25 Sep 2015 – Driven To Write

A Bit More Volvo 780 ES: It’s 30 This Year

Murilee Martin used to post Down At The Junkyard at Jalopnik. Here’s a discovery from 2010, a 1989 Volvo 780 ES. Alas, there’s no commentary, which is puzzling.

The 780 ES was presented the 1985 Geneva motorshow, and went on sale in 1986. That means this is its 30th anniversary year. Skol!

There is a nice collection of photos here plus a little bit of history. What I didn’t know is that the 780 ES was not only sold with the 6-cylinder PRV engine. One could also have a 2.0 L turbo I4, a 2.0 L turbo dohc I4 ,2.3 L turbo I4 and 2.4 L I6 turbodiesel. They only made about 6000 of the things so some of those must have been made in very small numbers indeed. Continue reading “A Bit More Volvo 780 ES: It’s 30 This Year”

What Bertone Could Do For A Chinese Nameplate

Here’s a the Changan CS35 as presented by Car News China.

2014 Changan CS35 spyshot: carnewschina.com

Mark Hamilton spurred this inquiry. The game here is to play spot the reference. I see mostly Ford’s kinetic design below the waistline. The C-pillar was artfully inspired from the Nissan Maxima concept car, I hazard. In the grille the designers have married a blend of Buick and Honda. At the back I see a little BMW in very homeopathic, watered down way. Or else it’s more Nissan. The CS35 does have what look likes good approach and departure angles. Continue reading “What Bertone Could Do For A Chinese Nameplate”

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