Nope, not an April Fool’s joke. It was 20 years ago today that I went to a shop run by Marie, AKA The Volvo Lady, and picked up a car specifically to transport my bass saxophone. That car was a gold, 1991 Volvo 245 with 125,000 original miles on it. I would be that car’s second owner.
The car had belonged to a woman who bought it new in CA—hence it being in miles—and drove it down there until she moved to Canada. She had it serviced at Docksteader Volvo in Vancouver until late in 2003, when she decided to buy a new car.
Marie ended up with the car, and did all the work that was necessary, before putting it on her lot just before I ended up coming to BC when my mom got sick in Feb. 2004. Every time I drove by Marie’s lot this shiny gold Volvo wagon tempted me, but I never went in to look at it. I assumed I would be travelling back to Fredericton, and my life would go on there.
When it became clear that we would have to move back to BC and help mom, I decided to pop in and check this car out, since I was going to leave my 745 wagon in NB. After a bit of haggling, Marie and I worked out a deal, and a few days later, on April 1, 2004, I met the ICBC insurance agent at Marie’s shop and we did all the paperwork. Even though I was still officially a resident of NB, I now owned this beauty right here in BC.
Over the years this car has not wanted for anything. It has been serviced by some of the Lower Mainland’s top Volvo mechanics. Gary, Neil, the guys at Schramm, and now Fred, all have lovingly cared for my totally original wagon.
This baby is completely original
The paint, as well as the interior, are all original. The only things I have added over the years are OEM accessories such as:
Small gauges
It took 18 years to find the ones I wanted and get them installed. Thanks Glenn and Fred!
Volvo Hydra alloys
From a fellow Volvo enthusiast here in the Lower Mainland. Thanks Mark!
A new set of Michelin Defenders for the Hydras
A period-correct radio that works!
Thanks James!
All new exterior lighting
Decided to replace all the lights while they were still available. Ordered them from Volvo’s Classic Division in Toronto.
Adventures with my red block
This wagon and I have had some great adventures. Together we have travelled nearly 75,000 miles. As I write this, the car is about 400 miles away from turning over to 200,000. We’ve been to Seattle together, and all over the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island.
During the height of COVID-19, travel was severely restricted here in BC. However, we were allowed to travel for work. In early 2021, my trusty 245 and I travelled to Victoria twice to first try, and then buy a very rare H. Couf bass saxophone. Ultimately this is what the car was bought for, and she came through.
Collector status
During COVID I made the decision I had been toying with for years. I demodernized my lovely 245, and removed the Sony stereo/CD player I had installed when I first got the car, and removed the window tint, in order to apply for Collector status under ICBC’s Collector program.
Since I was no longer using the car to transport gear to and from shows, the time had come to give baby her due.
After the radio was swapped, and the tinting removed, I spent a sunny weekend cleaning not only the outside and inside, but also the engine compartment. (Try finding the appropriate cleaning materials during a pandemic. Go on, I dare you. 😉 ).
After all the work was done, the photos taken, and paper work filled out and submitted, it was just a matter of waiting and seeing if she qualified.
No problem. My lovely 1991, 200 series wagon was approved for its Collector plate. Yes, there are restrictions what I can and can’t do with it. However, it is a collector car, and I wouldn’t do that stuff with it anyway… Just saying.
As a matter of fact, the way people drive here in the Lower Mainland, I am choosy where/when I take both my Collector-plated 240s out for their regular drives.
Pics submitted for Collector plates
This is a small sampling of the photos I submitted that shows my 245’s totally original condition. And yes, it still looks like this. As a matter of fact, it looks better with its new lighting, rims, and interior gauges.
