Trip to Volvo Memory Lane

In 1976 I visited to "Volvo Competition Service" (later R-Sport) in Gothenburg, Sweden. That time they were rally crossing in European Championship with an ugly 343. The engine was a Renault 1.4L turbo about 250hp, which wasn't enough to win.
Then I saw this on the table:
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/mrtee7/R-Sport/V-B19-16V-RallyCrossProto-1976.jpg
THAT looked like a REAL racing motor. And 100% Swedish one (well... almoust 100% Swedish... rumour has it that the head was designed by Swiss Mario Illien - same as man behing ILMOR/MB/McLaren F1 engines). My host, Mr Andersson, said it'll be the ERC winner engine - and he was right! When ready it looked like this:
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/mrtee7/R-Sport/V-B19-16V-RallyCross.gif
Volvo made two different models; One straight-up for 343 and one slanted for 240. For FIA homo reasons they marked blocks "B19" for 343 and "B23" for 240. Both were 2.3 liters.
Later they punched them out to 2.8, 3.0 and rumour has - even 3.3 liters! The ERC winning engine was 3.0 liter and turbocharged. Hp figures were 350-500, dep the boost and who you asked!
Pär Inge "PI" Walfridson (Peter Solberg's wife's, Pernilla's, father) won the ERC in 1980. In 1981 he was 3rd. 343s were spectacular where ever they raced them; rallycross, hill climb, ice racing, rally sprint and so on. The engine was, and is, awesom!
This was a time VOLVO was an exciting, fun and forward looking car company. Even their ugliest car (343) http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/mrtee7/R-Sport/V-R-sport-343-B21-1.jpg, was more exciting than anything now. They fucked up by connecting drive to wrong wheels and lost the company to Wall Street pinstripes and bean counters. No wonder they look like jellybeans now...
One of these 3.0L turbos (I was told it was 3.0L but who knows...) came to the States. Dwayne Baldwin had it and drove 240 to 5th overall at Reno International Rally in 1981.
I always wanted one and now, 39 years later, I got one! And it's brand new, too.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/mrtee7/R-Sport/B23-16V-Top-1.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/mrtee7/R-Sport/B23-16V-Top-2.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/mrtee7/R-Sport/B23-16V-Header-1.jpg

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- RWD rocks -

Hoooooly sheet man what the hell yopu going to do with that???

Is it finally time you do a 240???

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Very nice Topi!!

Get it into a 240.... I'm eager to have you take me for a ride!!

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JohnLane

Overkill is consistently more fun

Drool.

Those are f'ing rare.

Did you pay a small fortune for it? Or was it a "in the know" kind of thing

Have fun!

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Andrew M
Onterrible
30ish

Get it into a 240.... I'm eager to have you take me for a ride!!
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John, I'll sell it and take you out to Sheldon hole-in-wall bar. It can be more exciting than to rally....

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- RWD rocks -

Topi you are well overdue for another ride in my rallycar. Methinks this time it should be on gravel. My Volvo is sooooooo much more memorable a ride on gravel then that pansy Tarmac ride I gave you in what..... 1999 or so with a broken gearbox and worn-out tarmac tires that we flatspotted royally.... heehee!

We have had some fun on gravel this year. Shoot..... (knock on wood so that them Woodknomes don't catch wind of it) We didn't have an 'off' all year.

Jason did we ever spin on stage this last year?

We sure as sheet had some 'MOMENTS!!'

Topi put that fancy-butt motor in a 240 and join us on stage!

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JohnLane

Overkill is consistently more fun

My God - the holy grail! That is an amazing find sir.