1972 Volvo 144DL

This is a photograph that I took at the Footman James Classic Car Show Manchester at EventCity in September 2018.

It’s a 1972 Volvo 144 and a note in the windscreen of the car gives the following information:

Volvo 144D

1972

This car has been owned by Matt since 1993 when he bought it for £250 at the age of 18.

The car was involved in an accident with a lorry 2 years later (no injuries to Matt, and as the policemen at the scene said, “if you had been in anything else you wouldn’t be here”).

Unable to part with the car Matt kept the car covered up until the right person could be found to work on her. That was in 1997, when she was put back on the road.

As time moved on the bodywork started to age badly and for many years the 144 came off the road, that was until Matt was asked to take some pictures of the car for Practical Classics to show the common rust spots. As he photographed his old friend, in her rusty state, he decided that time had come to bring her back to life.

So after some fairly extensive bodywork by Mark Hill of Classic Customs, here she is, not quite finished yet, (but are they ever really finished) but definitely getting there and looking fantastic.

HYB 250K recently won ‘Best Volvo 140 Series’  at the Volvo Enthusiasts Club, 2017 National Gathering.

Owned by Matt Stadden - Hampshire