For these of us obsessed with automobiles and the tradition surrounding them, autos can usually really feel like members of the family. To some, this might sound peculiar, however not for Kalle Larsson.
Kalle, a 29-year-old automobile technician and devoted Volvo fanatic, has owned greater than 20 automobiles from the Swedish automaker. But, this 1987 Volvo 740 GL is especially significant. It was first bought by his late grandfather, Stig Larsson, model new.
Kalle’s earliest recollections of the Volvo are from when his grandparents would decide him up from daycare. After his grandfather’s passing when Kalle was almost 5, the automobile was circulated inside the household.
From a younger age, Kalle dreamed of at some point reclaiming and restoring the Volvo in reminiscence of his grandfather. Shortly after getting his driver’s license, a member of the family provided him the automobile, and Kalle accepted with out hesitation.
Though the Volvo had been each day pushed all through its life, it was in first rate form. Kalle’s first transfer was to refresh the outside.
He accomplished a USDM Volvo front-end conversion and fitted Volvo add-on bumpers, Maxton aspect skirts, a Volvo Turbo grille, Volvo 760 taillights, and a ducktail spoiler. Door handles and black trim from the marginally extra luxurious GLE model of the 740 have been added earlier than the automobile was totally resprayed in Volvo 600-3 ‘Grabeige’ paint.
Sadly for Kalle, his beloved Volvo was stolen in 2023. Fortunately although, it was recovered after the phrase went out within the Swedish stance neighborhood, however many components had been eliminated. In a small miracle, the wheels weren’t taken.
Kalle suspects the thieves didn’t take away the middle caps from his BBS RS wheels, upgraded from 16-inch to 17×8.5-inch within the entrance and 17×9-inch out again.
Contained in the trunk is a brand new Air Elevate Efficiency 3P air suspension setup (the unique Air Elevate setup Kalle had was additionally stolen) and a 15-inch BBS RS face bolted into the wood trunk flooring. Moreover, there’s a cherished {photograph} of his grandparents, taken when the Volvo was of their possession.
The chassis has been refurbished with new bushings, an adjustable rear brace, and customized mounts for the air suspension, complemented by J-Spec entrance shock absorbers and Bilstein shocks within the rear.
Getting the automobile prepared for the 2024 summer time present season required an enormous effort, particularly with the inside.
When the automobile was recovered, the Nardi steering wheel, steering column elements, and the middle console have been all gone.
However due to the assist of the automobile neighborhood, Kalle managed to revive the inside with used components, as discovering new replacements proved almost unimaginable.
Except for the wheels, the one different space untouched from the theft was Kalle’s favourite characteristic: the engine.
The Volvo’s authentic B230F engine contains a ‘531’ cylinder head from a 740 Turbo, that includes bigger ports, improved move, larger valves, and VX3 camshafts.
All different elements are authentic Volvo components, refurbished to look new, with cables neatly tucked away contained in the fenders for a clear engine bay aesthetic.
Kalle’s decade-long journey along with his grandfather’s automobile has been full of highs and lows. Fortunately this story does have a contented ending. Now, Kalle can as soon as once more cruise the streets of Sweden within the automobile that holds so many cherished recollections.
Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazetaa
