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One of the Most Outstanding Volvo Cars Ever Sold: Volvo 262C Bertone

One of the Most Outstanding Volvo Cars Ever Sold: Volvo 262C Bertone

Volvo had always enjoyed the reputation of a brand that isn’t afraid of venturing into the unknown. After all, it’s that exploratory spirit that has prompted Volvo to invent some of the revolutionary technologies we’re still using today. All that being said, you’d be hard-pressed to find a person in the early ’80s who would equate Volvo to a luxury marque. Yet, this innovative brand tried that too with Volvo 262C. Here’s the story behind these remarkable cars and how they came to be.

From Utility to Upper Class

If you were to go back 20 years and ask ten random people on the street what makes Volvo cars what they are, chances are they would all say ‘utility’. There’s something about the Swedish automotive industry that takes function over form to a whole new level, especially in the ’70s and ’80s.

However, as commendable as such an approach was from a European perspective, the US market wanted more. We all remember the USDM land yachts design of this era. Everything was oversized to the point of gaudiness. Yet, those were the trends at the time.

As one could expect, Volvo had nothing in common with those values. The same applied to most European brands. Not even Mercedes was comparing. At the time, they were selling the 200 series that looked and felt like an Eastern European socialist-mobile compared to what the US manufacturers were pumping out at an increasing rate. Volvo had to do something, and so they did.

One of the Most Outstanding Volvo Cars Ever Sold: Volvo 262C Bertone at eEuroparts.com
A standard-issue European Volvo 244DL

Volvo 262C – The Turin “Brick”

Gruppo Bertone is a well-known name in the world of classy cars. This design studio and custom coach builder from Turin had dipped its fingers in many legendary cars. Various European brands would turn to Bertone when they wanted to spruce up a specific car model or come up with a limited run of a popular car.

If left to their own devices, Volvo would struggle to develop a refined product that could match Lincolns of the era, and they knew it. Instead of going against the grain at all costs, Volvo had turned to Bertone for assistance. This wasn’t the first time these two companies worked together. They collaborated on the 264TE limousine in the mid-’70s, which were interesting cars, to say the least.

The car Volvo would base their new luxury model on was none other than the 264 sedan. One glance at these cars made it clear that Bertone had their work cut out for them. Turning such a dull vehicle into something worthy of a Bertone badge took serious out-of-the-box thinking. They were especially considering that Volvo wanted to reveal the new car at the 1977 Geneva Motor Show.

Volvo 262C - The Turin "Brick"

The Cut

The very first thing Bertone’s designers did was to turn the sedan into a coupe. A coupe was not only more attractive, but it was in-line with what the US buyers wanted at the time. Running with a coupe instantly raised the street cred of the entire project. The new coupe chassis would become known as the 262C.

Removing the rear doors was just the beginning. Automotive trends in 1977 were already hinting at the move towards lower profiles and slimmer bodies. Bertone, being ahead of their time, as usual, went on to lower the 262C. However, they didn’t redesign the body of the car or play with the suspension. Instead, they cut the roof, lowering the roofline for approximately 3 inches.

Lowering the roof turned out to be the varsity move. But that wasn’t enough. Bertone went on to cover the entire roof in vinyl. If you were to pluck several luxury coupes of the time, you’d find that most of them had vinyl-covered metal roofs. That’s just everybody rolled at the time. Volvo would get rid of vinyl on 262C in 1981 – the last year of production.

PRV Volvo 262C Bertone Notice the similarities between the Delorean DMC-12 (left) and the Volvo 262C Bertone (Right). Both feature PRV engines.
Notice the similarities between the Delorean DMC-12 (left) and the Volvo 262C Bertone (Right). Both feature PRV engines.

Interior that Put Lincoln to Shame

The exterior design of the 262C was spectacular. However, it’s the interior that really drove Volvo’s point home. Leather, leather, leather. Bertone went with a full leather interior that gave off a luxury vibe from a mile away. Sitting inside a 262C felt like attending a Fortune 500 meeting, only you were the CEO, CFO, and the chauffeur at the same time.

