Junkyard Gem: 1976 Volvo 244 DL
You could get a swanky new 1976 Buick Electra Limited four-door hardtop for just $6,852, but those sensible Volvo buyers knew it was worth paying a premium for genuine Scandinavian safety and build quality.
You could get a swanky new 1976 Buick Electra Limited four-door hardtop for just $6,852, but those sensible Volvo buyers knew it was worth paying a premium for genuine Scandinavian safety and build quality.
This car was pretty rough around the edges, with several layers of old paint, a gruesome boomerang-shaped hole in the roof, and some nasty rust hiding beneath the fiberglass that shapes the rear seats.
Quick background courtesy of The Autopian: An ex-Microsoft exec bought a VW repair shop, adding restoration and rentals to the business proposition, and over the last 11 years becoming the largest Bus repair and restoration concern in the U.S. Aside from that, with the rise of Mercedes vans as go-to bug-out vehicles, Peace Vans learned upfitting on modern cars with the German's short-lived Metris and Metris Weekender, saying it's done more than 1,000 Mercedes campers in six years.
The manufacturer also reported combined sales of electrified vehicles (EVs and PHEVs) of 269,065 units from January until June of this year, marking a 9.6% increase compared to the same span of 2023.
Toyota added bold design elements on the front end like a huge honeycomb grille, angular horizontal vents, a sharp hood line, and curvy headlights.
The first thing you notice about this car is its custom aero kit, which has a dinner table-sized splitter under the front bumper, suitably wide side skirts and a massive diffuser to complement the huge rear wing.
After an update to styling and a retune for the "corner rascal" Elantra N, the four-door rolls into 2025 barely changed outside of a rework to the trim steps.
Enthusiasts at the time might have considered the Audi TT or BMW 325Ci more viable options (for $5,000 more), but the target audience was pleased with the Benz aura, and apparently not badly dissuaded by the smallish rear seat and the two doors.
You'll get a full charge in just about 5.5 hours via a wall outlet and total usage time will, naturally, depend on what you're powering with the device, but Jackery provides a great way to at least ballpark it.
He told Mopar Insiders he wants to strike a "balance between innovation and tradition," like introducing hybrid versions of classic models, focusing on high-performance cars, and broadening appeal with more affordable options, which doesn't sound too far off from Matt McAlear's hope for Dodge now that he's at the helm.
"This strategy will allow the company to respond swiftly to the North American market, which currently faces a shortage of hybrid supply, and to enhance the operational efficiency of the factory," Chang said.
Flush door handles and a layered-glass rear quarter-panel window with a pattern reminiscent of Cadillac’s Mondrian-style crest feature along the flanks.