Volvo celebrated the 50th birthday of the famous 200 Series

The first Volvo from the 200 Series was presented in the fall of 1974, and to this day it is synonymous with safety, quality, reliability and durability.

When it came time to replace the 100 Series models that Volvo had produced since the mid-sixties of the twentieth century, the designers and engineers at the Swedish car company who were preparing the new 200 Series did not want a big departure from the concept of the previous Series, but they did their best to new models go even further in the segment related to passenger safety, so, among other things, improved programmed body deformation zones and belts with three points of fastening have arrived.

Jan Vilsgaard, who “signed” the Series 100, was also behind the design of the new Series 200, which was offered in several body styles to customers in European countries from 1974 to mid-1993, and including other markets where it was sold, found its way to more than 2.86 million customers.

The models hiding behind the designations 242, 244 and 245 were powered by reliable four-cylinder gasoline engines with a working volume of 1.8 to 2.3 liters, and the number of cylinders was revealed by the second number in the three-digit designation. Turbochargers soon arrived with some engines. The third number referred to the body shape, so the 242 model was a two-door sedan, the 244 a four-door sedan, and the 245 a five-door wagon. From 1983, all versions bore the designation 240.

Combined with a 2.7-liter six-cylinder engine developed by Volvo in cooperation with Peugeot and Renault, the 200 Series models hid behind the designations 262, 264 and 265, and the displacement of the mentioned V6 engine was later increased to 2.8 liters. The story also included in-line diesel engines with five (D20) and six cylinders (D24) that Volvo “borrowed” from Volkswagen.

Regardless of the engine under the long front hood, power was always distributed to the rear axle only. Volvo used four- and five-speed manual transmissions, and optional three- and four-speed automatic transmissions were also available.

How popular the 200 Series was around the world is best confirmed by the fact that it did not stop being produced even after Volvo presented the new 700 Series in the mid-eighties, with which it was supposed to consign the 200 Series to history. Moreover, some models from the 200 Series ended up remaining in production longer than the 700 Series models that were produced from 1982 to 1992, as the last dark blue 200 Series wagon to end up in the Swedish company’s Museum was built on May 14, 1993.

In support of the quality, reliability and durability of the 200 Series, which many fans of the Swedish company think of when they mention Volvo, is the fact that they are still on the roads today.