1985 VOLVO 760 Estate 2.8L 4AT RWD (156 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Volvo was already known for its spacious station wagons, and it tried to offer them only on the more common 400 series. Yet three years after introducing its flagship, 700, series in 1982, it offered it as a station wagon as well.

In the early ’80s, Volvo was still an important contender in the premium car market. It threatened the German carmakers with its built quality and its safety systems. It offered standard ABS and, as an option, an electronic traction control system. That was unusual for a 1985 car, and soon people started to understand its meaning.

The wedged-shaped Volvo 760 looked like a brick with its flat front fascia. Depending on the market, it featured either two rectangular or four squared headlights. Unlike its smaller sibling, the 400 series, the 760 featured an even more raked windshield, but the rest of the vehicle was mostly squared. Its long roof ended with an almost vertical drop for the tailgate.

Inside, the Swedish carmaker installed a more luxurious interior than on the lesser-equipped 740 model. The dashboard was tilted towards the driver, with a center stack connected to the instrument cluster. Despite the car’s size, it was room for two adult-sized passengers in the back due to the tall transmission tunnel that crossed the car from front to back. In the U.S., the 760 was fitted with standard electronic climate control, which was also a novelty for many customers.

Under the hood, Volvo installed a range of gasoline and diesel versions, naturally aspirated or turbocharged. While some models were considered sluggish, the V6 Turbo version was quick on its feet and was praised by many for its under 9 seconds 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) run. Nevertheless, most customers had chosen lesser-equipped versions, including a five-cylinder turbo-diesel.