Registration - 2VZS 896

Chassis No. - YV1HA8729LD009518

M.O.T. - May 2022

Odometer - 58,000

An unusual sight on UK roads, this lefthand drive Metallic Gold-coloured Bertone coupe was sold new to the USA in 1990, where it apparently had two keepers. It boasts a tan leather interior and rides on multi-spoke alloy wheels. It comes without history, but the vendor informs us that ‘it runs fine, the turbo boosts very well and the car is very quick’. He does, however, also note that ‘the engine makes a knocking noise on idle that disappears as soon the revs are raised’. Apparently a considerable amount of time and money has been invested in the Volvo, with the related replacement parts being sourced from Classic Volvo. The vendor now considers the automatic transmission to be in ‘good’ order, and the four-cylinder engine, coupe bodywork, paintwork and upholstery to be in ‘average’ condition. The 780 is now offered complete with owners’ handbooks and a current MOT valid until May 9 next year.

The relationship between Volvo and the famed Italian design house Bertone dates back to the controversial 262 C. The visually more pleasing 780 benefited from a deeper input from the carrosseria, which both designed and built the model that was marketed from 1985 to 1990, and of which a relatively modest 8,518 examples were made. Based on the 760 model, but sharing none of its body panels, the coupe was offered with a choice of four engines – a straight-six diesel, a petrol-powered 2.6-litre V6, and turbocharged four-cylinder units of either 2- or 2.3-litres – the sale car has one of the latter, the output of which is 200bhp. The cost of the Bertone back in 1990 would have been £40,000.

In summary:

• One of 8,518 Bertone designed and built coupes
• A very rare sight on British roads
• The recipient of recent investment