Volvo 300 Series

Volvo 300 Series
Overview
Manufacturer	Volvo
Production	1976–1991
Assembly	Born (DAF Born/NedCar), Netherlands Gothenburg, Sweden
Designer	Giovanni Michelotti
Body and chassis
Class	Compact car / Small family car (C)
Body style	4-door saloon 5-door hatchback 3-door hatchback
Layout	FR layout
Chronology
Predecessor	Volvo 66
Successor	Volvo 400 Series

The Volvo 300 Series is a rear wheel drive small family car sold as both a hatchback and (later) a conventional saloon from 1976^[1] to 1991. It was launched in the Netherlands shortly after Volvo acquired a major stake in the passenger car division of DAF in 1973. The series consisted of the Volvo 340 (previously 343/345) and the later Volvo 360.

The 300 series was unusual in having the gearbox mounted to the De Dion tube rear axle as a transaxle, with the 2 liter models having the driveshaft enclosed in a "torque tube". The rear-mounted gearbox helped with weight distribution but resulted in an unusually large transmission tunnel, especially by comparison with then-contemporary front wheel drive competitors such as the Mk. III Ford Escort and the Opel Kadett E/Mk. II Vauxhall Astra.

Overall, the 300 series was considered heavy and unrewarding to drive but reliable and safe by the standards of its day.^[2] However, early 360GLT versions were well regarded by more enthusiastic drivers, with the unusual gearbox location ensuring good weight distribution and unusually good balance and traction.

Origins

Volvo 360 side profile

After building a series of compact cars, DAF sought a partner to bring its new larger model, codenamed P900 and intended to become the DAF 77, to market in 1970. Several manufacturers were approached, including Audi, BMW, and Volvo.

Volvo was not originally interested due to the cost, but they were later persuaded by DAF's access to Renault engines. This helped Volvo expand its model line-up without the large expenditures associated with developing a new model. Building cars in the Netherlands also helped the Swedish Volvo to access the markets of the EEC, of which Sweden was then not yet a member.

Volvo purchased a one-third share in DAF in 1973, increasing to a three-quarters stake in 1975; the DAF company's name was changed to Volvo Car BV that year. Free of its passenger car division, DAF's commercial vehicle division, DAF Trucks, still operates today.

Model chronology

343 DL, 1980 model (before first bumper and front facelift)

The Volvo 343 was introduced in 1976. DAF had already begun development of this car as a replacement for the Volvo (previously DAF) 66. It was fitted with a 1.4 litre Renault engine in the front and DAF's radical Variomatic continuously variable transmission unusually mounted in the rear, helping weight distribution. To add to the appeal of the car and boost it sales, Volvo adapted the M45 manual transmission from the 200 series to fit in place of the CVT, and was sold alongside the CVT models from 1979. The CVT continued to be offered but sold in ever more marginal numbers; down to 200 per year in Sweden in the late 1980s.^[3] A five-door model, the 345, was added in August 1979 for the 1980 model year. The extra doors added 30 kg (66 lb); other modifications included better brakes, a slightly larger track due to wider rims, and interval wipers.^[4] During 1980 larger wrap around bumpers were introduced. 1981 saw the addition of an additional engine option, the Volvo designed B19, only available with the manual transmission.

A revised bonnet, grille and front lamp arrangement and slightly different wings signalled a facelift in summer 1981 (for the 1982 model year), which also gave the car a new dashboard and revised interior. From having been mostly a DAF design, the dashboard gradually became more aligned with the design of other Volvos over the years.^[5] The overall length crept up to 4,300 mm (169 in).

Volvo 345 DL, the five-door version, 1982 model

The third digit designating the number of doors was dropped from model designations in 1983. The more powerful 360 arrived that year with two 2.0 litre engine choices, the 95 PS (70 kW) B19A and the 115 PS (85 kW) B19E, also from Volvo. This 2-litre 360 model was available in five-door and three-door hatchback form, with four-door saloon models added in 1984. Trim levels were GL, GLE, or GLT, depending on output and specifications.

In 1985, the 300 Series received a major facelift. Amongst other small changes, (optionally body coloured) wrap-around bumpers with the indicator repeaters attached to them were fitted. Instrumentation changed from Smiths units to VDO. The older Volvo redblock engines in the 360 were upgraded to the low friction B200 unit. Capacities and outputs remained much the same. The carburettor version was designated B200K and the Bosch LE-Jet fuel injected version is known as the B200E.

