HIP TO BE SQUARE
The 1980s was a big decade for Volvo, with the Swedish giant expanding its product range and market coverage like never before. It had acquired DAF and therefore the production facilities for a small car, which was the 300-series from 1976, while the mainstay 200-series introduced in 1975 was a runaway success, and there was an all-new car in the form of the 700-series to bring serious competition in the mid-sized executive sector. They all share a certain Volvo-ness not limited to their square styling and are increasingly popular with classic car enthusiasts. As robust, useable and charismatic classics, the attraction is understandable.
The 200-series was introduced in 1975 as a direct replacement to the 100-series, with four and six-cylinder options, two and four-door saloons, an estate, and two primary levels of trim. Until 1983 the number of doors was designated in the name, so a four-cylinder saloon was a 244 and a six-cylinder estate a 265. The base specification was DL, while the GL added a few niceties like leather or velour interior fabric and power steering (although already standard on six-cylinder models). In 1979 a GLE featuring fuel injection was introduced as the top of
