| When Volvo first envisioned a personal grand touring auto- mobile, we began by review- ing the essentials from both the manufacturing and design standpoints. We anticipated an elegant and luxurious au- tomobile in the classic mode. Rather than being overstated, it had to be comfortable in a personal way, as though built |
specifically for the individual behind the wheel. It had to have not merely performance, but responsiveness-an auto- mobile that, rather than driving you, would let you dominate the road, with un- |
paralleled sensitivity and balance. And we knew that, for all this, it needn't call attention to itself-because its status as a world-class auto- mobile would be evident at the very first glance. |
We knew, of course, that a car of this quality could only be build in limited quantities. Though technology plays a part, the design and produc- tion of a classic automobile demands the skill and, above |
all, the care are the hallmarks of traditional craftmanship-and of all Volvo cars. Thus it was only natural that, when it came time no marry Volvo's engi- neering talents to those of an automotive design firm, we sought the one-and only one-that is our equal in this regard: Carrozzeria Bertone. |  |
| Bertone. For over sixty years They have produced auto- motive legends. They are creators of, among other mas- terpieces, the 1954 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint and the Ferrari Dino 308 GT4. Under the stewardship of Nuccio Bertone, son of the founder, it remains a spe- cialized shop dedicated to Old World ways. "Taste, distinction, class cannot be improvised,"Signor Bertone has said. "They are inherent qualities produced by long generations of history, style, customs, and culture." The limited edition Volvo 780 sedan. The preeminent personal grand touring auto- mobile of its time. By Volvo, and Bertone. Carrozzeria Bertone has suffused the 780 unmistaka- bly with its style-unique, original, yet overspread with an indelible timelessness. The shapely elegance of its line expresses the 780's luxury quotient as well as its auto- motive excellence. Within, glove-soft leather, the dash and door panals of meticu- lously matched birch burl, re- veal a pleasing unity of |
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| design- nothing seems "tacked on," and what are normally deemed "extras" appear as part of the whole. The result is a measure of elegance that is unabashed. The textures and aromas, the even stitch- ing and wood's rubbed richness-all coalesce into an expression of refined taste. |
From an engineering standpoint, the 780 handles with a responsiveness that renders it virtually exten- sion of its pilot. The precise handling and directional sta- bility, the smooth power of the V-6 engine, the anti-lock brakes, connect you directly to the driving experience. The remarkable engineer- ing, moreover, has been mar- shalled on behalf of your |
comfort, as well. The front seats have automatic-slide feature for easy access tot the rear seats. The climate control system is capable of completely changing the atmosphere 6.5 times each minute. The high fidelity of the AM/FM cas- sette stereo with seven-band graphic equalizer fills the car |
lushly from four speakers. The seats, front and rear, reflect Volvo's traditional con- cern for functional comfort. Troughout, the detailing is meticulous. This insistence on quality explains why, at present, we can produce only a handful of cars a week. We expect, soon, the figure to rise, perhaps to triple. We're proud of our achievement. And we want eveyone capable of appreciat- |
ing the Volvo 780 to have the chance to do so. Of course, we don't want you behind the wheel if it's not a 780-in every way we've descibed-so we'll never make more, quite simply, than quality permits. Which is the best reason in the world for driving one. |  |
| Engineering Volvo's unparalleled reputation as a builder of fine automobiles is based, at bottom, on our high standards. It takes a truly special machine to express the same high level of reli- ability on its last drive as it did on its first. The fact is, from the very first, reliability is a primary design consideration. Our so- phisticated quality control methods dictate that designers and engineers finalize exacting overall standards in the de- velopment stage, followed by in- dividualized standards, first for the vehicle's different systems (steering, suspension, brakes, and so forth), and then for seperate parts. |
Though you sense it imme- diately when you get behind the wheel, building in quality doesn't result in anything we can show. But, as your 780 continues to reveal its strong heart long after other cars have been put aside, you'll be glad we did. Handling The 780 derives its remarkable handling capabilities from Volvo's unique combination of steering, suspension, and brak- ing systems. Their design helps insure that, in almost any driving situation, your Volvo will react in a predictable manner. |
