When Joseph Zadeh spotted this 1995 Volvo 960 Executive Limousine on auction on Hagerty early last year, he bid on it as a joke – but turns out, not many other people were bidding, and he ended up winning. As he’ll learn over the course of the next few months, owning an old stretch Volvo limo is both a gift and a curse.
Built by Nilsson Special Vehicles in Sweden as a Volvo factory-approved product, only 20 of these 960 limos ever came to the U.S., and they were interestingly all one order. The modifications made to the 690 for limo duty were carefully executed to feel very much like they came from Volvo itself.
Unfortunately for Zadeh, this particular example did not come with a warranty. Flying down to Savannah, Georgia to collect the car and drive it back home to Ohio after winning the auction on $8,293, Zadeh recalls discovering a problem with practically every one of the 960’s systems.
There was a dead transmission speed sensor, a faulty fuel sender, and a suspension “in shambles.”
“Lots of fun stuff happened, like the wipers not working, a load of trim flying off the instant it hit the highway, the parking brake just not working, and finding out all the other little failures with the car.”
The non-functional wipers proved to be particularly problematic considering the thunderstorms that Zadeh would encounter in North Kentucky. Then, the transmission started to slip after hitting the Tail of the Dragon (where he also learned that the brakes were “almost down to nothing”):
“Why did [the transmission] start slipping? No fluid in it. I had to stop at an Advance Auto in Sevierville to try and fix it. Ended up paying a man named Johnny Cash, who proclaimed himself to be Elvis’s third cousin, to fix it. He jacked that thing up on the spare tire jack and went under it. Glad the jack held. Otherwise, Mr. Cash would’ve become spare change.”
In the days and months thereafter, the 960 limo’s reliability would not meaningfully improve, stranding Zadeh on the side of the road once, thanks to a dead alternator, and “mak[ing] sure to punish me every time I drive it by breaking something or having a bit fall off. Right now, it’s leaking oil from the pan because you’ve gotta drop the subframe to drop the pan, and third gear is in the early stages of slipping.”
“Everybody I meet loves this car. I cannot stress this enough: it’s like driving a DeLorean. People’s necks snap when I go by. I can’t really get rid of it because it’s something that everybody loves. It still runs … mostly. So I’m gonna drive it and enjoy it.
“It’s definitely in the shitbox category, but it’s also a shitbox that everybody loves.”
If you ever find yourself in North Central Ohio and want to see the lovably shitty 960 limo in person, you can hit up Zadeh at @aboveaverage.joe on Instagram.
Top graphic images: Hagerty/Deremer Studios
The rear spoiler kinda breaks my mind. I don’t mind a little kick upwards in the trunk lid sheet metal, but a bolt on widget like this one has never looked attractive to me. YMMV.
No interior pics?
Really? “VoLimoVo” was right there.
VOOOOLVO
When I first saw,a stretch Volvo in the 80s I immediately declared it the perfect car for Limousine Liberals. These days it’s probably a stretch Prius or Rivian.
This is still perfect for a Lemons judge or Radwood,
From what I’ve read/seen, the sixes in the Volvo 200, 700, and 900-series weren’t as rock-solid as the fours offered in each gen. Was the six in the 900 that same basic/shared PRV engine that was used in the DeLorean, or I’m confuzzled?
Happily, I don’t want one of these, though if it were a wagon with folding rear seats (despite limo) I could perhaps rationalize the purchase. 😉
Not the same engine. The PRV used in the DeLorean is an early 1970s design, and the only V6 ever offered in a Volvo. It was the upgrade for early 200 and 700s, eventually eliminated in favour of turbo and DOHC versions of the company’s own four cylinders. The early PRVs had oiling issues and premature wear. They sorted it out by the end, but the reputation stuck.
Volvo brought back the six in 1990 for the 960/ S90 series, now using their own ‘Modular’ straight architecture. These were modern aluminum block DOHC 4, 5 & 6 cylinder designs that were used in most of their gas vehicles until 2016. The naturally-aspirated six was overshadowed by the sporty T5 as it tended to be mounted in the boring executive models, but it’s still a very capable motor…
https://www.speedhunters.com/2015/01/turbo-bricking-it-riding-in-a-740hp-volvo/
I would stress that aside from the early PRVs, all of the above are totally acceptable (if not above-average) when it comes to reliability. Lots of 850s etc out there with 300,000miles, they just require proper maintenance to get there like any other car.
The reason the ‘red-block’ B2x & B2xx series 4-cylinder engines have such a reputation for toughness is that they can be completely neglected and still run forever. They are overbuilt, under-stressed 400lb cast iron, non-interference tractor engines that barely make over 100hp. As long as they have some oil in the pan, there is very little that will kill them.
Thank you for edumacting me 86, I should have googled a bit before assuming the PRV 6 was the same or even just similar to the later sixes Volvo used.
I have a late 240 wagon w/167Kmiles on it, and while other stuff has been replaced over time, the engine and transmission are essentially original to the best of my knowledge (I’m not the first owner of course).
I also have an early XC90 with the light-pressure turbo five… it’s got about 131Kmiles on it. Designwise and techwise, it’s decades newer than my wagon, but way more complex underhood. It’s registered PNOP right now, and I think about replacing it with a later first-gen XC90 with Volvo’s 3.2 six, which is my favorite engine of the four different ones offered in the car (we didn’t get the diesel in the states).
I had a neighbor w/a DeLorean a while ago, and he had nothing but good things to say about the car in general, and the drivetrain in particular. He didn’t expect it to be a sportscar or powerhouse, so he seemed quite happy with it as it was. I don’t know how his redheaded wife felt about it… maybe she just tolerated his hobby of driving something unusual.
Confuzzled. Thank you for teaching me a new word!
My pleasure Bill. It’s not mine of course, but I enjoy using it when appropriate, like edumacation.
Saw one of these at a local cars and coffee in San Diego. It ended up on Cars and Bids.
I’ve seen these in navy but never in white, and the ones I’ve seen were Euro spec and a little bit shorter. Very cool, but the solid/window ratio is odd. The shorter ones look better, and I think navy instead of white helps. Still VERY cool. If I win the powerball my fantasy is a V-8 780, but being chauffered in something like this would be good too.
“…only 20 of these 960 limos ever came to the U.S., and they were interestingly all one order. ”
Wanna bet the order was from the Swedish Government for their US Embassy and Consulates?
Oh – looky there…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd73QcY2UX8
More factory info:
https://www.volvodrivecollection.com/product/volvo-960-limousine/
The King had one too:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CT_8MZxID_k/?img_index=1
I believe the Norwegian embassy had a few too but they could have bought them from the sweads. You would see them from time to time in DC in the mid to late 90s. I recall mainly seeing them in navy. Though the white does seem familiar.
Living in the “DMV” it is fun to get occasional glimpses of cars brought over by embassies and diplomats, as well as immigrants who have done well and bought something for nostalgia or a hobby. It’s usually standard everyday boring cars, but still- unobtanium to us, so it’s interesting. Someone near me had a Brasil Chevy Diplomata sedan for sale, and I’ve seen Euro Focuses, Peugeots, and stuff like that. Last Thursday I saw a *lovely* Nissan President (I think)! 90’s maybe, looked like an Infiniti. A RHD car, probably bought under the 25 year rule yes, but still cool to look at. Got a decent look at it while it as stopped and I walking on the street.
You get lots of people with special privileges bringing in at least semi neat stuff too. Military and people deployed by different agencies bring back some strange things sometimes. Just about everytime I’ve been in zibart in Fairfax I’ve encountered someone getting what would be illegal tent but had some kind of embassy connection and state allows it. I know some Vietnamese embassy guys it’s been amusing seeing them go from Toyota and Lexus to vinfasts. Also proxemity excellent importers in christanburg and around Richmond. They are bringing in some very interesting stuff. There are some interesting jdm and kdm meetups around Annandale and Springfield sometimes Tyson’s now you can seen some wild things in a random parking lot sometimes. Anything from a f50 or other hypercar to a random JDM import like a Mitsuoka or crown or president. Alot of times the cars stay in the area too at least one of those Volvos made it down to the colonial beach area in the mid 2000s might even still be there.
A logical evolution of the longship.
How many crew?
At least it is not the coal rolling Turbo-Diesel, although it would be hard not to laugh when tempting to that drive aggressively.
I believe a more salient question is how many clowns.
Counting you? LOL
I’d totally get into that limo for a clown count! See you there!
And true to form, the crew is still required to propel it along since it seems unwilling to do so itself outside of strong tailwinds
Now I want to show up in one of these with a bunch of my friends all dressed up as marauding vikings. Lock up your daughters!
The back half has a Soviet look to it.
Ovlov.
I rode in one of these once (might have been an 800-series limo, but I think it was a 960) when we picked up our 2000 V70 at the factory. Volvo picked us up from the airport and took us to a hotel in the limo, but it was a navy blue color.
Also, if you’re interested in buying a new Volvo, I cannot recommend their European delivery program highly enough. They buy you round trip airfare to any major city in Europe, put you up in a nice hotel for a night, and if you pick up the car in Göteborg you get to visit the museum and tour the factory (and maybe get a ride in a limo from the airport)! Once you’re ready to go home, you drop the car off at any major city’s Volvo dealer, and they ship it to your local dealer in the US. My parents have done this like 6-8 times over the last 40 years and it ends up being cheaper than if they’d driven the car off the lot, the only catch is that you have to stay in the EU for like two weeks for some technicality. Which, oh no, bummer, a vacation where some of the biggest expenses are covered for you and you get to drive all over Europe!
My powerball lottery fantasy is to custom order a Volvo wagon (or SUV, whatever ya can get), then go pick it up and take a driving vacation around Europe with some of my oldest bestest friends. (heart emoji)
The 960 was a pretty robust car. Maybe this was abused in limo service, not properly maintained, or both. I think this is saveable.
Yeah, the issues the owner reports sound pretty basic. Dead alternator, transmission issues, loose trim, all pretty normal for a 30-y-o car.
Swap in an electric motor!
I like it too, though the practical part of me imgaines that it’d be even better if it were a wagon. Sorry to hear there’s so much to deal with on it, but Joseph seems to be the right kind of guy with the right attitude for such an ongoing project. 🙂
PS: I know it can be googled, but it’d have been nice to include a photo of the interior in the article.
Buying a Volvo limo is illogical and stupid. I wish I would have done something illogical and stupid like that when I could. Now I am married and the wife won’t let me do something illogical and stupid. Enjoy the illogical and stupid Volvo, Joseph. You made a good choice.
Just debate her. Honey why can’t I do something illogical and stupid after all you did?
When?
You married me!
Then she will be smitten with your charm. Smile that special smile. Get that gleam in her eye. And say Lizard man there is no way you are going to get a lime Volvo so quit asking.
Yeah. You trying to get me ate?
If you’re an actual lizardman, chances are it would grow back.
Trying to? Certainly not, the Autopian needs the dues. However, should that comes to pass let the wife know I have a camping cook book that has some creative recipes for reptile meat.
There’s a guy who comes to the coffee shop in my town who has a flash green v70R
I don’t have or want kids but if I did I think a limo would be the perfect family car. Just raise the partition and lock them in. Plus, as a kid it would be kind of cool to get dropped off at school or ballet lessons or whatever in a big limo. And oh a lifetime off roadtrip stories to tell.
Getting dropped of at school in a limo would be mortifying to a kid.
Getting picked up after school in a limo on the other hand is very cool, but only if there is an actual chauffeur driving.