A famous advertisement for the 300 series in the late 1980s saw a crash test dummy "come alive", and drive a 340 out of a second floor factory window, nose-diving into the concrete ground.

From 1987 on, incremental improvements in features and emissions control were made. Production of the 360 came to an end in 1990, while the 340 was discontinued in 1991, despite the fact it had supposedly been replaced by the Volvo 440 in 1987. The last ever car of the Volvo 300 series (a white Volvo 340) rolled off the production line on 13 March 1991, three years after the launch of the 400-series.

Engines

The 300 Series had a choice of three petrol engines; a 1.4, 1.7, and a 2.0-litre. The 1.4 litre B14 was a Renault C-series OHV pushrod unit, and for the 360 there was the B200 (originally the earlier B19 version) 2.0-litre engine taken from the Volvo 240 with outputs varying from 95 bhp (71 kW) to 118 PS (87 kW; 116 hp). A new Renault F-series 82 PS (60 kW; 81 hp) 1.7 litre petrol engine (designated the B172) was introduced in the 340 during the summer of 1985,^[6] following the range facelift, along with a 340 version of the saloon, which was only available with the new engine. There was also a catalyzed version (B172K) available later on, with 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp).^[6]

Volvo 360 GLT 1987 and 1988

A diesel engine for the 340 developing 54 PS (40 kW), was only available in a few export markets and was added to the 340 models in 1984. This diesel was a Renault F-series (like the petrol 1.7), and was available with a 1.6 litre naturally aspirated engine only - called the "D16" in Volvo's internal parlance. While these diesel models were never offered in the UK, they were offered in right-hand drive form in Ireland. In 1985 a 360 diesel was made available with the same exact mechanics. The diesel was discontinued in 1989, which is when a 1.3-liter "tax special" was introduced for Finland, Italy, and Belgium. Volvo also experimented with LPG tanks, a feature of which was made available in 1979 with the Volvo 343 and 345 but they were limited in LPG availability.

Reputation and popularity

Sales began at a low level, not helped by the absence of a manual transmission option, but gradually increased as the lineup expanded. 300-series cumulative production broke the 100,000 barrier on 12 December 1983, with the total reaching 102,000 before the end of the year.^[7][8] The 100,000th car, finished in white, was donated to the Dutch Red Cross.

While the car was fundamentally robust, the detail build quality was never up to the same standard of Volvo's larger, Swedish-built models, coupled to the fact that the early Variomatic cars proved to be particularly troublesome. In particular the 1976 model year 343s suffered from a lot of problems which gradually improved.^[9] The Volvo badge however ensured that the car had a strong middle-class following (often as a second car) particularly in the UK in the 1980s, regularly making that country's top annual 20 sales tables for that decade, and they are still seen fairly often in the UK more than 20 years after production ceased. They are robust and mechanically simple (and therefore easy to maintain). Even the unpopular Variomatic transmissions are reliable given proper care. The rust protection was poorer than other Volvos, but the engines (especially the 1.4 and 2.0s) were quite durable.

In February 2016, it was reported that 627 examples of the 300 Series were still in use on Britain's roads.^[10]

1985–1988 Volvo 360 GLT 5-door (Australia)

An unusual feature of the car's design is the geometry of the rear axle. Two degrees of negative camber on the rear de Dion axle produces a similar stabilising effect as the expensive and complex Weissach axle launched by Porsche a year after the launch of the Volvo 343. The inherent stability of this design made the car popular with caravan owners, being voted Tow Car of the Year in 1985.

The Renault-sourced 1.7 litre engine suffers from a well-known problem where the carburetor mounting flange warps due to engine heat, causing a small air leak and subsequent running problems. This is easy to fix, requiring minor machining of the mating faces.

The Volvo 300 has experienced something of a renaissance in recent years with a number of very active websites across Europe. A strong, young following has developed attracted by a rear wheel drive car which is very cheap to buy, insure and relatively easy to work on. In the UK, despite being unsuitable for professional drifting, many 300s (because of their low price) have found popularity amongst the amateur drifting community. Known as "trampdrifting," old bangers are modified to drift at a minimal cost and are discarded once they reach the end of their usefulness.

It featured among the top 10 most popular new cars in the UK in 1982, 1983 and 1984, and was one of the UK's most popular imported cars of the decade.