Volvo's power-assisted, rack and pinion steering system is precise and consistent. The power-assist facilitates steering without taking away your sense of the road. And maneuvering and handling have been greatly simplified by the tight, 32-foot 5-inch turning circle. The 780 features MacPher- sion, strut front wheel suspen- sion, which combines shock absorbers and coil springs. The transverse steel wishbone is de- signed to enable the overall wheel suspension system to maintain its precision-even after long years of hard service. Front and rear stabilizer bars serve as torsion springs, helping to minimize body roll during cornering In back, each function of Volvo's revolutionary Constant Track Suspension is handled by |
a separate component. This al- lows the design of each compo- nent to be optimized for its specific task. Combined with a wide track and carefully bal- anced geometry, Volvo's unique rear suspension provides excel- lent road holding and stability. A special subframe prevents the transmission of road noise and vibration to the body-and to you. And a Nivomat automatic load leveling system on the 780 is designed to help keep the rear suspension in a good position for maintaining excellent road- holding ability-even when fully loaded. Our basic four-wheel disc braking system incorporates spe- cial sliding calipers which en- |
able the brake fluid to bypass hot front discs, lessening the chance of fluid vaporization- a primary cause of temporary brake failure. Front disc ven- tilation ducts and brake fluid with a high boiling point also help in this regard. The 780 also has an Anti- lock Brake System (ABS) which helps prevent brake lockup on slippery surfaces- important for stability in an emergency. (Moreover, if the system malfunctions, it deacti- vates itself automatically, and lets you know via a warning light on the dash.) Comfort It is perhaps typical of Volvo that the ease and comfort of the 780 stem from hundreds of hours of pioneering ergonomic |
| investigation. That's because we want you to feel, not just relaxed, but better able to accomplish the complexities of driving. To begin, the extra-large doors swing out to a generous angle, and feature an intermit- tent stop as well, for locations where space is tight. The doors and trunk are controlled by central locking; and both the trunk and fuel filler cap have remote releases. Once inside, you'll discover the pleasures of Volvo's inno- vative seat design. Both front bucket seat are heated and ad- justable through a range of positions: fore-aft, seat cushion, height, backrest-each can be |
manipulated by power controls. You'll find a manual lumbar support adjustment too. What's more, the seat's correct orthopedic construction insures that even the longest journey will pass without discomfort. Within the driver's area of the car, you'll find numerous instruments and controls that will enable you to pilot your Volvo in comfort, and with op- timum effectiveness. The instru- ment cluster is lit clearly from above and remains easy to read: devoid of dazzle by day, well- defined at night. The console is ergonomically positioned so that you can reach it quickly and easily. When you choose not to open the 780's power moonroof, the climate control unit will modu- late the interior air quality- |
rather than making it merely hot or cold A quiet interior is one of the 780's most pleasant qualities. Wind noise has been mini- mized. The ducts bridging the engine bay and passenger com- partment have all been care- fully sealed. Insulation has been fitted between the body and the wheel suspension system. And the doors have been sealed with extra care. We think you'll find it the perfect en- viroment for a pleasant drive-and for enjoying the 780' sophisticated audio system. Drivetrain The 780 features an even-firing V-6, B280F gasoline engine* with aluminum alloy cylinder head and block, overhead camshafts, electronic ignition system with spark advance and |
knock sensor, LH-Jetronic fuel injection, and Lambda Sond® emission control. A four-speed automatic transmission with electricaly-operated overdrive is standard. The V-6 manifests the essen- tial qualities of all the engines used in Volvos: driving comfort; operational reliability and per- formance emphasizing torque in the low and medium range speeds. It features a number of sophisticated subsystems: The LH-Jetronic fuel injection tion system and the micro- processor-controlled ignition system work together to control engine speed and load. When the engine is cold, a richer fuel mixture is automatically sup- plied. Conversely, when the en- gine is used to brake-or in the |
event that the engine over- |
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Four-wheel disc brakes (and ventilated front discs with sliding calipers) help provide resistance to brake fade. The anti-lock system helps prevent wheel lock-up during sudden braking on slippery or wet road surfaces. |
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The collapsible steering col- umn is designed to offer several stages of protection during collisions to help minimize injury |
| Crash Safety Despite the complicated research behind it, the essentials of our crash safety formula are rather simple: The 780's front and rear-areas most subject to full crash impact-have designed-in "crumple zones," which collapse in a predictable manner to help absorb impact forces. The side members up front and in back are of similar design. The en- gine mounting is designed in such a way that the engine is directed downwards rather than into the passenger com- partment-during severe impacts. |
