Category Archives: Other People’s Bricks

Racing V8 Brick Flips at 24 Hours of LeMons

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v8olvo-all-3

Jalopnik has been documenting 24 Hours of LeMons for some years now and participated with a Ford 302 V8 powered Volvo 244 last year. The car has gone through a number of different paint jobs over the past couple of years. First was black and blue, then came white with black text. Lately it’s been a “Mustard Yellow Volvo Doing 45 in the Fast Lane” and this summer it won first place. Unfortunately this week there have been a few minor disasters, including the t-boning of a TR8 and the spectacular rollover while passing a Plymouth Fury. See video below.

According to reports, the roof didn’t even crush down to the rollcage. We wish V8olvo a rapid recovery and look forward to more races!

Ye Olde Volvo Net

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I found an interesting anti-sway bar FAQ, posted on swedishbricks.com in 1992. A writer asks about upgrading the sway bars on her husband’s new 245:

So, we bought the ’92 240 5 spd wagon. My husband, to whom I regularly deliver hardcopy of Volvo-net wisdom, wants to know about the best width swaybars for improving cornering. He feels it is ironic that my ’76 240 wagon seems to do better without sway bars(?), and that the new car could use an upgrade. I have the general list from Volvo-net Who’s who, but would appreciate elaboration.

The answer she gets is the same as anyone would get on the Brick Board 18 years later:

For a recent car, such as your new 245, I would suggest the following “improvements” :

Tires : replace stock 185R14 Michelin with 205/70HR14 tires (see tire chart) less important on a new car, very important after 40k miles

Dampers : replace stock shocks with iPD “specially-valved” Bilsteins only then

Sway-Bars : replace stock sway bars with iPD sway bars

Since this was posted online in 1992, all of the email addresses are colleges, including the new 245 owner at harvard.edu.

Brick as Political Billboard

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volvo-240-demo-derby

Way back in 2008, Illinois entrepreneur and demolition derby driver Keith Gray launched a campaign for Illinois State Senate against Terry Link. Under the theme “Demolish Politicians” Gray drove his 1990 Volvo 240 DL station wagon in the Lake County Fair Demolition Derby in July of 2008.

From Team America’s 10th District Blog:

“I’ve raced in the derby seven times, but this year it’s different,” Gray said. “I’m in the middle of my campaign for state senate, and I saw an opportunity to utilize my derby racing tradition to spread the message that I’m not doing this as a career politician or to gain political clout. I’m a normal guy who is sick of being taken advantage of by the Illinois political machine.”

volvo-240-keithgray-demo-derby

volvo-240-keithgray-demo-derby-after

He placed 3rd after busting the steering system and losing the ability to turn. His chariot lived to race another day, however, as the block, tranny and chassis went relatively unscathed. As for Keith Gray’s dreams of the Illinois Senate? He was defeated by Terry Link, who is now running for the office of Lt. Governor of Illinois.

BONUS: Anyone care to interpret the text written on the windshield in this photo?

Ladies, use a 240 to pickup dudes?

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Jalopnik has a Comment of the Day that seems to defy common sense:


This car didn’t stop me from ‘snagging’ a man… Volvo 240 will get you laid faster than any of the cars listed above… I hope it’s useful to Jalops of both genders and all orientations. Go buy an old Volvo.

Your mileage may vary.

Karnkluay Krazay

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I suppose having the “fastest Volvo in Thailand” is an important feat but if you’re pulling mid-8 second quarter-mile runs I imagine it would place you as one of the fastest Volvos in the world.

Karnkluay is a highly modified 244 built with the Volvo Club of Thailand. The name “Karnkluay” seems to come from the animated baby elephant “Kharn Kluay”, who wanders away from his mother to become a war elephant for his king. Nice.

What amazes me about this video isn’t the eerie sound coming from the engine bay (is that a turbo spooling?) or the odd headlight covers. No, what’s most disturbing is the crowd of onlookers closely packed around this screaming ride that’s about to pull an 10 second quarter mile run. How old is that kid at :40? Two? Yikes.

Here’s a compilation of Karnkluay’s mid-8 second runs. Note the crew putting all their weight on the rear deck to help with the burnouts. Their clothes must have been coated with rubber after these 3 runs: