Volvo 260

Volvo 200 Series
Volvo 240 GL wagon
Overview
Manufacturer	Volvo Cars
Production	Europe: 1974–1993 Canada: 1974–1985 Malaysia: 1983–1993
Assembly	Sweden: Torslanda (Torslandaverken) Sweden: Kalmar (VKA) Australia: Melbourne Belgium: Ghent (VCG) Canada: Halifax (VHA) Italy: Turin Malaysia: Shah Alam (SMA) Singapore: Jurong (SNM)
Designer	Jan Wilsgaard
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size luxury / Executive car (E)
Body style	2-door sedan 4-door sedan 5-door estate
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related	Volvo 262C
Powertrain
Engine	1784 cc B17 I4 1986 cc B19/B200 I4 1986 cc B20 I4 2127 cc B21 I4 2316 cc B23/B230 I4 2664 cc B27 (PRV) V6 2849 cc B28/B280 (PRV) V6 1986 cc D20 I5 diesel 2383 cc D24 I6 diesel
Transmission	4-speed M45/M46 manual 5-speed M47 manual 3-speed BW35/BW55 automatic 4-speed AW70/AW71 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	104.3 in (2,649 mm)
Length	189.9 in (4,823 mm) (sedan) 190.7 in (4,844 mm) (wagon)
Width	67.7 in (1,720 mm) (sedan, pre-1987) 67.3 in (1,709 mm) (sedan, 1988–1993)
Height	56.3 in (1,430 mm) (sedan) 57.1 in (1,450 mm) (wagon, pre-1990) 57.5 in (1,460 mm) (wagon, 1991-93)
Curb weight	between 1,270 kg (2,800 lb) (244 base model) and 1,465 kg (3,230 lb) (265 model)
Chronology
Predecessor	240: Volvo 140 Series 260: Volvo 164
Successor	240: Volvo 850 260: Volvo 760

The Volvo 200 series was a range of executive cars produced by Volvo Cars from 1974 to 1993, with more than 2.8 million units sold worldwide. Like the Volvo 140, it was designed by Jan Wilsgaard. It overlapped production of the Volvo 700 series introduced in 1982. As the 240 remained popular, only the 260 was displaced by the 700 series — which Volvo marketed alongside the 240 for another decade. The 700 series was replaced a year before the 240 was discontinued. Production ended on 14 May 1993 after nearly 20 years.

The Volvo 240 and 260 series was introduced in the autumn of 1974, and was initially available as six variations of the 240 Series (242L, 242DL, 242GT, 244DL, 244GL, 245L and 245DL) and two variations of the 260 Series (264DL and 264GL). The 240 Series was available in sedan (with two or four doors) or station wagon, however the 260 Series was available as a coupé (262C Bertone), four-door sedan, or station wagon. The 200 looked much like the earlier 140 and 164 Series, for they shared the same body shell and were largely the same from the cowl rearward. However, the 200 incorporated many of the features and design elements tried in the Volvo VESC ESV in 1972, which was a prototype experiment in car safety. The overall safety of the driver and passengers in the event of a crash was greatly improved with very large front and rear end crumple zones. Another main change was to the engines, which were now of an overhead-cam design. The 260 series also received a V6 engine in lieu of the 164's inline-six.

The 200 Series had MacPherson strut type front suspension, which increased room around the engine bay, while the rear suspension was a modified version of that fitted to the 140 Series. The steering was greatly improved with the installation of rack-and-pinion steering, with power steering fitted as standard to the 244GL, 264DL and 264GL, and there were some modifications made to the braking system (in particular the master cylinder).