What is a Volvo 480?

The 480

You might have seen it, but not reflected on it; the flying Dutchman, the Volvo 480.
Volvo, not being knowned as a sportscar-manufacturer, made between 1986 and 1995 a small sportscar based on the Volvo 400-series, built in The Netherlands. The car had futuristic design, frontwheeldrive and a huge list of standardequipment, which started the new era in the history of Volvo with frontwheeldriven and highperformenced cars. It was also one of the most advanced cars in the world when it came out. The 480 had some characteristics from the famous P1800ES, the estate-version of the P1800. Volvo also wanted the 480 to have some of the looks from the american jetfighter, F16, which you can see a similar of in the profile of the 480. An aggressive front with a grill mounted under the front bumper and pop-up lights. Looking like nothing you've ever seen before. It had excellent drivingperformance and with Volvo famous safety built in, it was an success. But unfortunatly it didn't have a proper engine though. The Renault-engine does it's work very well, but other sportscars like Toyota Celica Twin Cam, offered an much more powerful engine by that time. Not until the model-year 1988, Volvo 480 came with a Turbo-charged engine with 125bhp. With some tuning you can boost the engine to 160bhp.

In the first years 1987-1888, Volvo 480 suffered from some quality problems as electric malfunctions. Those problems where annoying, while they often due to corroded switches and contacts. From 1989 the quality increased, but like all car models, they all suffers from childhood-deseases, more or less.

Standard equipment that all models have:
Aluminium rims
Active Powersteering
Electric windows
Central locking
Burglar alarm
Height adjustable steering wheel
Electric seatwarmers in front
Running day-lights
LED-illuminated door key-hole
Illuminated ignition key-hole
Rear window wiper controlled with reverse, when front windshield-wiper is activated
Front windshield wiper on by full throttle. (if timer is on)
Electric adjustable and heated external mirrors
Rear foglights.
High beam lamps
Fuel computer, showing:
-Instant fuel consumption
-Average consumption for last 300 litres.(resetable)
-Average speed. (resetable)
-Calculated range for fuel in tank.
-Oil temperature.
-Water temperature.
-Outer temperature with frost warning lamp.

Options:
Front fog-lamps
Anti blocking brakes. (standard in the Turbo version after -88)
Air Condition.
Oilpressure and voltmeter-instruments (+ turbopressure in Turbo versions, standard)
Sun roof.
Leather seats.

Some clever details:
The rear window defroster is automatic switched off after 12 minutes. When pressing the switch more than 3 seconds, the heater is continously switched on, until the engine is switched off, and not started again within 5 minutes.
Interior light is switched off:
-after 15 minutes if door is open,
-after 20 seconds if door is closed,
-immediatley if engine is started.
Interior light can be swiched on and off with the door key lock.
When flashing the high beamlamps when the car is parked an turned off, the lamps will continue to shine for 20 seconds so you find your way in.

Notice!
The specifications above may vary in different countries.


So if you haven't got you own Volvo 480 yet. Try one. Buy one. Get a fine sample, and for the money they cost now, it's an investment for the future, if you treat it well. And don't be afraid, we 480 owners keeps together and helps eachother, wherever you are...