Well, it had to happen some time but it gives us no joy to report that the iconic Volvo 240 has been overtaken by the XC60 SUV as the best-selling Volvo of all time.
In production from 1974 to 1993, the Volvo 240 bowed out with its production tally pegged at 2,685,171 cars built, a number that has taken the XC60 medium SUV 17 years to reel in.
The boxy Volvo 240 set safety benchmarks that remained relevant for decades, featuring an advanced body design with front and rear crumple zones, along with a reinforced passenger compartment.
It was also among the first cars to incorporate enhanced side-impact protection, which later evolved into Volvo’s patented ‘Side-Impact Protection System’ (SIPS), and it introduced the world-first Child Booster Cushion in 1978.
The 240 initially became an iconic family car in its native Sweden, where it was made in Gothenburg and Kalmar, while it was also produced in Ghent, Belgium. Later, the car’s durability, excellent safety qualities, decent driving dynamics and practical charm made it a popular choice for families all over the world, particularly the roomy 240 Estate.
It wasn’t until 1975 that the 240 made its way to Australia, replacing the 140 series, but it soon gained popularity here for its spacious and comfortable design, robust engineering, long-legged touring capabilities, and family-friendly features.
But it will also be remembered by some for its contribution to Australian motorsport, with the Volvo Dealer Team achieving success campaigning a Volvo 240 Turbo in Group A form in the Australian touring car series during the 1980s.
The high point for Volvo came in 1986 when Kiwi driver Robbie Francevic steered a Volvo 240T to victory in the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), marking the first time a non-Australian resident won the title and the first Championship win by a turbocharged car.
Today, the SUV has replaced the estate as the obvious family pick, and the XC60’s new status as Volvo Cars’ best-selling model of all time relegates the boxy and beautiful 240 to a still respectable second-place on the brand’s all-time sales leaderboard.