It was not sold in North America. The Volvo 360GLT only was introduced in Australia and New Zealand during 1984, and lasted until 1988.

Model Designations and Special Editions

The 300 series was available in a variety of different trim levels throughout its production life. There were also a number of special editions produced throughout the lifetime of the 300 series as well.

Phase 1 343s and 345s were available in DL, GL, DLS and GLS trim levels, whilst Phase 2 and 3 340s and 360s were available in the following range of trim levels: 340; 340DL; 340GL; 340GLE; 340 DLS; 340GLS 340 Blueline; 340 Redline; 360; 360GL; 360DLS; 360GLS; 360GLE; 360GLT. No market received all models.

One such variation on a theme was the 343 R-Sport. This was intended as a sporty offering to the line-up, pre-dating the introduction of the 360GLT by some two years (the R-Sport was introduced in 1981). Only 100 cars were produced, being based on the DLS and GLS trim levels and featuring sporting additions such as self-adhesive 'R-Sport' decals, rev counter, front and rear spoilers and some featuring body coloured bumpers and alloy wheels. The B19A engine also featured some modifications, including twin Solex carburettors. Power was increased from a quoted 95HP to 122HP.

A similar model was the 343 Oettinger. This model was based on the standard 343 DL, with the 1397 cc capacity increased to 1596 cc. The Oettinger was modified by the VW Audi Group tuning company Oettinger, and was released in 1979. The 343 Oettinger was available in both red and silver metallic. Only 125 cars were produced.

Another model of note is the Millionaire. This model was introduced in 1988 to commemorate the production of the one million car in the 300 series. Available on both the 340GLE and 360 GLE/T, the Millionaire model featured virtually a full specification including air conditioning, electric front windows and mirrors, alloy wheels and leather interior.

Prototypes

1982 Volvo 345 Van front

There are a few variations of the Volvo 300 series that never made production:

The Volvo 340 estate and a convertible were both built as design studies, but neither was put into production. A van version was also considered, and did eventually make production. The van was essentially a five-door 340, but with both windows on the rear doors replaced with body-coloured metal and with the rear seats removed. It was called "Volvo 345 Van" and most of these 345 Vans were bought for commercial use by the Dutch Postal Services.

The convertible version of the Volvo 340 was mooted, but only exists as a clay model. However, a few 340 convertibles exist, as a result of aftermarket conversions carried out by specialist companies after purchase.

Another model of note was the 363 CS.

363 CS

Named for 'Competition Services', to indicate a high-performance version, the 363 CS was based on the three-door bodyshell and fitted with the B27F 2.7 litre V6 PRV engine as used in the Volvo 260 series. The gearbox was a five-speed Alfa Romeo unit, as Volvo did not have a suitable design which would fit a transaxle-design. One prototype was built which was painted in metallic silver with black and orange 'Starsky and Hutch'-style stripes down both sides. Flared wheelarches and orange-painted, multi-spoke alloy wheels were also added to complete the sporty look.

Top Gear

Former Top Gear co–host Jeremy Clarkson nurtured a long hatred for the 340. In 1992, on Top Gear, as a preamble to a road test of the then–new Volvo 850, he had one destroyed in a scrap metal shredder. In 1996, again on Top Gear, he intentionally crashed one against a tree, as he pointed out Volvo's reputation for safety.

The Volvo 300 Series in motorsport

Despite the 'geriatric' image the 300-series gained over the years, it had some quite successful appearances in motorsport. For instance, a heavily tuned version (using Alpine/Gordini cross-flow engines bored out to 1770 cc) was driven by Per-Inge Walfridsson to win the European Championship of Rallycross in 1980. It also gained homologization for rallying in Sweden's Standard-B class (minimum weight of 15 kg/ps) in the spring of 1977, with some minor modifications to the engine and gearing.^[11] In the UK, several Volvo 360 GLT models can be seen in action on Road-Rally events.

The Volvo 360 GLT also participated in a 24-hour endurance record breaking run at the Surfers Paradise raceway in Queensland, Australia to showcase the introduction of the model in Australia in 1984.^[12] This exact same Volvo 360 GLT was later converted to rallying specifications and participated in many Australia rally events and is still running in 2009 as a rally car.

References

• Matras, John. Illustrated Volvo Buyer's Guide. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1993. ISBN 0-87938-713-0.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Volvo 300 Series.

• Volvo 300 at the BBC "Hitch-hiker's guide to the Galaxy" website]