Corps Consulaire

After Volvo had established itself as a respected automaker with an excellent reputation during the 1950s and 1960s, the all-new 140 series was introduced in 1966 as the successor to the 120/130 series (known as the Amazon). Initially, only the four-door 144 sedan was available; the two-door 142 sedan and the five-door 145 estate followed in 1967. The middle digit “4” denotes the four-cylinder engines, while the final digit indicates the number of doors. In 1968, the prestigious six-cylinder 164 sedan—featuring a different front-end design—was added to the lineup. A total of 1,205,111 units of the Volvo 142, 144, and 145 were produced. The successor model, the 240, was introduced in 1974. Although the 240 is considered a distinct series due to its different body structure, the exterior design of the 140 was carried over almost entirely to the 240. Since the 240 series remained in production until 1993, it is fair to say that this vehicle concept was built for over 27 years. In 1976, the US traffic safety authority selected the Volvo 240 as the reference vehicle for establishing future safety standards. In 1991, the 240 was named the safest vehicle on the American market by the US insurance institute. Thus, the Volvo 144 marked the beginning of a 27-year run for a highly successful model family. Their journey continues in the classic car scene, where these vehicles are currently experiencing a renaissance. When you see a Volvo 140 or 240 today, it is usually an estate model; unlike those from other manufacturers, Volvo estates were driven less by tradespeople and more by large families. In contrast, the sedans are rarely seen nowadays.

This Volvo 144 was registered to the Swedish Consulate in Hamburg on June 19, 1972. As a vehicle belonging to the Consular Corps, it needed to project a certain level of prestige; consequently, it is equipped with both original air conditioning and green-tinted glass. This tinted glass harmonizes beautifully with the green paintwork, black leatherette seats, wood-trim dashboard, and brown carpeting. After just under a year, the consulate sold the vehicle to a private individual in Hamburg, who in turn sold it a year later to someone in Oldesloe. That owner kept the Volvo until 1983 before selling it to a professor in Reinbek. This professor was clearly an early enthusiast of the Volvo 144 and invested 120 hours of labor into refurbishing the vehicle back in 1983. He purchased new parts costing 10,765.32 DM and had the exterior bodywork repainted for 4,000 DM. Documentation regarding all the parts replaced in 1983 is available. The professor maintained and serviced the car impeccably, owning it until October 14, 2019. The subsequent owner—also from the Hamburg area—kept the car for only three years before selling it to a lawyer in Potsdam in 2022. We have known this lawyer since 2008 through his collection of classic cars (e.g., Peugeot 304 Coupé, Peugeot 404 Break, Peugeot 205, Volvo P 121, etc.). Having decided to part with one of his vehicles, he has entrusted us with the sale of this unique Volvo. The car has covered 198,316 kilometers—a figure that, in our experience, represents perhaps half the average lifespan of a Volvo B20 engine. Since the vehicle has been driven knowledgeably and maintained to perfection from day one, you can expect this Volvo to bring its new owner joy for decades to come. The car is in fantastic overall condition, and—with the exception of the radio—everything works flawlessly.

We subject every vehicle to a systematic inspection and use the results to create three package options.

Économie – €17,400
Roadworthy vehicle in good running order; includes a fresh A/C service, a valid inspection (TÜV), and “H-plate” (historic vehicle) certification valid until June 2026.

Standard – €18,500
Includes a major service, oil change, and a fresh inspection (TÜV).

Suprême – €21,300
Includes everything in the Standard package, plus new tires, paintwork polishing and sealing, and a period-correct Blaupunkt radio with Bluetooth connectivity and new speakers.

We would be happy to send you the details of these three options, or simply give us a call and we can explain everything to you personally.