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Performance Specialists Since 1963

Volvo 240/260

1975-1993 - 200 Series: 242, 244, 245, 262, 264, 265, Bertone, DL, GL

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If you ask someone off the street to "name a Volvo, any Volvo," odds are their answer will be the Volvo 240: the archetypal, boxy, tough-as-nails car of the 70s, 80s, and early 90s. 

As with the Volvo 140 and 164 before it, the 200 series covers a variety of body shapes, engines, and trim levels, denoted by the model number: 

  • 240 series, four cylinder:
    • 242: two door coupe
    • 244: four door sedan
    • 245: five door wagon
  • 260 series, six cylinder:
    • 262: two door coupe
    • 264: four door sedan
    • 265: five door wagon

Partway through the 200 series's production run, Volvo began using the middle digit of the -40 and -60 designations to denote higher trim and equipment levels rather than engine. Here at IPD, we've thus observed some oddbal cars like 260s with four cylinder engines but 260 interior and exterior trim. The model designations, particularly from the 80s onwards, should therefore be taken with a grain of salt.

The 200 series was a significant engineering evolution of the 140. From the firewall forward, it was nearly all new, with different fenders, bumpers, grilles, and headlights, rack-and-pinion steering, and new overhead cam engines: the "red block" B21 and B23 gas inline fours, the VW-sourced D24 inline six diesel, and the "PRV" B27/B28 V6.

The PRV in particular was a significant engine for Volvo, so named because it was co-developed with French automakers Peugeot and Renault. At a time when most American engines were still iron-block, pushrod, and carburetted, the PRV's all-aluminum construction and fuel injection was highly advanced for the time. The 262, 264, and 265 only made up about 10% of all 200-series sales, which when combined with top-end wear and oiling problems experienced by early PRVs means that not many of these cars remain on the road today.

The four cylinder 240s received new engines as well, with the 240 debuting the "red block" overhead cam engines. As fuel injection became standard across the Volvo range, these engines were quieter, more powerful, and less maintenance intensive than their carbureted, pushrod B18 and B20 predecessors.

In 1981, Volvo became one of the pioneers of turbocharged road cars with the B21FT engine, pushing "Flying Brick" 240 Turbo road cars to speeds rivaling other sporty 2- and 4-doors from European competitors BMW and Mercedes. In motorsport, 240 Turbo race cars racked up victories in the European Touring Car Championship (ETC) and German Touring Car Championship (DTM) in 1985.

Volvo made almost 3 million 240s and 260s over its nearly 20 year production run, both in Sweden and at plants around the world, such as in Canada and Thailand. The more luxurious 260 series ended production in 1982, to make way for the even-more-upmarket 700-series, but the popular 240 continued on as an entry-level model in the USA market.

An unusual 200-series production location was Turin, Italy, for one special model: the 262C personal luxury coupe, both styled by and with final assembly by Italian coachbuilder Bertone. A lowered roofline, vinyl top, and plush leather interior made this a very comfortable and stylish cruiser, and with only 6,622 cars produced worldwide, it's a rare and interesting part of Volvo's history.

Shop for Volvo 240/260
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  • Sold in the USA from 1975 through 1993
  • Available in 2 door sedan, 4 door sedan and 5 door station wagon
  • 2 door sedan was discontinued in the USA market around 1985
  • Some late '70s and early '80s models did not have numbered badging and simply had trim level labels such as DL or GL
  • Generally DL was a base model, GL had more options and GLT/Turbo had most options
  • The body style of the 200 series basically stayed the same over the years with minor cosmetic styling changes such as the style of hood and head lamps
  • The 200 series had various engine packages up to 1986, but standardized around the B230F from 1986 to the end of production in 1993
  • At launch, 240 models had 4 cylinder engines and 260 models had 6 cylinder engines, but this distinction became fuzzier as Volvo started to use the middle digit for trim level
  • 242 and 262 is a 2 door sedan
  • 244 and 264 is a 4 door sedan
  • 245 and 265 is a 5 door station wagon
  • "240" can be a 4 door sedan or 5 door station wagon. "240" badging was standard by 1986.

