The
Volvo 300 series was a rear wheel drive
automobileAn automobile, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
sold as both a
hatchbackHatchback is a term designating an automobile design, containing a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo space, accessed from behind the vehicle by a single, top-hinged tailgate or large flip-up window...
and (later) a conventional saloon from 1976-1991. It was launched in The Netherlands in 1976, shortly after
VolvoVolvo Cars, or Volvo Personvagnar AB, is a Swedish automobile manufacturer founded in 1927 in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden, and currently owned by Ford Motor Company....
acquired a controlling share of the passenger car division of
DAFDAF Trucks NV is a Dutch truck manufacturing company and a division of PACCAR. Its headquarters and main plant are in Eindhoven. Cabs and axle assemblies are produced at its Westerlo plant in Belgium...
in 1975. The series consisted of the Volvo 343 and 345 up to 1982, and Volvo 340 / 360 afterwards. The design of the body was done by Provoost / de Vries (internal design team at DAF)
The 300 series was unusual in having the
transmissionTransmission is the act of passing something on.Specifically, it may refer to:*Transmission , a gear system transmitting mechanical power, as in a car*Transmission , the act of transmitting messages over distances...
mounted over the rear axle (which was of the
De Dion tubeA de Dion tube is an automobile suspension technology. It is a sophisticated form of non-independent suspension and is a considerable improvement over the alternative swing axle and Hotchkiss drive types. A de Dion suspension uses universal joints at both the wheel hubs and differential, and uses...
type), with the 360 having the
driveshaftA drive shaft, driving shaft, propeller shaft, or Cardan shaft is a mechanical component for transmitting torque and rotation, usually used to connect other components of a drive train that cannot be connected directly because of distance or the need to allow for relative movement between...
enclosed in a "torque tube". The rear-mounted transmission helped with a balanced weight distribution (automatic versions have almost 50/50) and handling, but it has the consequence of having a large transmission tunnel.
Overall, the 300 series was considered heavy and unrewarding to drive but reliable and safe by the standards of its day. However, sporty 360GLT versions are well regarded by more enthusiastic drivers, with the unusual drivetrain setup ensuring good weight distribution and unusually good balance and traction.
Origins
After building a series of compact cars, DAF sought a partner to bring its new larger model, codenamed P900, starting 1970. Several manufacturers were approached, including
AudiAUDI AG, is a German company which produces luxury cars under the Audi brand, . It is part of the Volkswagen Group. The name Audi is based on a Latin translation of the surname of the founder August Horch, itself the German word for “listen!"Audi is headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany.It...
,
BMW, is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company. Founded in 1916, it is known for its performance and luxury vehicles. It owns and produces the MINI brand, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.-Company history:...
, and Volvo. Volvo was not originally interested due to the costs, but they were later persuaded by DAF's access to
RenaultRenault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, buses, tractors, and trucks. Due to its alliance with Nissan, it is currently the world's fourth largest automaker. Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, Renault owns the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia and the Korean automaker Renault...
engines. This helped Volvo expand its model line-up without the large expenditures associated with developing a new model. Building cars in the
NetherlandsThe Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...
also helped the
SwedishSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe...
Volvo to access the markets of the
EECThe European Community is the first of the three pillars of the European Union created under the Maastricht Treaty . It is based upon the principle of supranationalism and has its origins in the European Economic Community, the predecessor of the European Union. If the Treaty of Lisbon comes into...
, of which Sweden was then not yet a member.
Volvo purchased a one-third share in DAF in 1973, increasing to a three-quarters stake in 1975; the DAF company's name was changed to Volvo Car BV that year. The original DAF company, the commercial vehicle division
DAF TrucksDAF Trucks NV is a Dutch truck manufacturing company and a division of PACCAR. Its headquarters and main plant are in Eindhoven. Cabs and axle assemblies are produced at its Westerlo plant in Belgium...
, still operates today.
Model chronology
The Volvo 343 was introduced in 1976. DAF had developed this car as an upward expansion of its car range, until then headed by the
Volvo (previously DAF) 66The Volvo 66 was a relabelled DAF 66, a revised car originally styled by Michelotti. The compact car was introduced in August 1975, almost exactly a year after Volvo Cars bought DAF, and before production of the Volvo 300 series began. It was known for its continuously variable transmission, the...
. The 343 was fitted with a 1.4 litre Renault engine in the front and DAF's radical
VariomaticVariomatic is the stepless, fully automatic transmission of the Dutch car manufacturer DAF, using a drive belt and two pulleys. It was the first continuously variable transmission . In theory, this always produces the optimum torque...
continuously variable transmissionA continuously variable transmission is a transmission which can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that only allow a few different distinct gear ratios to be selected...
mounted under the rear seats.
Volvo did not want to equip the car with other transmissions than the CVT, because at the time the marketing department considered that "their only uniqueness", despite the fact that the chassis was specifically designed by DAF to be able to mount multiple types of engines and transmissions in it. Planned were manual versions, and the then still experimental van Doorne's Transmission's
CVTCVT may stand for:* Chemical vapor transport a method for growing crystals* Continuously variable transmission, a vehicle transmission providing an infinite number of possible ratios...
system with metal pushbelt. Due to Volvo's decision to put the car to market with obvious point of improvement re. quality, with only the 1.4 Variomatic, and very little choice in trim and body colours, sales in 1976 and 1977 were well below expectations. A major update of the CVT and its steering components late 1977 (model year 1978) improved drivability considerably. However, sales only really started to take off when the manual transmission from the
200 seriesThe Volvo 200 series was a range of luxury mid-size cars produced by Volvo from 1974 to 1993, with more than 2.8 million sold worldwide. Also designed by Jan Wilsgaard, the 200 series was essentially an updated version of the 140; it shared the same body, but included a number of mechanical...
was made available at the end of 1978. The long-awaited five-door model, branded 345, was added in 1979. In 1980, larger wrap-around bumpers were introduced.
1980 also saw the addition of an additional engine option, the 2.0 litre B19A unit, again from the Volvo 240, only available with the manual gearbox. These models were designated the DLS and GLS, whilst the 1.4 litre engine was only available in L, DL and GL form. A more streamlined bonnet, grille and front lamp arrangement and slightly different fenders, together with a new dashboard and revised interior signalled the first major facelift in 1982.
The third digit designating the number of doors was dropped from model designations in 1983. The 343 DLS and GLS were renamed the 360, which arrived that year with two 2.0 litre engine choices, the B19A, and the fuel injected B19E for the flagship model, the 360 GLT. The 360 model was available in five-door and three-door hatchback form, with four-door saloon models added in 1984, as were the 340's. The older Volvo red block engines in the 360 were upgraded to the low friction B200 unit. Capacities and outputs remained much the same. The carburettor version was designated B200K and the Bosch LE-Jet fuel injected version is known as the B200E.
In 1985 (model year 1986) the second major facelift was introduced. Amongst other small changes, wrap-around body coloured bumpers with the indicator repeaters attached to them were fitted. Instrumentation changed from Smiths units to VDO. Also, the manual 340 models were now available with the B172 Renault F-series 1.7 litre engine.
From 1987 on, incremental improvements in features and emissions control were made. Production of the 300 series ended in 1991, despite the fact it was supposedly replaced by the
Volvo 440The Volvo 440 and 460 are versions of a family car produced by the Swedish automaker Volvo Cars. They were built at the DAF factory in The Netherlands, and released in Europe in 1987 and 1989 respectively....
in 1987.
A famous advertisement for the 300 series in the late 1980s saw a
crash test dummyCrash test dummies are full-scale anthropomorphic test devices that simulate the dimensions, weight proportions and articulation of the human body, and are usually instrumented to record data about the dynamic behavior of the ATD in simulated vehicle impacts...
"come alive", and drive a 340 out of a second floor factory window, nose-diving into the concrete ground.
Engines
The 300 Series had a choice of three petrol engines; a 1.4, 1.7, and a 2 litre. The 1.4 litre B14 was a
RenaultRenault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, buses, tractors, and trucks. Due to its alliance with Nissan, it is currently the world's fourth largest automaker. Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, Renault owns the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia and the Korean automaker Renault...
C-series OHV pushrod unit, and for the DLS, GLS and 360 there was the
B200The Volvo B21 was a slant straight-4 engine first used in the Volvo 200 series, meant to replace the B20. The B21 and all derived engines are often referred to as red block engines for the red paint applied to the block...
2 litre engine taken from the Volvo 240, with outputs varying from to .
