A new Volvo at the Geneva Motor Show 25 years ago:

Italian flair and Swedish engineering

In March 1985, Volvo Car Corporation showed the result of yet another
cooperation in the field of luxury between Sweden and Italy, the Volvo 780,
designed and built by Bertone in Turin. The event took place on the
Volvo Cars stand at the Geneva Motor Show.
Exclusive Volvo coupes made in smaller series as top models have been
around since the early 1960s. Volvo realised early the importance of
expanding into  new market segments with the help of such cars, hereby
making more customers interested in the less exclusive models.
That worked with the 1800 series which stayed in production for almost
thirteen years - with close to 48,000 cars sold, and it was also the case
with the top model of the 240/260 series, the 262C.
The 262C was designed and built in Italy by Carrozzeria Bertone and
came to the market in 1977. When the next generation of Volvo cars,
the 760/740 were launched in the beginning of the 1980s, it did not take
long before Volvo repeated the strategy; two saloon/estates were followed
by a very exclusive coupe.

Totally new model
If the 262 was just a light modification of the existing body, the 780 was
a totally new model that did not share any body panels with the four or
five door cars. Again Bertone was the master behind the design and they
were also responsible for the manufacturing, in the Turin factory. The car
was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1985.
"With the 780, we can offer an elegant touring car with a personal design,
exclusive details solutions and a unique engine programme with emphasis
on comfort," said the Volvo Car Corporation marketing manager
Carleric Häggström in the press release on the new car.
Comfort was also the best word to describe the model. It was not a
sporty car but very comfortable, luxuriously appointed and loaded with
all sorts of equipment and accessories as standard features.

Twice the price of a 760 GLE
Most things were electrically operated: Seats, windows, mirrors, sun roof.
There was an air conditioning unit, ABS brakes, self-leveling system and
state-of-the-art audio equipment. Certainly it was expensive with a price
tag of SEK 290,000 or about twice the price of a 760 GLE.
There were three engines to choose from: the 2.8 litre V6, a turbocharged
four or the straight-six turbo diesel that Volvo used at the time. None of
these engines, however, were capable of giving the car a top speed of
200 kph (125 mph) which is a psychological threshold on the German
Autobahn, but it was exclusive, comfortable and quiet. It was primarily
aimed at the USA, Japan and a few markets in Europe, one of them was
Sweden.
The Volvo 780 stayed in production until 1990 without any major changes
to the exterior but technically it kept up with the 760 and got independent
rear suspension for model year 1988. It eventually also received the cult
status exclusive cars usually get. Only 8,518 780s were made and today
it is a collector's item, cared for by owners in both Europe and the USA.

VOLVO car corporation 26 feb 2010

Groeten,
Hedwig