1987 Volvo 780 Base Coupe 2-Door 2.8L

We are offering our 1987 Volvo Bertone 780. single owner. Mileage 177000. Very few of these (about 200) vehicles were manufactured in the launch year for this Bertone series. Engine -- SOHC aluminum V-6. 2. 49cc/SOHC cast-iron block and aluminum head four-cylinder. turbocharged and intercooled. 2. 16cc Horsepower -- 145/175-188 @ 5. 00/5. 00-4. 00 RPM Torque. lbs. -ft. -- 173-136/187-206 @ 3. 50-2. 50/2. 00-3. 00 RPM Fuel system -- Bosch LH-Jetronic 2. 2 electronic fuel injection Transmission -- Four-speed automatic 0-60 MPH -- 9. 8/8. 5 seconds Top speed -- 115/124 MPH Length -- 88. 7 inches Width -- 68. 9 inches Height -- 55. 1 inches Wheelbase -- 109. 1 inches Curb weight -- 3. 29-3. 39 pounds From Hemmings Feb. 2012: You've got to hand it to Volvo. Their 1978-1981 262C Bertone Coupé. with its hot rod-formal roof and leather-swathed interior. was largely met with smirks and quizzical stares. especially when its $15. 00-$20. 00 price was raised. But Sweden's largest automaker persisted in its steady march up-market in the 1980s. and if the concept of a luxury grand touring coupe worked for the Germans (BMW 635 CSi. Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC) and Americans (Cadillac Eldorado. Lincoln Mark VII). they'd make it work for them. too. Taking the Carrozzeria Bertone-built 262C concept into the new decade was the undeniably elegant 780. Volvo's final rear-wheel-drive flagship coupe. It was shortly after 262C production ended in 1981 that Bertone agreed to design and build the 780. Instead of following previous practice and creating a new. lower two-door roofline for the 760 sedan. the 780 featured a completely new design that. while maintaining a distinct family resemblance to its sedan and wagon counterparts. shared no body components. It rode on a 109. 1-inch wheelbase and stretched to 188. 7 inches in length; its 55. 1-inch height was fractionally lower than that of the 760 that donated its mechanical components. but didn't compromise headroom to the degree of its rakish predecessor. The 780 made its debut in March 1985 at the Geneva Motor Show. Production began in Bertone's new Grugliasco plant that September for the European market. but the first American-spec examples wouldn't arrive for another year. as 1987 models. Bob Austin. Volvo North America Corporation's former public relations manager. recalls the "positioning statement" they devised to market the new flagship: "The Volvo 780 is for successful people who appreciate stylish. limited-production European touring cars. yet value the safety and practicality of a Volvo. Sleek Bertone styling on the outside. sumptuous hand-stitched leather on the inside. and the strength of a Volvo. An exotic automobile for a practical consumer. " This $34. 85 two-door cost a startling $7. 05 more than the next-most expensive 1987 Volvo. the 760 Turbo station wagon. but in addition to its unique body and sporty black cross-hatch grille. it had front and rear fog lamps. 15-spoke alloy wheels and an anti-theft alarm; inside. it featured comprehensive instrumentation. automatic climate control. a tilt-and-slide power moonroof. full leather upholstery (single or two-tone. depending on color choice) over heated eight-way power seats. genuine beech burl wood trim and a four-speaker cassette stereo with seven-band graphic equalizer. In its first year here. the car used Volvo's Constant Track rear suspension with a live rear axle located by longitudinal control arms and torque rods attached to a subframe; this system was supported by Boge Nivomat self-leveling shocks. While Europeans had the option of a turbo-diesel six. American customers got the 760's reengineered Peugeot-Renault-Volvo V-6. internally coded B280F. An updated-for-1987. more reliable version of the 262C's engine. this even-firing 2. 49cc V-6 used a 91 x 73mm bore and stroke. a 9. 5:1 compression ratio and Bosch LH-Jetronic 2. 2 fuel injection to make 145hp at 5. 00 RPM and 173-lbs. ft. of torque at 3. 50 RPM. It was mated exclusively to a four-speed automatic gearbox for our market. although others could shift for themselves. This combination didn't make the 3. 29-pound coupe a fire-breather. but allowed a 9. 