The next line of defense-the "safety cage"-requires extraor- dinary durability. towards this end, each individual spot weld has been made strong enough to-if necessary-support the full weight of the car. The front windscreen and rear glass have been securely bonded, and the doors have tubular bars to help protect against intrusion into the passenger compartment dur- ing side impacts. The steering wheel's padded surface-aided by the seat belts-helps shield the driver during a slight bump. The |
steering columm itself is designed to give way and align with the body in a more serious impact, for more uniform collision force distribution. The entire unit has been designed to collapse, disengage, and telescope into a sleeve during the most severe impacts. As with many other aspects of our crash safety work, Volvo's seat belt development has been long-term and continuous. We've been tinkering with them, in fact, for almost three decades; and the three-point belt, only recently acknowledged by most of the automotive world |
as the best system, was standard equipment on certain Volvos in 1959. The driver's side has a sup- plemental restraint (airbag) which is designed to help lessen the severity of facial and upper chest injuries-when used along with the seat belt. It is acti- vated if a frontal or frontal angular impact occurs at a speed of approximately 12 mph or more. A padded knee bolster is intergrated into the lower edge of the instrument panel on the driver's side. Both front seat belts also have pretensioner de- vices designed to automatically tighten the belts during frontal and frontal angular impacts of 12 mph or more. Fortunately, most accidents aren't dramatic; and our spe- cial front and rear bumpers, built to handle an impact of up to 5 mph, help guard against "fender benders". |
In keeping with Volvo's traditional concern for safety, we ask that you and all your passengers use seat belts-every time you drive. Seat belts and proper child restraints can help save lives-if they'e used. Please remember that all states and most Canadian provinces now have mandatory child restraint laws which hold the driver responsible for compliance. In addition many states and provinces now have mandatory adult seat belt usage laws Body Most cars, unfortunately, are finished off, not by a crash, but that creeping automotive men- ace, rust; and Volvo has de- veloped a number of innovative ways to all but eliminate this corrosive killer |
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wheel suspension incorpo- rates coil springs and shock absorbers. A rod attached to the transverse steel wish- bone helps absorb long- itudinal forces. |
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Zincrometal®-sheet steel treated with a zinc-rich primer then baked-has traditionally been our metal of choise for the most rust-prone body members.** With the 780's, we've gone a step further, extending Zincrometal use, so that, in collaboration with galvanized steel and thicker-than-ever anticorrosion treatments, it covers virtually the entire car. Nor have we ignored the interior. A thin anticorrosive gel, sprayed on the assembly line into closed body sections protects your 780 from within. Numerous protective coatings guard the underside, especially vulnerable to corrosion and |
rust. A coat of abrasion-resis- tant paint has been applied to the floor between the front and rear wheel housings. On top of this, a thick asphalt compound is then added. The wear sur- faces of the rear wheel housings are protected by a unique "armed" bitumen coating. And a rustproofing oil, sprayed on the underside of the engine com- partment, contributes an extra measure of protection.+ Both the paint and the paint process contribute to the body's longevity as well. Prior to assembly, zinc welding primer is applied to critical joints, which receive further protection during assembly with a caulking compound. A thor- |
ough cleansing then completes the job, and a zinc phosphate spray, for better paint ad- herence, follows. Next comes an all-encompassing electro-dip primer bath, then oven-baking, sanding, and inspection. Then abrasion-resistant paint is sprayed wet-on-wet to the bot- tom rails, the bottom of the floor, and the area behind the rear wheel arch. The sheet metal below the beltline, the lower half of the doors, door sills, and rocker panels are es- pecially vulnerable to paint- chipping-that's why Volvo next applies special stone-chip resis- tant paint to these areas. A final layer of surfacer is |
sprayed on the entire body which is than sanded for greater smoothness. Next the sealer is applied wet-on-wet with four coats above the belt- line and five below. Finally, a thick top coat is applied (and a clear coat on metallics). The Volvo paint process takes many hours and considerable care-but we think the quality of the result is worth the effort. It' true: we´ve gone into the details of engineering at some length. But it´ our belief that, at heart, a machine such as the details of engineering at some 780 must have nothing to hide. Every detail must demon- strate the unadulterated quality that forms the core of all true greatness. And we can´t imag- ine a better way of revealing that than showing you how it's done. |
