I Just Love Our Parking Lot – One Strange C30
Stumbling into work the other day, this C30 begged to be photographed. Tracking it down, Andrew Gallagher, one of our product guys, asked what I thought of the interior.
Some years back, probably around 1982 when we all had to wear suits, Bob Deutsch put together an “Ugly Tie Day” event for employees. I won more times than most. As Bob pointed out to me: ”As I recall, most of the time you won ugly tie day without realizing it was ugly tie day”, thanks Bob. I truly had ugly ties. But they were different, bold colors, strange patterns, just weird. So asking me an opinion on interiors is, well, a stretch. I do love this C30.
I offered Andrew this forum to see what others might think. I know there are a couple thousand out there reading this … simple yes/no and/or comments would be great.
What you are looking at is actually a seat that is currently offered only in Europe. The orange material is a fine interwoven cloth, the black surrounding it is made out of T-Tec. T-Tec is the same material that is used in surfing attire, kind of like my 5/4/3 wetsuit, only much nicer. There is an ongoing investigation for offering an Orange Flame metallic paint exterior with this two toned orange/black seat interior.
Question 1:
If Volvo was to offer a special edition C30 with only Orange Flame metallic paint, orange cloth/T-Tec seat, Sirius Satellite, high performance sound (not Premium Sound previously branded as Dynaudio) a 17″ new rim, what are your thoughts?
Question 2:
Would you need an available automatic trans, climate package, or bi-xenons?
Don’t expect a surprise package of pickled herring for answering, just our appreciation for your taking time to comment.
dan
ps: I think around 1978 we launched one of rarest cars ever (second only to the P1900 that we made 58 of): a 244 California car. White trim, white paint, white grill, white interior. All it needed was ‘made by Amana’ on it. Now, not wanting to repeat ourselves, here’s your chance to chime in or we just might do this again 
Just found this review from 5th Gear out of the UK: (the engine she is testing is not our T5 with 227 HP and 236 lb.ft. of torque)
70 Comments
1) After working at a Volvo dealership I feel like we would never get an orange on orange C30 since they would think it would be too difficult to sell. However I’m very fond of my atacama and the new S80 inscription interior and I know there are others out there who would go for a special edition package like this, even if it had to be ordered. Overall anything that gives more color choices for the C30 is a good thing, I think.
2) I can’t remember ever having a car for sale here that didn’t have climate since it’s very useful here in the Northeast, but if the price was right it might not be a huge deal. Xenons and automatic transmission aren’t needed.
Y’all should ask VW how the whole “Fahrenheit” thing worked out for them.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of splashes of body color in the interior.
I think one of the key features of the c30 is its light weight a nimbleness compared to the rest of the volvo line. A mediocre system AWD system with a forward bias won’t be worth the weight penalty or price. The cost of adding a real LSD for the front would be a minimal addition compared to AWD. I believe that Quaife supplies the differential for the Focus RS, why not something like that? Its the same gearbox, it should be as easy as reaching over to the next parts bin. Or even better yet a clutch type differential Like an OS giken. OS is supplying Dinan with factory warrantied performance diffs for BMW’s. A great diff would set the car apart hugely compared to the standard performance.
If volvo wanted to get really trick they should just get the REVO knuckle setup from the Focus RS as well. It should bolt on and make the car handle worth a damn.
For other tasteful orange interior styling cues it would be worthwhile to refernence the Boxter Anniversary edition. It came in the GT3RS orange with black suede interior with Orange styling highlights. Very similar to the Volvo 240 GT.
Strangely enough, I know someone who bought one just like that in the picture. Waiting for it to get off the boat after driving it in Europe.
Orange?? No, No & No.
Exactly how many Saffron cars sold?
Something *sensible* like a D5 would be welcomed. As it is, Volvo mileage is essentially unchanged since my ’68 144S.
Hi Dave,
Well you are right, we didn’t sell many Saffron but that really wasn’t the intention. We wanted to do something different, we did and those that wanted something different from us, got it. Much like our screaming yellow 850 T5R in ’85, we made 2000 for this market, sold them out in three months and had people wanting more. It’s something fun to do and maybe well see few more cars. As to D5, yes would be welcomed but because of US EPA rules, our emission system would have to be adapted to US spec. Here the issue is emissions, in rest-of-world, its about carbon output. Well I think it’s better than a ’68 144 with automatic and probably close with manual, but then again our cars are much heavier today.
dan
I don’t think so. (You get points for being brave, and orange is certainly coming up in popularity, but it just doesn’t ring my bells). Like Dan S., I’m a fan of some body color coming inside too.