8-second 0-60 MPH time and a 115-MPH top speed. Volvo's typical emphasis on safety meant this four-seater got everything in the arsenal. including energy-absorbing safety cage construction. four-wheel disc brakes--the fronts ventilated--with anti-lock and split braking circuits. a driver's side airbag and knee bolster and front seat belt pre-tensioners. When the 780 returned for 1988--now costing $37. 90--it gained the updated 760's redesigned rear suspension that tossed the live axle for a sophisticated "Multi-link" independent setup. This new design. its track two inches wider on the coupe than on the sedan. featured coil-over Nivomat shocks and offered lower unsprung weight for improved handling and ride. Also updated was the car's electronic climate control system. While performance fans were disappointed by the $37. 90. V-6-powered 780's torque figure drop to 136-lbs. ft. at 2. 50 RPM in 1989. they applauded the new. $38. 75. 780 Turbo. Volvo's beloved "red block" B230FT. this four-cylinder displaced 2. 16cc via its 96 x 80mm bore and stroke. With 8. 7 compression. electronic fuel injection. a water-cooled turbocharger and air-to-air intercooler. as well as Volvo's new "Turbo +" boost control system. it made a heady 30hp and 51-lbs. ft. of torque more than its V-6 counterpart. Turbo + raised boost from 10. 5 to 14 PSI. bumping the 760 Turbo's horsepower from 160 to 175. Setting the car apart visually were stylish multi-spoke wheels. an inch wider than standard at 15 x 7. although tire size remained 205/60HR-15. Changes on all 1989 780s were limited to "VOLVO" front fender badges (covering holes for Euro-market side markers) and memory glide front seatbacks that returned to their previous position after being tilted. A traditional Volvo chrome vertical-bar grille was fitted to some cars. The introduction of Volvo's "Generation 3" turbocharged four-cylinder engine for 1990 made the $39. 50 780 Turbo even more powerful; a smaller. faster-spooling turbo coupled with breathing improvements pushed output to 188hp at 4. 00 RPM and 206-lbs. ft. of torque at 3. 00 RPM. making this 780 the most powerful Volvo built to date. The V-6 model. priced $1. 15 less. shared the Turbo's new visor mirrors and its Multi-X wheels. although both cars' tires were downsized to 195/65HR-15s. Echoing the swan song of its Bertone predecessor. the 780 was re-named "Coupe" for 1991. its final model year. when it cost $41. 45. All Coupes (forgoing the prior French accent) were Turbos. and they gained a limited-slip differential. larger (24mm. from 21mm) front anti-roll bar and new multi-link-compliant. 18mm rear anti-roll bar designed for the 760's replacement. the 940 SE. Inside. a new stereo system was teamed with an optional trunk-mounted six-disc CD changer. and a plaque bearing Nuccio Bertone's signature--in his trademark green ink--was mounted on the center console. While 780s outnumbered 262Cs in worldwide production (8. 18 to 6. 22) and the majority (estimated at roughly 5. 00) were sold here. they remain exclusive cars. built with traditional craftsmanship to a standard. instead of a price. All offer Volvo's sturdy design. modern creature comforts. cross-country cruising ability for two couples (with a 14. 7-cu. ft. trunk and 21-gallon fuel tank) and a conservative. crisp appearance that is distinctly 1980s Volvo. This exclusivity isn't reflected in their prices; the top book value on a turbocharged 780--considered most desirable by purists--is roughly $5. 00. although low mileage. pristine examples will change hands between enthusiasts for double that figure. "These cars aren't expensive. but if you have an accident. you'll never get back what it's worth. warns Jan Nystrom. 1991 Coupe owner and editor of the Volvo Club of America's Rolling magazine. "Mechanically. they're as solid and easy to repair as any Volvo. but remember that not a single exterior panel or trim piece is shared with other Volvos. So be careful--if you think that a broken headlamp or crumpled fender isn't a big deal. you'll find almost no new body and trim parts are available. and those that are. are very expensive. " Indeed. salvage yards are the only source for some 780 components. These were expensive cars when new. and some of the remaining examples have led pampered lives. so it pays to search for a garage-kept car with full service records. Whether V-6 or turbo four. the 780 represents the pinnacle of rear-wheel-drive Volvo luxury and exclusivity. and its collectible appeal will only increase as the years pass.