Exhibitor: Alan Chambers
Engine: 2300cc Volvo B23 motor with twin 45DCOE Weber carburettors, oil cooler and power steering
Transmission/suspension/brakes: 4 Speed Manual Volvo Gearbox, 4 Wheel Volvo Disc Brakes, Standard Differential
Upgraded and strengthened Bilstein suspension Front: McPherson struts Rear: Trailing Arms
Wheels and Tyres: Volvo Alloy rims with 185 x 14in light commercial Tyres to comply with HRA Standard Car Challenge regulations.
Rally History
The Volvo was originally built by Nigel Carrall Motors in Queensland’s Gold Coast during 1978/79 at a reputed $175,000 cost (in 1978/79 dollars).
It was the Queensland Volvo entry in the 1979 Repco Round Australia Reliability Trial. The car was originally (as Number 25) to be driven by George Tatnell (a contemporary Speedway Star) Peter Mackay & Colin Young.
George was later replaced by Ross Dunkerton (who with a higher seeding ended up as car 7). Colin Young was replaced at the last minute by Geoff Jones but the name on the car was never changed.
This car was one of 6 Volvos competing in the event as part of the Volvo Dealer Team.
The car finished 4th in the Repco Reliability Trial, behind the 3 Holden Commodores, and was the first 4 cylinder car to finish, narrowly beating Greg Carr in the fast finishing Ford Cortina.
Since that event, the car was retained by Nigel Carrall for some 18 years and was sold privately in the mid 1990’s. It ended up being rebuilt and was run in 6 or 7 Queensland Great Endeavour Rally Fundraising events between 1998 to 2009.
The Current owner bought the Volvo in 2012 in Toowoomba , drove it back full of spare parts to Melbourne and retraced its former history. The car has been vinyl wrapped in tribute to its original Repco livery, but retained components of its post Repco history to balance its entire competition history.
The Volvo now runs in the HRA Resto Country Spares Standard Car Challenge, mainly in Rallysprint, Autocross and Khanacross events.