Hi,
While the Orange Flame isn’t such an odd color, the orange interior is awful! Also, you must understand, while us enthusiats love a 6 Speed, more often then not in the retail world these cars are sold with Automatic transmissions. A limited edition C30 is not a bad thing but lets stick to the basics in the selling world.
Tom
Prelude – I Have Been Driving Volvos Since 1987. 12-242′s, an ’84 245T, 3-262c, 2- 850 T-5, 98 C70 Saffron Coupe, 98 Saffron V70 R, 99 Laser Blue V70 R, 06 Elec Silver S60 R. I Love Rare Volvos.
1.Yes, Also R-Design, Manual Only, Come On, Where’s The 300 hp C30??? Hint – Drop The Focus RS Drivetrain In It, Afterall, It’s Volvo’s! A True ‘R’!
2. No, Yes, Yes.
P.S. You Guys At VCNA, Just A Suggestion, You Know That D5 C30 Over There In Sweden That Gets 70 + Miles a Gallon and Won ‘Euro Green Car’ Of The Year, It Would Sell A Lot More Than You Think Here In The USA. I’ve Lost a Few Loyal Volvo Customers To The Toyota Prius. Not That They Were Not Happy With Volvo, Just NOTHING Over 30 MPG Available Here From Volvo!
I’ve just ordered an Orange Flame Metallic R-Design C30 (can’t wait for it to get here), so I’m already sold on the exterior. I want leather, so I’d never spring for the orange interior…plus I’m just not a fan.
For those of us that live in places like Florida and Southern California…the climate package is completely nonessential. What I would have really liked to have ordered is the stereo upgrade WITHOUT THE PRE-OBSOLETE NAVIGATION SYSTEM.
The bendy Xenon headlights are a nice option, but wouldn’t have influenced a purchase decision.
As others have said above, improve performance a tad, and make that the special edition.
would love to have a D5 here. only problem is we would have to redue the emission system to met US EPA really antiquated methodologies. Rest-of-world measures CO2 output, like when you burn 1 gallon of gas you put out about 12 pounds of CO2 – hard to believe but the chemistry is there. Anyway for us to build to one market is just too expensive. If we sold cars in the same level as Toyota, we could bring over just about anything.
dan
How about Electrum Gold? And a T6?
If you want a classy interior, use leather. Tan or oyster, please.
I would love the orange option on the interior. I think premium sound, manual trans, moonroof and maybe a few performance upgrades are what I would care about. I bought my c30 used, but seriously considered the OSD option just to get the exact color I want and the color matching interior.
So , Will It Be the Next Classic : 123 GT , 242 GT , V40-T4 , V50-T5 ?
Well could You have it that way , Yes just Add the RS-Turbo – throw in the
Cooling Pack for the Motor – which isn’t a Big Deal – Add a Real Traction Differential .
Tune the Motor for 280 HP with a more Eff% Intercooler = better MPG
List a Few Sport Options : Like 4 Puck Alloy Calipers ( R ) Parts Bin ? ( Lighter ) MPG
Calipers Painted – Orange – this would start – C30-GT or V30-GT .Then Acceptance of say a C30 – GTDI – 240 HP getting 23 MPG/33 MPG ( 6 speed Dual Powershifter ) , US
Would Be Huge , but You just keep playing it – Mundane . Not that the C30 is Mundane but You haven’t let Your customers Spice things up . Read
( Real Sporty Options )- that can check off -from Volvo !
Above say South Carolina – a Climate Pack is Must , and Cabin Filter etc.
Lets Not just – run behind the BMW-Mini , lets Stop It in It’s Tracks .
The Roof Foils – covering the Roof Paint on the First Few Models – was -A- OK
lets go father Ad Stain Black or Carbon Fiber Look to the Orange Painted C30-GT.
Hood & Rood or Both !
Hi Mr. Dan,
Really good ideas. Oh the 123 GT, darn if that wasn’t a sweet car. Our in CA, we made a 142 GT, nothing with the motor just trim stuff, it did look good, best 142 was ’71 with EFI and 135 hp and no heavy add ons. Then 242 GT, which was all about trim. By then, anything we did with motors required EPA certification. Way expensive. Andrew, our project guy with C30, is reading all your posts. Must thanks and great ideas.
dan
Bring it to the US!!! I love it!!!
As long as it comes in MANUAL with 350HP THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS VOLVO! BUILD THE POLESTAR CONCEPT!
I almost ordered a C30 to be built just like this for OSD. I ended up buying a used C30 instead – which I love, but I still wish it was Orange. However the orange color is so nice we’re now looking at getting a V50 in this color via OSD. I really don’t understand why Volvo limits things like colors and fabrics to certain markets.
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I would most certainly enjoy a Volvo with this color scheme.
But for the love of god and all that’s holy, give us a manual transmission.