

Thanks Herbert- that's interesting...

I hadn't realised there was a 4-door version raced- as you said, it's probably the only one. I wonder why they went the 4-door route? If it was an in-house Kissling project with no support from Volvo, maybe they had difficulty obtaining a 2-door shell for some reason?

[Herbert]

Originally Posted by KA

Thanks Herbert- that's interesting...

I hadn't realised there was a 4-door version raced- as you said, it's probably the only one. I wonder why they went the 4-door route? If it was an in-house Kissling project with no support from Volvo, maybe they had difficulty obtaining a 2-door shell for some reason?

Yes, that's exactly what Peil told me. They used the 4-door version because it was too difficult to get the 2-door shell. Oh by the way I just looked up my notes and I mixed some things up: Peil built up the car and Kissling did the engine tuning...

[Herbert]

I also talked to Rainer Kühl and how the Volvos came to Germany in the first place. The organiser of the DTM race at Mainz-Finthen wanted the works cars from the ETCC for his race in 1984 as guest starters. He was a Volvo enthusiast. He talked to Volvo Germany and Kühl who then contacted Bo Wikås in Sweden. But the Volvo race director told them it's not possible that the works cars could race at Mainz-Finthen, but he suggested to contact the private IPS team of Per Stureson and Ingmar Persson. Stureson then took part in the race and totally crushed the German regulars. He beat them by more than 30 sec.
After his success Stureson took part in some more races in 1984. At the Noriring he qualified in pole, but retired after just two laps becuse of gearbox problems. He struggeled at little bit at Hockenheim, but at the last race of the season at the Nürburgring Stureson was again on pole, but only finished the race in seventh place. After this promising beginning he commited for the whole season in 1985 and won the title.