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Photo of a Volvo 740

Volvo 740

Right angles, six years at the top: Sweden's best-selling car from 1985 to 1990.12

Researched November 9, 2026 from 31 sources

Also called

  • Swedish BricksUS nickname inspired by the angular bodywork.2
  • SchneepflugSwiss nickname, meaning snowplow, inspired by the squared body.2
  • sossecontainerSwedish joke linking its boxy shape and mass appeal to the Social Democrats' popularity in the 1980s.1

At a glance

0100200
81–200 hpPower
07.515
8.4–12.7 s0–100 km/h
0125250
170–210 km/hTop speed
0150300
179–254 N·mTorque
07501,500
1,250–1,458 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.24510111213

Engine
2.0–2.3 L gasoline I4s, turbo or non-turbo; 2.4 L diesel I6s5
Layout
Front engine, rear-wheel drive; live rear axle67
Gearbox
M46 4-speed + overdrive; M47 5-speed; 4-speed auto (1989 GLE 16-valve: AW72L)589
Units built
1,009,395 cars, 1984–199215

The story

Launched in 1984 as a cheaper four-cylinder companion to the 760, the 740 filled the gap above the 240. A wagon followed in 1985, making practical use of the square body for hauling luggage.3456

1975: Frisinger and Gustavsson start NV8019751978: Project 1155 survives the boardroom19781984: 740 fills the gap below the 76019841985: The wagon debuts in two cities19851989: Volvo's first multi-valve engine19891990: Generation 3 boost at 1800 rpm · 940 arrives; the 740 stays on19901991: SE adds a factory body kit19911992: Production ends on October 21992 Volvo 140 Series: 1966–1974Volvo 200 Series / 240: 1974–1993Volvo 200 Series / 240Volvo 740 (744 / 745): 1984–1992744 / 745Volvo 940: Introduced 1990Volvo 940 197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones4561718
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1966–1974Volvo 140 Series
1974–1993Volvo 200 Series / 240
1984–1992Volvo 740 (744 / 745)
Introduced 1990Volvo 940
1975Frisinger and Gustavsson start NV80
1978Project 1155 survives the boardroom
1984740 fills the gap below the 760
1985The wagon debuts in two cities
1989Volvo's first multi-valve engine
1990Generation 3 boost at 1800 rpm
1990940 arrives; the 740 stays on
1991SE adds a factory body kit
1992Production ends on October 2
  1. 1975

    Frisinger and Gustavsson start NV80

    The 740/760 development program begins as NV80 and NV81, led by Hakan Frisinger and Hans Gustavsson, with reliability and fuel economy high on its list.4

  2. 1978

    Project 1155 survives the boardroom

    Financial trouble puts the future 740/760 program in doubt. In spring 1978, Volvo's board lets Project 1155 continue because development is already far along.4

  3. 1984

    740 fills the gap below the 760

    The 740 arrives as the 760's cheaper four-cylinder companion, sharing its bodywork while trimming the equipment list.34

  4. 1985

    The wagon debuts in two cities

    The wagon premieres at Toronto and Chicago in February 1985. Its square body makes the cargo space easier to use.56

  5. 1989

    Volvo's first multi-valve engine

    Shown at Geneva in 1988, the B234 16-valve arrives for model year 1989 with peak power close to the Turbo.5

  6. 1990

    Generation 3 boost at 1800 rpm

    New 780-style taillights accompany the 740 Turbo's small turbine: full boost at 1800 rpm and 60 mph in 7.2 seconds with the 162-hp automatic.57

  7. 1990

    940 arrives; the 740 stays on

    September brings the 940, which carries over the 740's engine, gearbox and chassis. The 740 remains alongside it as a base model for 1991–1992.25

  8. 1991

    SE adds a factory body kit

    Late in 1991, the 740 SE pairs Turbo mechanicals with standard leather, a power sunroof and a color-matched factory body kit.5

  9. 1992

    Production ends on October 2

    Production stops on October 2, 1992. The 240 outlives the 740, remaining on sale until 1993.56

Every generation

  • Volvo 140 Series
    Volvo 140 Series1966–1974
  • Volvo 200 Series / 240
    Volvo 200 Series / 2401974–1993
  • Volvo 740
    744 / 7451984–1992
  • Volvo 940
    Volvo 940Introduced 1990

Power over the years

From 81 hp to 200 hp in 5 years.

