Volvo 300 Series — BrandWiki

Volvo 300 Series

Overview

Volvo 300 Series

manufacturer	Volvo Cars
production	1976–1991
assembly	Netherlands: Born (Volvo Car B.V.) Malaysia: Shah Alam (Swedish Motor Assemblies, CKD) Indonesia: Jakarta (CKD)
predecessor	none
successor	Volvo 400 Series
class	Compact car / Small family car (C)
body style	3/5-door hatchback 4-door saloon
layout	FR layout
engine	1289 cc B13 OHV I4 1397 cc B14 OHV I4 1721 cc B172 SOHC I4 1986 cc B19/B200 SOHC I4 1596 cc D16 diesel I4
transmission	4-speed Volvo M45 R manual 5-speed Volvo M47 R manual CVT
weight	3-door: 959 - 1092 kg 4-door: 978 - 1097 kg 5-door: 985 - 1113 kg
designer	John de Vries

The Volvo 300 Series is a rear-wheel-drive small family car sold from 1976[1] through 1991, both as a hatchback and (from 1984) as a conventional notchback saloon.

It was launched in the Netherlands shortly after Volvo acquired a significant stake in the passenger car division of DAF in 1973. The series consisted of the Volvo 340 (previously 343/345) and the later Volvo 360.

Origins

After building a series of compact cars, DAF sought a partner to bring its new larger model, codenamed P900, intended to become the DAF 77, to market in 1970. Several manufacturers were approached, including Audi, BMW and Volvo.

Due to the cost, Volvo was not initially interested, but it was later persuaded by DAF's access to Renault engines. This helped Volvo expand its model lineup without the enormous expenditures of developing a new model.

Model chronology

The Volvo 343 was introduced on 19 February 1976. The introduction model was fitted with a 70 PS 1.4-litre Renault Cléon-Fonte engine in the front and DAF's radical Variomatic continuously variable transmission unusually mounted in the rear, helping weight distribution.[6] The engine was an enlarged version of those fitted to the DAF 55 and 66. To add to the car's appeal and boost its sales, Volvo adapted the M45 manual transmission from the 200 series to fit in place of the CVT, and sold the manual version alongside the CVT models from 1979. Volvo had also by this point substantially redesigned the interior with a much higher quality dashboard; also new seats, steering wheels and various fittings derived from the larger 200 Series model - addressing the heavy criticism of the DAF-designed interior of the early cars. A five-door model, the 345, was added in August 1979 for the 1980 model year. The extra doors added 30 kg; other modifications included better brakes, a slightly larger track due to wider wheels, and interval wipers.[6] During 1980 larger wrap-around bumpers were introduced. In 1981, another engine option was added to the range, the Volvo designed B19, which was only available in GLS specs with the manual transmission.

A facelift in summer 1981 for the 1982 model year featured a revised bonnet, grille, front lamp arrangement, and slightly different bumpers. The interior was revised, and the cars received a new dashboard more aligned with other Volvo models. Overall length was increased to 4300 mm.

The third digit designating the number of doors was dropped from model designations starting with the 1983 model year. The rear seat also gained a little more space thanks to a shallower seat pad and a flatter plate beneath it.[4] The more powerful 360 arrived that year with two 2.0 L engine choices, Volvo's 95 PS B19A (360 GLS) and the fuel injected 115 PS B19E. The B19A was also available in the 340 DL.[7] The more powerful 360 GLT was only available with a five-speed manual and the engine came equipped with a breakerless ignition system and velour interior, amongst other comfort details. The 360 GLT can be recognized by its front spoiler with integrated extra lights, a rear spoiler, and by being 1.5 cm lower.[7] The 360s were four-cylinders and not sixes as implied by the name; the "360" name was used to "give the new model a stronger profile in the Volvo range."[8] This 2.0 L 360 model was available in five-door and three-door hatchback form, with four-door "notchback" saloon models added in 1984. Trim levels were GL, GLE, or GLT, depending on output and specifications.

In 1985, the 300 Series received a significant facelift. Other changes were (optionally body-coloured) wrap-around bumpers with integrated turn signal lights. The taillights were also redesigned. Instrumentation changed from Smiths units to VDO. The older Volvo "redblock" engines in the 360 were upgraded to the low-friction B200 unit. Capacities and outputs remained much the same. The carburetor version was designated B200K, and the Bosch LE-Jet fuel-injected version is known as the B200E.

A famous advertisement for the 300 series in the late 1980s saw a crash test dummy "come alive", and drive a 340 out of a second-floor factory window, nose-diving into the concrete ground.

From 1987 on, incremental improvements in features and emissions control were made. The newly designed power steering from the new Volvo 480 became available as an option for the 1988 model year, while rust protection was improved with the increased use of galvanised steel.[9] Production of the 360 came to an end in 1990, while the 340 was discontinued in 1991, despite the fact it had supposedly been replaced by the Volvo 440 in 1987. The last car of the Volvo 300 series (a white Volvo 340) rolled off the production line on 13 March 1991, three years after the launch of the 400 series.

Sales

The 300-series was a strong seller for Volvo. Sales began at a low level, not helped by the absence of a manual transmission option and an early reputation for poor build quality. Still, sales gradually increased as the lineup expanded with manual transmission and a 5-door body style, and the initial quality issues were solved - by redesigning the interior and dashboard. 300-series cumulative production broke 100,000 units on 12 December 1983, with the total reaching 102,000 before the end of the year.[11][12] The 100,000th car, finished in white, was donated to the Dutch Red Cross.

In 1988, 12 years after its introduction, the one-millionth 300 was built. Finished inside and out in red, it ended up in the DAF museum in Eindhoven. Eventually, the production of the 300 series ended in 1991 after 1.14 million units, averaging 76,000 vehicles per year.

While the car was fundamentally robust, the vehicle was rushed to production too early. In particular the first (1976) model year 343 suffered from teething problems,[13] with unsubstantiated claims that Volvo ordered its dealer network to scrap early model year cars that were traded in, to remove them from circulation. As a result, few 1976 and 1977 cars survived. The build quality gradually improved, but was never up to the same standard as Volvo's larger models.[14] Due to this bad reputation, the car was not popular in Sweden. Sales of the 340 with Variomatic in Sweden were down to 200 per year in the late 1980s.[15] The 300's sales were also limited because the price of a 2.0 L 360 was more than a base 240 in the home market.[16]

Markets

While not a major sales success, the Volvo badge ensured that the car had a strong middle-class following (often as a second car) in some places, particularly in the UK in the 1980s. It regularly made it onto Britain's top annual 20 sales tables for that decade and was the best-selling import car at several points in the early 1980s.[17] They are robust and mechanically simple (and therefore easy to maintain). Variomatic transmissions are reliable if given proper care. The rust protection was poorer than that of other Volvos, but the engines were durable. In February 2016, it was reported that 627 examples of the 300 Series were still in use on Britain's roads.[18]

Up to 1982, sales of the 300-series were almost entirely limited to Western Europe. In the years following, exports to other parts of the world slowly expanded with 4% of total sales in 1984. In 1985, CKD-kits of the Volvo 340 GL were sent to Indonesia and CKD-kits of the Volvo 360 GLE were sent to Malaysia for assembly.[19][20]

Models and special editions

The 300 series was available in different trim levels throughout its production. There were also special editions.

Phase 1 343s and 345s were available in DL, GL, DLS, and GLS trim levels, while Phase 2 and 3 340s and 360s were available in the following range of trim levels: 340; 340DL; 340GL; 340GLE; 340 DLS; 340GLS; 340 Blueline; 340 Redline; 360; 360GL; 360DLS; 360GLS; 360GLE; 360GLT. No market received all models.

One such variation on a theme was the 1981 343 R-Sport. This was intended as a sporty offering to the lineup, pre-dating the introduction of the 360GLT by some two years. Only 100 cars were produced based on the DLS and GLS trim levels and featuring sporting additions such as self-adhesive 'R-Sport' decals, rev counter, front and rear spoilers, as well as some featuring body-coloured bumpers and alloy wheels. The B19A engine also featured some modifications, including twin Solex carburetors. Power was increased from a quoted 95HP to 122HP (90 kW).

A similar model was the 1979 343 Oettinger. This model was based on the standard 343 DL, with the 1397 cc capacity increased to 1596 cc. It was modified by the VW Group tuning company Oettinger and released in 1979. The 343 Oettinger was available in red or silver metallic. A total of 125 cars were produced.

A van version also entered production. The van was essentially a five-door 340, but the rear doors were replaced with full body-coloured metal pieces, and the rear seats were removed. A glazed version was also available. The 1200 L cargo compartment has a flat floor and a metal bulkhead behind the front seats to protect occupants from moving loads.[21] It was called "Volvo 345 Van" and was developed for commercial use at the behest of the Dutch Postal Services, who preferred a Dutch-made vehicle. It was first presented at a commercial vehicle show in Amsterdam in February 1982 and offered to the public. The only engine was the petrol B14, combined with either the CVT or a four-speed manual.[21]

The Millionaire edition was introduced in 1988 to commemorate the production of the one-millionth car in the 300 series. This edition featured all options on both the 340 GLE and 360 GLE/T, including air conditioning, electric front windows and mirrors, alloy wheels, and a leather interior.

Volvo 300 Series

Origins

Design

Model chronology

Engines

Sales

Markets

Models and special editions

Prototypes

In motorsport

References