The tyres are original too, 26 years old (Goodyear Grand Prix X) Cars only done 18,000 miles. Goin to get the steelies from VFW shot blasted and sprayed silver and new tyres put on, for this car. The tyres on the GLS look perfect, no cracks or bulges, plenty of tread, but I think the rubber has gone a bit hard over the years. I nearly lost it going round a T junction on a wet road a couple of weeks ago. With virtually no throttle and very low speed, the back end went out totally and at the same time. Could have been diesel on the road, but most likely the tyres. I've not been much over 60mph, just dont trust them.

I love that car. Really clean for its age.

cheers

James

volvosneverdie wrote:I agree on the steels.
They always look so good when theyre in good order, then so shoddy when they get a bit raggy.

This is what one of mine was like when I bought the 343:


... and on went the alloys within a week. I may go back to steelies one day, if I find a good way of refurbishing them ... I like 'em!

Early Mk2 GLTs came with 14" steelies as standard - they look really good, and are a whole lot rarer than the standard GLT alloys ...

Tom

That car looked gorgeous at the VOC meet, but didn't get a chance for a chat. How many do you have, that and the G plate?

Banded standard steels are my holy grail 300 rim (or Leos)
I think Fritz had some done?

*off to find linky......
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... &start=270

Very nice, the Mk2 steels are quite nice with the trim rings. Easy to refurb really, just take em to a powdercoaters? Or wire brush on a drill attachment, sand em down and use some rattle cans. The 14" leo style steeles look great I agree! Never actually seen a car on them though

I *think* I have a set in the wheel pile still. Fake was on them for a while, they do look good with the GLS "mini held in by the wheelnuts" hub cap.

Chris_C wrote:I *think* I have a set in the wheel pile still. Fake was on them for a while, they do look good with the GLS "mini held in by the wheelnuts" hub cap.

That sounds mint!
Any pics?
Wanna sell'em?

They were fitted from '79 all the way through to '91. Even hub-capped MkIIIs had this type of wheel underneath. I've got two whole sets of 5 in the cellar - from the 343 and the 360 GLi ...

They look best with GLS trim rings, totally agree!

Tom

Mk3 ones were black rather than silver, not sure if there were actually any differences though! VND, if you want them sure bud, even if you get steelies local to save postage I have at least 4x the little hub thing that goes between the wheel nuts.

Chris, when you said mini hubcaps, I thought you meant like, those Bug-esque hubcap affairs or similar.
Did you just mean standard V wheel centre cone affairs?
I've got them already.

I've just got the two! The green GLS and the grey GL. I'm sure both sets of wheels are identical, just Mk 3's are sprayed black with the big hub caps on them. They do look good when clean and rust free. I don't think the original paint was very thick so they do rust very easily. (both silver and black). I've still got a set of 4 Mk 1 wheels, and I mean very early 1976/77 model. They have half sized black plastic coated hub caps with a silver V in the middle. I was lucky that they were off the car when it was stolen. They must be almost unique now. Even while my parents had the car from 1977 to 1991 (when I got it) we never saw another with the same wheels, they only had them on for 3 or 4 years before going to the type on the green GLS

Hi!

Hell Driver wrote:Here's my GLS

Very nice! I like the colour of car and the classic look!
Take care of it!

Hi, thanks. I will do, it's garaged all the time and I try to avoid the rain! It won't be going out on the nasty salty UK roads over winter either Will sort out the tyres before long too. I've read about your travels, looks like a great trip. I used to have a Mk 1, still would like to find one, but not many left here now, not seen one on the road here for many years (apart from owners club meeting) Yours looks in great shape

I have a set of those rims I think you're talking about on my 1980 343. My 1981 343 had the later ones.

I know a man who can band steels...

cheers

James