This week, Car & Classic is offering something unavailable to buy new in any UK Volvo dealership: an estate.

Perhaps it was inevitable, but the news that Volvo was axing the estate and saloon from its line-up still came as a shock earlier this month. The estate is arguably the most iconic layout for a Volvo, and the 850 R is one of the most iconic of them.

The high-volume follow-up to the popular but limited edition 850 T-5 R, the 850 R epitomises the practical performance car. Making just shy of 250bhp from its 2.4-litre turbocharged engine, the 850 R could launch its fulcome 4.6-metre length to 60mph in just over six seconds, before reaching a top speed of 150mph. This was, and still is, truly fast for an estate.

With this speed came a tendency to tear through tyres. To combat this, the 850 R received a lower ride height than its predecessor, and low-profile rubber, giving the R its aggressive stance.

Despite the performance alterations, it would still come as a surprise when, in partnership with Tom Walkinshaw Racing, Volvo famously entered the 1994 British Touring Car Championship with the estate.

Volvo acheived eighth in the Manufacturers’ standings that year and, despite taking home no silverware, the 850 had certainly won the admiration of many fans.

This example was imported from Japan last year, meaning that it is both rust-free and right-hand drive. It comes with service history and the promise of a fresh MOT in time for its new ownership.

The car is mostly original, but where modifications such as the Sony touchscreen stereo and converted odometer have been made, the original units have been retained. This preserves the option to return these elements to factory standard.

Since the UK’s supply of Volvo estates is now sadly finite, values for good quality examples like this may rise, making this a great chance to get ahead of the curve.

Notably, when the similar announcement of the Ford Fiesta’s demise was made, searches for performance variants on Car & Classic increased by nearly 70 percent.

Car & Classic’s 1996 Volvo 850 R Estate, in association with Retro Motor is now live and runs until 22 August. It is expected to fetch between £7k and £10k.

Since the sad demise of Saab, its cars have ignited fresh interest as practical classics. Safe, spacious and reliable, they do the ‘boring’ stuff very well, giving owners plenty of scope to simply enjoy them.

This 900 SE Turbo, for example, has 125,000 miles on its odometer. But you’d trust it to manage another 200,000 miles – more than the lifespan of most engines from new – with careful maintenance.

Indeed, the Low Pressure Turbo (LPT) engine is one of the 900 SE Turbo’s great assets, also serving up lively performance. Power builds steadily through the rev range, with this example’s manual gearbox adding some interaction to the driving experience.

Going for a Ruby

The Saab’s grey velour interior is in fantastic condition for a 30-year-old car, and comes with a period-correct Sony radio and boot-mounted CD changer. Minor wear on the common points of contact is evident, but would you want it any other way?

The Ruby Red metallic paintwork is similarly patinated in its appearance, complementing streamlined, air-craft-inspired styling that has aged remarkably well.

From the front-hinged bonnet to the rubber rear spoiler, this car is dripping with simple, Swedish charm. It has character from every angle.

An everyday classic

The great condition of this example makes it a budding candidate for careful restoration, or simply as a usable everyday classic.

One factor must be taken into account when considering this Saab as a prospective project: a Category S insurance loss in March 2021. Looking at the photos in the listing, however, it seems the damage was not particularly significant. And the Cat S status of this example may mean a lower-than-typical asking price.

Car & Classic’s auction for the 1993 Saab 900 SE Turbo, in association with Retro Motor, is now live and runs until 2 August 2023. When bidding closes, the car is expected to fetch between £5,000 and £10,000.

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A very practical history of Volvo estate cars

The 190e was the first compact executive car from Mercedes-Benz, a segment in which the German marque is now a major player. When Cosworth got involved, however, this formerly sedate saloon was transformed into something else entirely.

Before AMG became its established sub-brand, Mercedes-Benz would go to Cosworth for its most powerful engines. The company wanted to take the 190e rallying, so commissioned a powerful 320hp motor from the British engineering experts.

The resulting car could have taken the fight to Fiat and Lancia in the World Rally Championship, but not everything went according to plan…

Vorsprung durch DTM

Before the 190e could turn a wheel on a rally stage, the Audi Quattro arrived – and blew away the competition with its four-wheel-drive traction and turbocharged five-cylinder power. Not wanting to be humiliated, Mercedes-Benz decided to enter the 190e into the German Touring Car championship (DTM) instead.

DTM rules mandated that each competing vehicle must be based on a production road car, so a detuned version of the Cosworth engine was dropped into the showroom-spec 190e.

A power output of less than 200hp seems modest in modern terms, but the Stuttgart ‘Cossie’ is good for 143mph and delivers an exhilarating drive, backed up by plenty of motorsport heritage.

Cos you’re worth it

This particular car has been well used over its lifetime, but equally well looked after. Owned by
the same Mercedes-Benz enthusiast since 1995, it comes with a comprehensive service history.

Overall, the 190e is described as being in honest and highly original condition inside and out, with a level of wear you’d expect from almost 170,000 miles of careful use.

Car & Classic’s auction for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190e Cosworth 2.5, in association with Retro Motor, is
now live. When bidding closes on Thursday 27 July 2023, the car is expected to sell for between £20,000 and £25,000.

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Some classic British cars are timeless in their appeal: their status and ever-increasing desirability almost universally accepted. The Jaguar E-Type, Aston Martin DB5 and Jensen Interceptor all fall into this category, as does the Austin-Healey 3000.  

From 1959 to 1967, just under 43,000 ‘Big Healeys’ were built in Abingdon, near Oxford, but this example stands out from the rest. It was the very last Austin-Healey 3000 to roll off the production line, and thus represents a poignant bookend to this line of beloved British sports cars. 

As you’d hope, the Austin-Healey has been fastidiously cared for during its 56-year lifetime. Tempted? Get bidding in Car & Classic’s online auction and it could be yours.  

Always believe in your soul

The Austin-Healey has recently been treated to new, period-correct wire wheels, but the most striking element of its appearance is the paintwork. It was stripped back to bare metal in 2017, then expertly resprayed in gleaming Golden Beige metallic. The finish has a real depth and lustre – obvious even in the photographs here. 

This car has been garaged and seldom used for the past six years. As a result, it hasn’t been subject to any major work, preserving its overall authenticity. There are some patches of light surface corrosion and small imperfections in the paintwork, but nothing of serious concern. 

Lift the long bonnet and the 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine is polished and perfectly presented. Exhaling through upswept twin tailpipes, it looks almost as good as it sounds.

Bring the kids along, too

This final MkIII version of the Austin-Healey enjoyed an increase in power from 136hp to 150hp – more than its contemporary rivals. Combined with its small proportions and relative lightness, it offers an involving and very evocative driving experience. 

Combine all of the above with a 2+2 layout, and there’s even a modicum of practicality thrown into the mix. Classic open-top motoring doesn’t get much better than this.

Car & Classic’s auction of the 1967 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII, in association with Retro Motor, is now live and runs until 29 June 2023. Given its ‘last of the line’ status, this special car is predicted to sell for around £90,000.

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