Wait, how much? 1981 Volvo 245 GLT edition

I’m no Volvo expert. I do know that I still see plenty of 240s rolling around town though. So I’m a bit shocked to find the following car listed on Craigslist with an asking price of $12,500. This is a 1981 Volvo 245 GLT, and apparently for 240 lovers it’s definitely one of the ones to have.

On the GLT, Volvo added in some upmarket touches over the base trim. It also included handling upgrades as well, which in this instance means upgraded shocks and thicker anti-roll bars. You’ll notice a fun chin spoiler under the bumper as well.

Still, this specific Volvo being sold has 206,000 miles. It’s from 1981, which means the headlights are ugly. Those upgraded horns behind the grille makes me think a former Subaru WRX owner decided to hipster-fy themselves. And then I can’t get my head around that asking price.

Go check out the ad for yourself and tell me what you think.

The full ad

Here’s the full text in case it goes down:

Four door plus hatchback collectible Volvo 245 GLT
Stick shift smooth clutch
Automatic door locks
Automatic windows
Ice cold air conditioning
New tires
Chrome roof rack.
Back seats fold down completely flat for camping trips or cargo storage.
206,000 miles. Anyone who knows these cars know they run over 400,000 miles and this car has been maintained exceptionally well.
Within last month over $3,000 put in to rebuild brake system, new timing belt, fan belts, completely rebuilt exhaust
system. Everything runs smoothly. Original upholstery is in great condition. No tears or wear.
Get it while it’s hot!

The interior looks to be in good shape. It sounds like lots of recent work has been performed (which is good or bad…). And it’s a nice ride.

But is it $12,500 nice? I’m not so sure…

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22 responses to “Wait, how much? 1981 Volvo 245 GLT edition”

  1. caltemus Avatar
    caltemus

    Crack Pipe for sure. That’s just about break in mileage for a 240 series, but there’s gotta be some hidden rot. Maybe 6-7k, but 12,5 is awfully ambitious.

  2. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    “Chrome roof rack” that doesn’t match the rest of the black trim
    $3000 in major repairs in the last month alone, what could go wrong?

    How ’bout instead of $12,500 I just give you 4,300 1981 dollars?

  3. I_Borgward Avatar
    I_Borgward

    I drove this very model for nine years, a 1981 GLT in light green metallic. My current daily driver is a 1982 Turbo wagon.

    So… (ahem)… let’s just say that I harbor a few opinions.

    The paint is okay but not anything to write home about, check out the lack of gloss. The stock chin spoiler didn’t come painted, but was flat black like the other trim on the car, evidence of a respray. Fog lights are missing, despite switches on dash.

    It came with essentially the same motor as any garden variety 240 of that year, so nothing amazing there. It does have the uprated suspension, but now either has worn-out original strut inserts, made from French unobtainium and not available for decades, or aftermarket inserts you could bolt on to any 240, provided you have the necessary adapters.

    No mention of any recent suspension work, essential in a 38-year-old car if you’re serious about driving it. No underhood picture, so does it still have the stock motor?

    Further demerits: Holes cut in rare GLT door cards for bitchin stereo, ugly-ass 90’s EQ hanging from dash, so probably not the stock stereo, either. Holes cut to fasten dog cage. Pep Boys horns. Missing wheel cap on left front. Badge on left front fender, but not on right… again, respray? Front seats are not original, GLTs were usually leather, and the headrests aren’t correct, either. And why the blanket over the rear seat? Hiding something?

    The back seat folds down? No shit, Sherlock.

    These are all seemingly minor quibbles to be sure, but for dazzling five-figure cash, I expect to see original, factory-issued parts. And 206K? Broken in for a red block, but no spring chicken, either.

    “Automatic” door locks? “Automatic” windows? “Full size”? “Hatchback”? Alert: we’re not dealing with a 240 enthusiast here, but a flipper.

    In short: Ff#%& this guy.

    Greed ruins everything.

    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      thank you for clarifying that I’m not going crazy here

      1. 0A5599 Avatar
        0A5599

        Nobody clarified that you aren’t going crazy, just that an asking price was high. Those aren’t mutually exclusive concepts.

          1. mdharrell Avatar

            For what it’s worth, I think you’re sane.

          2. Rover 1 Avatar
            Rover 1

            ‘For what it’s worth’

          3. Jeff Glucker Avatar
            Jeff Glucker

            …shit

    2. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      Anything with ‘collectible’ in the first line of the ad gets side-eye. Add, “people that know these cars” and the red flag is out.

      I’m sometimes tempted to steal all the images from a CL ad and post a parody listing, but I like Craigslist too much to do that.

    3. HuntRhymesWith Avatar
      HuntRhymesWith

      When you get upvoted by all 12 regular hooniverse commenters, you know you’ve written an A+ comment.

  4. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    As Mr. I_Borgward eloquently pointed out, this might not exactly be the one to pay big money for. But a very nice and shiny 240 can easily be sold for 20k$ + in Scandinavia. Especially cars like the 50th anniversary edition from 1977 or anything with a Turbo badge on it. Also wagons are seeing an appraisal lately. And just today I saw a beautiful purple 1985-ish 245 with a post-’90 rear door. Just the motor sound of it made me happy – it was the first thing I noticed. Awesome cars, period.

    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      jesus… i thought W123/S123 pricing was bad (and it is, mind you).

    2. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Wow…all the same seller? Impossibly clean cars!? And why the “Subaru” mentions – grabbing attention in a common marked?

      1. I_Borgward Avatar
        I_Borgward

        All the same seller, all specimens apparently missing the stone shield under the motor (I quibble once again). Their ads have been up for many, many months now, so apparently there aren’t as many cash-laden fools out there as they’d hoped.

      2. I_Borgward Avatar
        I_Borgward

        All the same seller, all specimens apparently missing the stone shield under the motor (I quibble once again). Their ads have been up for many, many months now, so apparently there aren’t as many cash-laden fools out there as they’d hoped.

        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          They are all so clean, I am suspecting a rattle can session or two. But the stone shield sure was up again after photographing those cars?

          1. I_Borgward Avatar
            I_Borgward

            The stock plastic stone shields are a wear item on a 240, like tires or shocks, a classic missing part on used 240s. If you like barrelling through snow storms (and who doesn’t?), you may go through a few.

    3. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      Those are almost unbelievably clean cars, but batshit-crazy asking prices.