Volvo 240 (normally aspirated 4 cylinder gasoline engine)

  • B20F
    • Available in 1975 only
    • 2.0L gasoline inline 4 cylinder OHV w/ Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection
  • B21F (K-Jet)
    • Available from 1976 through 1982
    • 2.1L normally aspirated gasoline inline 4 cylinder OHC
    • Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection
    • There are a small number of 1983 models with a B21F and Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection
  • B21F (LH-Jet)
    • There are a small number of 1982 models with a B21F and Bosch LH-Jetronic 2.0 electronic fuel injection
  • B23F
    • Available from 1983 through 1984
    • 2.3L normally aspirated gasoline inline 4 cylinder OHC
    • Bosch LH-Jetronic 2.1 electronic fuel injection
  • B230F

Volvo 240 Turbo

  • Sold in the USA from 1981 through 1985
  • Available in 2, 4 and 5 door models
  • Manual (4 speed with overdrive) and automatic transmission options
  • B21FT is the only engine option (in USA)
    • 2.1L turbocharged gasoline 2.1L inline 4 cylinder OHC
    • Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection
  • Intercooler option was available on later models

Volvo 260

  • Sold in the USA from 1976 through 1982
  • B27F & B28F normally aspirated 90 degree V6 "PRV" (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) engine
    • Sometimes called the "Douvrin V6" in French references, or the ZMJ-159 by the DeLorean Motor Company
  • Both the B27 & B28 suffered oiling issues that resulted in excessive camshaft wear
  • A manual transmission option was available but most USA models were equipped with a 3 speed automatic transmission
  • Some 260s sold with 4-cylinder B21 and B23 engines in the early 1980s

Volvo 260 V6 PRV Engines:

  • B27F
    • Available from 1976 through 1980
    • 2.7L normally aspirated gasoline 90 degree V6 PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) SOHC
    • Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection
  • B28F
    • Available from 1980 through 1982
    • 2.8L normally aspirated gasoline 90 degree V6 PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) SOHC (w/ rockers)
    • Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection

Volvo 260 Diesel

  • There is a lot of conflicting information about when this engine was offered in the 200 series in the USA.  Some sources suggest it was offered from 1980 through 1985.  From our own experience, most are 1981 through 1983.
  • D24 engine
    • 2.4L Volkswagen normally aspirated mechanically injected inline 6 cylinder engine
    • Some 240s may also have been equipped with the D24, despite 240s generally being 4-cylinders
  • Models with this engine are very popular with the bio-diesel crowd
  • These engines tended to be very reliable to the point where owners will sometimes neglect maintenance items like oil changes, injection pump timing adjustments and cooling system flushes; seized piston rings and overheating damage should be looked out for

Volvo 262C Bertone Coupé

  • Sold in the USA from 1978 through 1981
  • "Luxury" chop-top version of the 2 door 260 model
  • Equipped with the same V6 PRV engine as other 260 models

Bosch Fuel Systems

  • Bosch K-Jetronic: Mechanical fuel injection with fuel distributor and warm-up (fuel pressure) regulator.
    • Later versions added an oxygen sensor and catalytic converter in the exhaust system combined with a electronic control unit and a pulsed frequency valve to alter fuel pressure in response to exhaust temperature.
    • Some very late models (1981-82) also had an IAC/AIC idle control motor with a separate electronic control module.
  • Bosch LH-Jetronic: Electronic fuel with a MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor and IAC control. MAF is the standarized vernacular for a device that measures air flow and density but they have also been called AMM (Air Mass Meter) or AMS (Air Mass Sensor.)
  • LH 2.0: Hot wire MAF sensor with aluminum MAF sensor housing. MAF sensor has flame arrestor.  Curved rubber fuel hoses between fuel rail and injectors.
  • LH 2.1: Hot wire MAF sensor with aluminum MAF sensor housing.
  • LH 2.2: Hot wire MAF sensor with plastic MAF sensor housing.
  • LH 2.4: Hot wire MAF sensor with plastic MAF sensor housing. 6 pin electrical connector on MAF.
  • LH 3.0: Hot filament MAF sensor with plastic MAF sensor housing with removable MAF sensor. 4 pin electrical connector on MAF.

Transmissions

  • Automatic transmissions: a range of BorgWarner (and later AisinWarner) 3- and 4-speed automatic transmissions available:
    • BW35, BW55, AW55 3-speed autos through 1981
    • AW70 4-speed auto from 1982
    • AW71 4-speed auto (3 speed plus overdrive) from 1982
  • Manual transmissions: 4 speed, 4-speed with overdrive, and 5-speed manual transmissions available:
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Model information is based on the USA vehicle market. Other model variations may exist outside the USA.

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