Stephen H

Reviewed a 1986 Volvo 480 on May 29, 2008

One of the first 480ES in the UK Having been made redundant from MGA Developments in 1993, and then setting up my own Design Consultancy. i had used my Austin Healey as my company car for the first summer months, but as winter drew in, i needed something a bit warmer as my step daughter complained about the lack of space in the rear of the Healey. I had first worked at Volvo Holland in 1985, at which time the 480 was already well into it's development, although i did get to add some details on the project (such as the grille under the bumper ... a homage to Ferrari) , i later penned the ideas for the convertble version, that only ever was a show car, never unfortunately making it into production. So when an early model appeared in the small ads, at a very reasonable price .... i had to chose it over some of the more mundane cars in my budget at that time. Unfortunately it was in white, and had had a very heavy life already .... so i coaxed it passed 100000 miles, with expensive servicing costs, and rust just starting to show through the matt paintwork, as the car was rarely washed. It had a cool coupe proportion and a very original 4 seater interior, and trip computer etc. But it was rather gutless and had to be really pushed to get even a modicome of pace out of the Renault 1721cc engine. I replaced when i bought my Escort Cosworth, selling it to the works 'handy man', an ex-squaddie, who then drove it to Bosnia, where he was taking up a post as a UN bomb disposal mine clearer. I never heard of him or the car ever again.