But why stop there? The abundance of leather was topped off with select hardwood and a sense of quality that only Volvo could deliver. They’ve built something a higher middle-class American would kill to drive. And they did, right up until 1981, when the last 262C was produced.

A Volvo 262 Bertone with the vinyl roof
A Volvo 262 Bertone with the vinyl roof

The V8 Engine That Was Not Meant to Be

Volvo’s choice of engines for 262C was anything but unique. They went with the 2.7-liter V6 B27E engine developed in cooperation with the French duo – Peugeot and Renault. This 140 hp motor had started as a V8. However, it had the misfortune of being conceived during one of the world oil crisis in history.

Instead of scrapping the entire project, the design team simply chopped off one cylinder on each bank. Was it the most exciting engine ever made? Not really, but it carried the 262C well enough.

An Instant Classic

From 1977 to 1981, only 6500 Volvo 262Cs were made. That’s about as limited as a run as you can get these days. It’s not that 262C wasn’t popular, but it was the type of car that drew the attention of a rare breed of drivers.

When the last 262C rolled off the production lines in Turin in 1981, the car instantly became a classic. That hasn’t changed to this day. This odd Volvo is still a hot commodity and a wanted collectible. Unfortunately, they are getting harder and harder to find in the wild.

David Bowie's 1981 262C, with painted roof and flush taillights
David Bowie’s 1981 262C, with painted roof and flush taillights

Get Genuine Volvo Parts at Competitive Prices

Although the 262C is a rare sight these days, there’s plenty of other Volvo cars on the streets. Here at eEuroparts.com, we appreciate the cult of the Swedish brick. If you’re a Volvo owner looking for quality parts for your car, you’re at the right place. We offer one of the largest catalogs of Genuine, OEM, and aftermarket parts for Volvos and other European manufacturers.

To find the parts you’re looking for, simply head over to our online store and input your car’s details into our navigation tool. Once you select your vehicle, our system will show you all the parts that match your input.

 

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8 thoughts on “One of the Most Outstanding Volvo Cars Ever Sold: Volvo 262C Bertone

  1. The Volvo 480? That’s pretty cool, but it can’t match the Volvo 66 for sheer technological prowess….A Volvo with a real (DAF-Variomatic) transmission!

  2. Volvo always had a knack for producing oddball cars next to a very boring line-up… The P1800, the 262C and the 480. As for the 240 being “utilitarian”, well… up to a point, the Volvo 240 Turbo Evolution !! As for the Volvo 66, it was a DAF rebadged after Volvo bought the Dutch car maker in 1974. No Swedish engineering in there.

  3. Many thanks for a very interesting article on the Volvo 262 C Bertone.
    We bought a new 1979 Volvo 244 DL, and had it for 35 years, a great car.
    I remember seeing a few 262 C Bertone cars from time to time when I brought our car to the dealer for service. It sure had a distinctive look, for a Volvo.
    In 1995 we purchased a new Saab 9000 CSE which we still have. Another great car from Sweden. Too bad that Saab went out of business.

  4. Yes, I’ve been a Volvo fan since the day I was assigned to investigate a serious one vehicle accident with multiple interior of the car injuries. Most persons wouldn’t have survived if in another car. My comment to my Wife following this…next car purchase….VOLVO ! It a 240 Statipn Wagon. Since which I’ve owned many Volvo models: currently a C70 (now R) that I love. A station wagon winter car I’m now considering in place of my Saab 9000 Aero standard transmission: another awesome car. Only because an 850 or V version station wagon takes my hand constructed cardboard box into which I insert my skis out of the eliments. Enough said.

  5. Gimme a two door light blue metallic 240
    Automatic turbo with factory alloys. Bullet proof and quick. Then , we make the bumpers flush mount and voila. A cool Swedish something or other.

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