050100150200 1984198619881990 hp 1984 · 81 hp · D24 2.4 diesel1984 · 129 hp · B23E 2.3 fuel injection1985 · 158 hp · B200ET 2.0 Turbo (Italy)1985 · 160 hp · B230FT 2.3 Turbo1989 · 200 hp · B204FT 2.0 Turbo 16V (Italy)1990 · 114 hp · GL B230F 2.31990 · 162 hp · Turbo Generation 3 automatic 200 hp B204FT 2.0 Turbo 16V (Italy) 81 hp D24 2.4 diesel
24571114
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
198481D24 2.4 diesel
1984129B23E 2.3 fuel injection
1985158B200ET 2.0 Turbo (Italy)
1985160B230FT 2.3 Turbo
1989200B204FT 2.0 Turbo 16V (Italy)
1990114GL B230F 2.3
1990162Turbo Generation 3 automatic

Versions

12 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    740 GL (Sweden)

    1985–1989

  • 740 GLE (Sweden)

    Standard

    740 GLE (Sweden)

  • 740 Diesel / Turbodiesel

    Standard

    740 Diesel / Turbodiesel

  • 740 GLT

    Performance

    740 GLT

  • Performance

    740 Turbo Intercooler

  • 740 GLT 16 Valve / GLE 16 Valve

    Performance

    740 GLT 16 Valve / GLE 16 Valve

  • Performance

    740 2.0 Turbo Intercooler (B200ET)

    158 hp
  • 740 GL Black Line

    Special

    740 GL Black Line

    1988

  • Standard

    740 Polar

  • Special

    740 Business Edition (Germany)

    1991–1992

  • Special

    740 SE

    1991

  • Performance

    740 Turbo 16V (B204FT)

    197 hp

How to spot one

Look for

  • Sedans have a square silhouette with almost upright rear roof pillars.25
  • 740 bumpers lack the 760's chrome strips.2
  • Through 1989, North American cars use small paired rectangular lights; European cars use large single units.2
  • Facelift non-turbos have narrow headlights with L-shaped trim between the lights and grille.2
  • Both sedan and wagon wear 740 lettering; 744 and 745 were internal designations.2

Year by year

  1. 1986 (Sweden)

    GL/GLE gained full wheel covers; Turbo adopted five-spoke alloys and an egg-crate grille, losing its grille badge.1213

  2. 1987 (Swedish sedans)

    A brake light appeared in the rear window.13

  3. 1988 (Swedish GLE)

    Chrome grille, trim and door handles arrived; metallic-painted cars also received partly painted bumpers.15

  4. 1990

    Turbo sedans gained 780-style taillights, smoother body panels and a more sharply angled grille.7

  5. 1990 (market dependent)

    US cars dropped sealed beams; European Turbos gained wide lights with fog/high beams, while non-turbos used narrow lamps.2

  6. 1991–1992

    Base cars adopted the 940's hood and front fenders; the 740 dashboard was revised for 1991.25

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Volvo 740
    740
    Photo of a Volvo 760
    Volvo 760

    Volvo 760

    Early bodywork is shared; 740 bumpers omit chrome strips. A 1988-on 760 has recessed wipers and a revised nose.25

  • Volvo 940

    940 sedans have a more sloping rear window and rounder body corners; the 740 sedan keeps upright rear roof pillars.5

Against its rivals

  • Audi 100

    740 vs Audi 100

    Base price lower is better

    740$26,840
    Audi 100$26,900
    7
  • Saab 900 Turbo

    740 vs Saab 900 Turbo

    Base price lower is better

    740$26,840
    Saab 900 Turbo$26,045
    7

Prices

Value today $4.5K–$16.0K1114

Price when newAuction saleValue today
$0$25K$50K$75K$100K 19901995200020052010201520202025 Value today: $4,500–$16,000 1990 · $26,840 · US Turbo sedan, base1990 · $28,100 · US Turbo sedan, as tested 2023 · $80,740 · 1988 Turbo wagon, ex-Paul Newman, 76k miles shown, Bring a Trailer2024 · $13,131 · 1989 740 Turbo wagon automatic, 53k miles shown, BaT2024 · $22,000 · 1991 740 Turbo wagon manual, 33k miles shown, BaT2024 · $8,200 · 1987 740 Turbo automatic, 60k miles shown, BaT2025 · $4,500 · 1990 GL sedan, 97k miles shown, Bring a Trailer2026 · $6,000 · 1990 Turbo 4-speed, 181k miles shown, Bring a Trailer2026 · $16,000 · 1985 Turbo, 38k miles shown, Bring a Trailer2026 · $9,100 · 1985 740 GLE LT1 wagon, 208k miles shown, BaT $80.7K Bring a Trailer, 2023
781114202128293031
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
1990Price when new$26,840US Turbo sedan, base
1990Price when new$28,100US Turbo sedan, as tested
2023Auction sale$80,7401988 Turbo wagon, ex-Paul Newman, 76k miles shown, Bring a Trailer
2024Auction sale$13,1311989 740 Turbo wagon automatic, 53k miles shown, BaT
2024Auction sale$22,0001991 740 Turbo wagon manual, 33k miles shown, BaT
2024Auction sale$8,2001987 740 Turbo automatic, 60k miles shown, BaT
2025Auction sale$4,5001990 GL sedan, 97k miles shown, Bring a Trailer
2026Auction sale$6,0001990 Turbo 4-speed, 181k miles shown, Bring a Trailer
2026Auction sale$16,0001985 Turbo, 38k miles shown, Bring a Trailer
2026Auction sale$9,1001985 740 GLE LT1 wagon, 208k miles shown, BaT
2026Value today$4,500–$16,000

