Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickExpectation is a dangerous thing, but sometimes it's the aftertaste of an experience rather than at the point of consumption that leaves the most memorable impression.Take this particular four-wheeled main course, for instance.When I first saw this Volvo 242 GT in the metal and listened to its owner, Finn Shoolheifer, waxing lyrical about its semi-unicorn status and listing the various upgrades on this car over its standard, cardigan-wearing older sibling, I was expecting great things.AdvertisementAdvertisementSome months later, and faced with an open airfield on which to play with it, I shuffle behind the steering wheel and prepare myself for the onslaught…Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickExcept that instead, I find myself gently reminiscing about the 1978 Volvo 240 DL estate that served as our family transport when I was approaching my teenage years back in the mid-'80s.As I hustle Finn's saloon back and forth, for the benefit of the photographer and also my own pleasure, at ever-increasing speeds, my mind is still firmly stuck in a childhood spent picking bits off the spongy headrest mouldings and revelling in the unique aroma generated by warm oil, rugged plastic dashboard fittings and deep-pile carpets, while my dad plays the latest ELO release on the built-in sound system.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickI quickly come to the conclusion that the car needs a chest-beating exhaust note in order to drag me from my past life and force me to appreciate what is quite so special about this particular Swedish offering – but that is where I get it all very wrong…AdvertisementAdvertisementThe 242 GT was the latest model from Volvo to don its trainers and be considered to have some sporting credentials.The Amazon 122S, the 142GT and the pretty P1800 had all boasted particular features and specification highlights that gave a nod in a different direction, but right from the off the 242 GT was marketed with an alternative audience in mind.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickLaunched in 1974, the Volvo 240 line-up was at first comprised of six models that included the 242, 244 and 245 rungs on the Swedish automotive ladder, which were offered to customers in Luxe, De Luxe and Grand Luxe variants.Yet it wasn't until 1977, however, that the GT tag was added in a bid to win over those buyers with half an eye on 0-60mph times rather than either load-space or crash-test figures.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe initial incarnation of the 242 GT was produced in Gothenburg's Torslanda plant and was powered by a 2.1-litre B21 engine, and the first models made their way to their new owners in 1978.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickThe B21 would later be replaced by the B23E unit with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection – a move that resulted in the now 2.3-litre, four-cylinder engine pumping out a respectable 140bhp and which, arguably, finally helped the model go some way towards matching the advertising hype.With the Saab 900 Turbo being its main homegrown competitor and already drawing parallels with the aircraft industry in its marketing, it's hardly surprising that Volvo also opted to include images of high-powered jets in the 242 GT's publicity material, claiming: 'If it had wings it'd fly.'It was a bold headline, even with the recent power upgrades, but one that helped to position the model's appeal firmly to the left of the marque's core customer base.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickThe two-door saloon was made available to limited markets.AdvertisementAdvertisementIncluding the 670 vehicles distributed within its home country, around 5000 were sold across a three-year production run, with the 242 GT making appearances in the USA, Canada and Europe.Curiously, the GT was never offered for sale in the UK, but more than 600 of them made their way to Australia – the original destination for this particular example, which was subsequently imported to Britain from Queensland in 2021.Finn only acquired his rare 1979 242 GT in 2023, and while you may be disappointed that this isn't a tale of a 40-year ownership, it's worth pointing out that he is only 19 years old.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickEven more impressive is that, having bought his first Volvo – a 1990 240 estate that was found for sale at the right time and at the right price, and which would, ultimately, allow him to get insurance at such a young age – he then embarked on a well-executed programme of modifications that transformed the previously standard load-lugger into a sleeper capable of 0-60mph in less than 8 secs, thanks to a quartet of motorcycle-sourced independent throttle bodies, and some suspension enhancements.AdvertisementAdvertisementFinn has been around examples of the Swedish marque for most of his life, but his research made him aware of the now elusive 242 GT, only around 800 of which are still accounted for.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickWhen he came across one in the metal while seeking out a quad-headlight upgrade for the 240, he couldn't believe his luck: it was not only one of just a handful in the UK – only two of which were on the road – but also a rot-free example of the two-door rarity. The only problem? It wasn't for sale.But good things come to those who wait, and Finn kept in touch with the owner until he agreed that it was time for the Volvo to find a new home.Finn jumped at the chance and immediately made his way across the country, did a deal and drove the car the 200 miles back to his rural Essex base – stopping en route to collect a Group A-spec cylinder head and a set of rare R-Sport 'Jet Cockpit' VDO gauges.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickIf the love affair with this elusive Volvo was in its infancy back then, by the time we take advantage of the open Tarmac, Finn presents the very definition of what a true niche-model enthusiast should be, as he instantly provides us with a full rundown of just what makes his 242 GT stand out from other offerings of the period.AdvertisementAdvertisement"There were three different styles of tail-light that appeared from 1979 to '81," he tells us."This one has the mid-spec 'stacked' style that was only in production for three months, but it also has the round headlights that were the only 7¼in units fitted by Volvo."Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickThe orange and black twin stripes that wind their way down the bonnet, along the flank and over the bootlid before returning along the other side add to the manufacturer's efforts to give the sporting model a visual edge, while the saloon body – complete with front airdam, silver grille and inset driving lights – sits atop a set of 15in Virgo cast-alloy wheels.But the subtle styling flourishes don't stop there, as Finn explains: "The GT has a black headlining, which is unusual, but coupled with the lack of any highlighting trim, the factory-tinted Sunex windows and black, thick-cord seats, the interior feels very sporty and purposeful.AdvertisementAdvertisement"Only the orange piping and central seat stripe lift the serious mood just a touch."Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickAs you'd expect from something marketed with performance in mind, those aesthetics will count for very little unless what is under the bonnet has the ability to at least go some way to matching customers' expectations.The 2.3-litre, cast-iron block is paired with a high-compression, eight-valve, crossflow aluminium cylinder head, but the big news is that the 242 GT was one of the early Volvo models to be offered with fuel injection, and the Bosch K-Jetronic system most definitely helps hustle the sporty Swede along.While the power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering offers a lighter touch, the sensibly sized steering wheel, stiffer-than-standard springs and dampers, and thicker front anti-roll bar all help address any risk of the GT feeling over-light.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickAnd although the ensemble under the bonnet isn't particularly tuneful or free-revving, neither is it afraid of being tested.AdvertisementAdvertisementIn practice, the tendency is to still treat the 242 like any other Volvo.That is where things go slightly wrong, however, mainly because it is capable of behaving just like any other 240, as it demonstrates the mild-mannered sensibility so valued by a certain car-buying demographic.Even the empty runway for our photoshoot isn't really the right testing ground for this special offering, because straight-line speed isn't necessarily the 242 GT's crowning glory – even if it is reportedly capable of a sub-10 secs 0-60mph time in 2.3-litre guise, a considerable jump from the 16 secs of a standard 242 DL.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickAll of this must leave you wondering just what is so special about the 242 GT?AdvertisementAdvertisementMore to the point, if it is special, when does it show it?Well, the answer is simple, and it fits in perfectly with why Volvo stuck the GT nomenclature on the bootlid in the first place: find yourself a great road and a reason to head in that direction, and then start driving.Exercising your right foot eventually rewards.There's no point expecting much dazzle below 3000rpm, but building confidence yields results as what is, up to that point, solid pulling power becomes something worthy of the performance label.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickThe bolstered squab of the driver's seat hugs your thighs as the Volvo encourages you to turn into bends faster and with more dedication.While the four-pot might not shove you out of corners with the finesse of an Italian sports car, it is enough to thrill – providing you make full use of the rev range and the four-speed 'box, with a lever-mounted overdrive switch giving instant access to useful extra ratios.When the GT hits its stride – the suspension being stiff enough to minimise body roll, yet soft enough to provide a superbly comfortable ride – everything appears to come on song at the same time.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickSuddenly, the experience is on a par with that offered by more accomplished sporting rivals, but it needs to be driven properly in order to extract the best from it.Bizarrely, a Porsche 912 springs to mind: great underpinnings with the ability to offer a truly rewarding drive, albeit here with an engine that needs to be worked instead of relying on the might of its six-cylinder big brother.Except that the Volvo never really feels as if it's ever truly on the edge.Even fully laden, its confidence on the road is rarely called into question as it ducks and dives through the picturesque scenery, the brakes confidently slowing progress when needed before the fuel injected 'four' winds back up again.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickWhen the Australian Wheels magazine pitched the 242 GT against its Saab rival in 1979, the testers commented that it might benefit greatly 'from an exhaust note', but I wonder if, like for me, hindsight and a bit more time in the car might have prompted a rethink.Many 242 GTs made their way directly from dealerships into private racing, and two such cars competed in the 1979 Repco Reliability Run – a 12,000-mile endurance event during which 167 crews attempted a 'lap' of Australia.Sadly, while a 244 came fourth in the hands of Ross Dunkerton, Peter McKay and Geoff Jones, behind a trio of Holdens led by Peter Brock, the best of the two-doors could only manage 30th.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickLater that year, at the Bathurst 1000, Brock once again took top honours (this time in a Holden Torana), but McKay, paired with Spencer Martin, placed 20th out of more than 50 entrants in a largely unmodified 242 GT before reportedly driving it back home.That a virtually standard example was capable of such heroics was not lost on the buying public (nor on Brock, who went on to have a very successful career at the wheel of a Volvo 850), and many GTs were later converted to Turbo Group A spec, enjoying a successful overlap period of homologation racing against future icons such as the BMW E30 M3.Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickBack on the road and in 1981, the 240 GLT took over.The turbo era had begun and the GT's days were numbered, but, while its tenure was relatively brief, the presence of the 242 GT was the beginning of a remarkable period for a manufacturer still carrying that 'cardigan' stigma.For the time, the two-door Volvo was a relatively rapid car, and it could arguably be considered as one of the forefathers of the modern European performance saloon.Its subtle styling cues, tweaked suspension and impressive performance-to-weight ratio compared with a standard model helped set the ingredients list for future fast Volvos.Far too caught up in a curious mixture of nostalgia and the misguided notion that 'loud means proud', I missed the point of the GT the first time I tasted it.Thank goodness I had the opportunity to go back for seconds.Images: Max EdlestonJake's Volvo 240 GL: brothers in armsClassic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickThe eldest of the Shoolheifer brothers, Jake, kicked off his own Volvo ownership with the purchase of a 1991 2-litre 240 GL when he was 18.It was bought from an antiques dealer in Suffolk and proved to be the perfect solution to the crazy prices being quoted to insure even a basic Ford Fiesta as a new driver.The estate remained standard for the first 18 months, but rally-spec mudflaps and a roof-rack were soon added, although the latter did little for the performance."It was high up, bouncy and wasn't very good on motorways," recalls Jake. "You'd put your foot down and, although it got a bit louder, it didn't go any faster."When Finn then bought his own 240, I realised just how bad mine was!"Classic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickJake then embarked on a series of much-needed improvements: "I lowered it, fitted uprated springs, adjustable Koni dampers and a sports exhaust, and bought a 'B-cam' from the USA."That made it much more torquey, but then in 2022 it developed a rod knock."That inspired him to fit a replacement 2.3-litre turbo engine, plus a limited-slip differential and some new seats, make a full 3in stainless-steel exhaust system from scratch and uprate the fuelling.Although his Volvo is now on the road again and in regular use, he admits that there will always be the temptation to try and get a little bit more out of what was once the vehicle of choice for a certain, slightly older demographic."There is nothing quite like a bit of brotherly competition to inspire a build," smiles Jake. "Although I'm not about to try and find my own 242 GT!"FactfileClassic & Sports Car – Volvo 242 GT: the flying brickVolvo 242 GTSold/number built 1978-'81/c5000Construction steel monocoqueEngine iron-block, alloy-head, sohc 2316cc 'four', Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injectionMax power 140bhp @ 5750rpmMax torque 140lb ft @ 4500rpmTransmission four-speed M46 manual with overdrive, RWDSuspension: front independent, by MacPherson struts rear live axle, trailing arms, coil springs, telescopic dampers, Panhard rod; anti-roll bar f/rSteering power-assisted rack and pinionBrakes ventilated front, solid rear discs, with servoLength 16ft 1in (4900mm)Width 5ft 7¼in (1710mm)Height 4ft 8¾in (1440mm)Wheelbase 8ft 8in (2640mm)Weight 2844lb (1290kg)Mpg 30.40-60mph 9.8 secsTop speed 112mphPrice new US$15,995Price now £10-14,000**Prices correct at date of original publicationWe hope you enjoyed reading. Please click the 'Follow' button for more super stories from Classic & Sports Car.