A new Renault F-series 1.7 litre OHC petrol engine (designated the B172) was introduced in the 340 during the late 1984 range facelift.
A diesel engine was added to the 340 models in 1986. This diesel was a
RenaultRenault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, buses, tractors, and trucks. Due to its alliance with Nissan, it is currently the world's fourth largest automaker. Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, Renault owns the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia and the Korean automaker Renault...
F series like the petrol 1.7, and was available with a 1.6-litre non-turbo engine only.
These diesel models were never offered in right-hand drive form, and hence were never officially exported to right-hand drive markets such as the
UKThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
.
Reputation and popularity
Like other Volvos, the 340 embodied many ground-breaking safety features which have since become standard on most cars.
While the car was fundamentally robust, the detail build quality was never up to the same standard of Volvo's larger, Swedish-built models, coupled to the fact that the early Variomatic cars proved to be particularly troublesome. The Volvo badge however ensured that the car had a strong middle-class following (often as a second car) particularly in the UK in the 1980s, being the nation's eighth best selling new car in 1982 and the tenth in 1983 and 1984. They are robust and mechanically simple (and therefore easy to maintain). Even the unpopular Variomatic transmissions are very reliable given proper care. The rust protection was poorer than other Volvos, but the engines (especially the 1.4 and 2.0s) were quite durable. The Volvo 300 has experienced something of a renaissance in recent years with a number of very active websites across Europe. A strong, young following has developed, attracted by low prices, wide availability of parts and the completely different/alternative public image of the type.
An unusual feature of the car's design is the geometry of the rear axle. Two degrees of negative camber on the rear
de DionA de Dion tube is an automobile suspension technology. It is a sophisticated form of non-independent suspension and is a considerable improvement over the alternative swing axle and Hotchkiss drive types. A de Dion suspension uses universal joints at both the wheel hubs and differential, and uses...
axle produces a similar stabilising effect as the expensive and complex
Weissach axleThe Weissach axle is a special rear suspension arrangement devised for the Porsche 928. The goal of the Weissach axle was to eliminate lift-throttle oversteer by allowing the rear suspension to adjust itself during cornering maneuvers.The Weissach axle is a variant of the semi-trailing arm...
launched by
PorschePorsche SE is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury high performance automobiles, which is majority-owned by the Piëch and Porsche families. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG , often shortened to Porsche AG, is responsible and manufacturer of the Porsche automobile line...
a year after the launch of the Volvo 343. The inherent stability of this design made the car popular with caravan owners, being voted
Tow Car of the Year in 1985.
The Renault-sourced 1.7 litre engine suffers from a well-known problem that when the carburettor mounting bolts are overtightened, warping of the carburettor base and manifold occurs. Another problem is that the carburettor float is made of plastic which becomes porous over time. A combination of those problems can result in a completely undriveable car. The problems are often difficult to fix fully, but a fully overhauled 1.7 is probably the best engine for the car (performance vs consumption).
The model is featured among the top 10 most popular new cars in the UK in 1982, 1983 and 1984, and was one of the UK's most popular imported cars of the decade.
It was not sold in North America.
The Volvo 300 Series in motorsport
Despite the 'geriatric' image the 300-series has gained over the years, it has had quite some successful appearances in motorsport.
For instance, a heavily tuned version (using alpine/gordini cross-flow engines bored to 1770 cc) was driven by Per-Inge Walfridsson to
win the World Championship of RallyCross in 1980.
In more recent years, the 360 series has been used in a dedicated racing class at the circuit of
ZandvoortZandvoort is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.Zandvoort is one of the major beach resorts of the Netherlands; it has a long sandy beach, bordered by coastal dunes...
(former F1 circuit), called the "360 (no modena) Cup"
Another field of motorsport where the 300 series has become popular in recent years is amateur drifting due to their rear-wheel-drive suitability and fairly cheap cost.
Top Gear
Top GearTop Gear is a BBC television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style. The show is currently presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond...
co-host
Jeremy ClarksonJeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster and journalist who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
has a long hatred for the 340, linked to a similar hatred for caravanners (see 'tow car of the year'). In one episode, he had one destroyed in a car compactor . In another episode, he intentionally crashed one against a tree as he pointed out Volvo's reputation for safety .
External links