This is very rare Volvo coupe which is now a collectors item
This Volvo might look common from most angles but it is a very rare model in Malaysia and also globally. It’s called the 262C and it’s a coupe version of the famous and common 240 sedan.
The Volvo 262C is a luxury two-door coupé produced from 1977 to 1981, based on the 264 sedan but with a lower, more raked roofline. Designed by Volvo’s Jan Wilsgaard and built by Bertone in Italy, it featured a unique, stylish body and a luxury interior with leather and wood trim. It was powered by a PRV V6 engine and came with features like power windows, central locking, and air conditioning, competing in the personal luxury car market.
Design and production:
The 262C was styled to be a more luxurious grand tourer than the standard Volvo sedans. Key design elements include a significantly lower roof, a steeply raked windshield, and a very wide C-pillar.
It was designed in Sweden but manufactured by Bertone in Turin, Italy. Why? Well, this Volvo 262C was manufactured by Bertone because it was a niche, high-end model that didn’t fit the standard Volvo production line, and it was more cost-effective for the specialised styling and assembly to be handled by Bertone in Italy. Volvo would send the body shells and mechanical components from Sweden, and Bertone would modify the bodies by creating custom stampings for the roof and pillars, and then complete the final assembly with luxurious interiors.
This Volvo is powered by a 2.7-liter or 2.8-liter PRV V6 engine, a design jointly developed by Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo (yes, they were working together for years). Manufacturing took place in Douvrin in France under the auspices of the Société Franco-Suédoise de Moteurs-PRV company. Volvo’s engine designation was B27E and thanks to engine blocks and cylinder heads made from aluminium, it weighed less than 150 kg.Early models produced around 127 to 130 horsepower. It was geared more towards comfort than raw speed, with a focus on smooth and quiet cruising.
Features:
The interior was a major selling point, featuring high-quality materials such as full leather upholstery, wood veneer accents, and a power-assisted radio antenna (yes, this was a selling point at the time).
Standard features included power windows, central locking, heated front seats (cold climate), and air conditioning (for our weather).
When new, customers could choose between a 4-speed manual with an electrical overdrive or a 3-speed automatic transmission (slow and cumbersome in todays auto world but accepted in its time).
Market and legacy:
A total of 6,622 units were produced between 1977 and 1981 and its successor was the Volvo 780, which was introduced in 1985.