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 12 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “A 1989 Turbo wins the LeMonites”
    • “A yellow 740 returns to Oregon Trail”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 4 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 31 sources
  1. Volvo 740 1984-1992 | classicvolvos classicvolvos.wordpress.com
  2. Volvo 740 – Wikipedia de.wikipedia.org
  3. Volvo 700 Series (1982-1992) - Details of Cars details-of-cars.com
  4. History 700-series • Volvotips volvotips.com
  5. Volvo 700 Series - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  6. Volvo 740: Solide linjer bilnorge.no
  7. 1990 Volvo 740 Turbo Tested: Still Square But More Speedy caranddriver.com
  8. No Reserve: 1990 Volvo 740 Turbo 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $6,000 on April 2, 2026 (Lot #236,150) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  9. Buying A Used Volvo 700, 900 or 90 Series Car volvoclub.org.uk
  10. Volvo 740/760: Stor, sterk, svensk bilnorge.no
  11. No Reserve: 38k-Mile 1985 Volvo 740 Turbo for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $16,000 on November 5, 2026 (Lot #272,446) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  12. 740 TURBO 1984-1989 | classicvolvos classicvolvos.wordpress.com
  13. 740 GL 1985-1989 | classicvolvos classicvolvos.wordpress.com
  14. No Reserve: Single-Family-Owned 1990 Volvo 740 GL Sedan for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $4,500 on March 5, 2025 (Lot #182,586) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  15. 740 GLE 1984-1988 | classicvolvos classicvolvos.wordpress.com
  16. 740 GLT 16V 1988-1989 | classicvolvos classicvolvos.wordpress.com
  17. Volvo 140 Series - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  18. Volvo 200 Series - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  19. Jan Wilsgaard – Vater der Ziegelsteine - Volvo Cars News volvocars-news.ch
  20. Ex–Paul Newman Modified 1988 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $80,740 on March 17, 2023 (Lot #101,261) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  21. Paul Newman's 1988 Volvo Station Wagon Is Today's Auction Pick caranddriver.com
  22. ‘Luther’ Easter Eggs and References in ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ - Netflix Tudum netflix.com
  23. Luther: Idris Elba gives an oral history of the series | British GQ gq-magazine.co.uk
  24. Individual Results - 24 Hours of LEMONS 24hoursoflemons.com
  25. Chase Hovinga and Shelly Smith's incredible story americanrallyassociation.org
  26. Volvo > Essai volvo 740s turbo diesel a la chasse aux prejuges larevueautomobile.com
  27. Tested: Old Volvo Wagons Are a V-8 Swap from Serious Speed caranddriver.com
  28. No Reserve: LT1-Powered 1985 Volvo 740 GLE Wagon for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $9,100 on January 18, 2026 (Lot #226,854) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  29. No Reserve: 1989 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $13,131 on November 16, 2024 (Lot #170,901) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  30. No Reserve: Original-Owner 1991 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $22,000 on March 19, 2024 (Lot #140,164) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  31. No Reserve: Single-Family-Owned 1987 Volvo 740 Turbo for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $8,200 on February 27, 2024 (Lot #137,755) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  • classicvolvos.wordpress.com
  • de.wikipedia.org
  • details-of-cars.com
  • volvotips.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • bilnorge.no
  • caranddriver.com
  • bringatrailer.com
  • volvoclub.org.uk
  • volvocars-news.ch
  • netflix.com
  • gq-magazine.co.uk
  • 24hoursoflemons.com
  • americanrallyassociation.org

Photo credits

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