1986 Volvo 240DL

Volvo 240DL Customization

March 2, 2023March 5, 2023 Rob Adlers

What Vehicle did I customize?
- 1986 Volvo 240DL
When?
- 2000 to 2003
What was done?
- Paint colour change from Volvo Camel to Volvo Laser Blue (V70R colour)
- New windshield installed
- Transmission change: Automatic to 5 speed standard
- Replaced rusted doors with rust free ones
- Interior swap – from original brown to navy blue
- GLT gauges installation on dashboard
- Volvo GT steering wheel
- Upper strut tower braces
- Lower cross member braces
- 1986 Pontiac Firebird rear spoiler
- Volvo Virgo wheel paint jobs – chrome (not very durable), then gun metal grey
- New headlights
- Applied 1993 Volvo 240 colouring of grill and headlight eyebrows and removed chrome
- New front cornering lenses with mat black inner surface (chrome had already peeled off)
- Cooper Cobra tires for the white lettering and period feel
- Respray of the side mouldings and mud flaps
- Aftermarket car stereo installation
Who?
- Apollo Volvo (Toronto) for parts and transmission swap out
- Carstar Auto Body and Paint (Kitchener)
- Me – Interior swap, wheels, stereo, trim, braces, gauge installations, headlights and cornering lights

First Iteration – Stock Colour and Condition

As ugly as they got. Camel tan exterior and brown interior. Headlights were already done. I tried clear coating one light that yellowed pretty quickly. I had already purchased the Volvo Virgo wheels at this point

Stock 1986 Volvo 240DL — As ugly as they got. Camel tan exterior and brown interior. Headlights were already done. I tried clear coating one light that yellowed pretty quickly. I had already purchased the Volvo Virgo wheels at this point

Second Iteration – Fresh Body and Paint Completed

Fresh from the body shop, first car show the day after in Toronto. Headlight eyebrows and grill still chrome and interior is still brown

1986 Volvo 240DL Laser Blue — Fresh from the body shop, first car show the day after in Toronto. Headlight eyebrows and grill still chrome and interior is still brown

Third Iteration – Interior, Manual Transmission, Chromed Wheels

Fourth Iteration – Gun Metal Grey Wheels

Wheels were typically silver early 2000’s, but I started seeing a few cars with gun metal grey wheel paint jobs. I decided to repaint them. I would have stuck with chrome had there been a way to apply proper chrome at that time. That arrived years after I sold the car.

Wheels were typically silver early 2000’s, but I started seeing a few cars with gun metal grey wheel paint jobs. I decided to repaint them. I would have stuck with chrome had there been a way to apply proper chrome at that time. That arrived years after I sold the car.

Rob's Workshop Blog Customization, Gun Metal Grey Virgo Wheels, Rob Adlers, V70R Laser Blue, Volvo 240DL