* The V-6 engine was developed and is manufactures by Sociéte Franco- Suédois de Moteurs-PRV, a com- pany owned by Volvo jointly with Peugeot end Renault. ** Zincometal is a registered trade- mark of the Diamond Shamrock Corporation + Volvos cars are thoroughly under- coated at the factory. Additional Undercoating at the time of delivery is not only unnecessary, it could cause problems if non-Volvo prod- ucts were chemically incompatible with Volvo's factory-applied under- coating. At the time of first corrosion inspection, your Volvo dealer will determine if additional Volvo undercoating is required. |
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| The Volvo Philosophy An important aspect of the Volvo philosophy is service-the belief that with the automobile you purchase comes the company that build it. With this in mind, we've created a pair of service tools designed to make driving worry free: our three- year, unlimited mileage, lim- ited warranty; and Volvo On Call SM+-one of the industry's most comprehensive road service programs. Our longer, more extensive warranty proves that there are ways of improving a product that aren't built into it.* We've tied to think of everything: . Adjustments and repairs to parts and fittings can't be |
avoided. And, since these prob- lems often fall outside the 600-1200 mile inspection period, we've extended it-to fully six months and 10,000 miles. . Volvo warrants that, for three years, the painted body panels of your Volvo will re- main free of surface corrosion. It will be devoid of body section Perforation for five years. And we warrant against rust-re- lated structural damage for eight years. All levels are for unlimited mileage. . Regardles of mileage, we'll repair or replace any seat- belt with material-or work- manship-related defect for up to five years. Strong waranties also stand behaind our genuine Volvo replacement parts and emmission control systems. All automakers offer warran- |
ties with other products, of course, but we've gone beyond that with Volvo On Call, a service providing round-the- clock, 365-day-a-year protec- tion, inn all 50 states. By an- ticipating worst-case scenerios, and planning for them in ad- vance, Volvo On Call will give you a sense of security when you travel-with no out-of-pocket expenses for towing or warran- tab;e breakdowns. And the plan includes many additional features which add ease and convenience to the package: . If you need help, simply dial Volvo On Call's toll-free emergency road service number, no matter where you are, and a |
representative will immediately assist you. If you can still drive your car, your call will be con- nected to the neearest Volvo dealer (so that you can discuss the problem with a factory- trained technician). If not, a tow truck will be dispatched, and you'll be taken to the clos- est dealer (or affiliated garage) at no cost-or anywhere else (though you'll be billed for tow- ing costs beyond a 10 mile limit). And, if you're suffering from a minor difficulty, such as a flat tire or a blown fuse, it'll be fixed on the spot. . In the event of a warran- &table breakdown or an accident more than 150 miles from home, Volvo On Call will re- imburse you and your passenger for such costs as food, lodging, and car rentals, as well as |
commercial transportation, for up to 72 hours after the inci- dent occurs. (The service is lim- ited to $250 for each of two people.)** . If you lose your car keys and someone finds them and drops them in a mailbox; we'll post them back to you. Or if you lock them in, you'll be re- imbursed for a locksmith's serv- ices, for up to $100. . If your wallet is stolen or lost more than 100 miles from home, you'll be able to get an emergency cash advance of $100 through Western Union. . Volvo On Call also provides a $5000 reward for information leading to the ar- rest and convicion of the per- |
| petrators, should your Volvo be stolen. You'l receive a window decal attesting to that fact- itself an excellent deterrent. . Volvo On Call also offers ways of imporving the quality of your trip when you voyage by road. . . our trip routing service will provide maps, clearly marked with either rapid or scenic routes, for the continental U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Along with travel planning suggestions, you'll receive a check list of things to do before starting out, an da person- alized travel journal and |
ledge-ideal for recording expenses. . Completing the package: a 24 hour, toll-free travel servie number, for booking air reserva- tions, both domestic and inter- national, reserving rooms and |
rening cars; personalized lug- gage tags and key chains; and even offers of world-wide, featuring substantial saving on numer- ous travel plains. At Volvo, our goal remains |
nothing less than total customer satisfaction-we're with you for as long as you own your car. And since, with each passing year, we build the a little bit better, we expect the relationship to last for a long time. |
+ Volvo On Call is a service mark of Volvo North America Corporation The program is administrered by the Amoco Motor Club. Please see our On Call booklet for details and limitations on Benefits. * Please consult our 1987 Warranty booklet for details ** Residents of the State of New York are not covered by the trip inter- ruption section of the Volvo On Call plan because of New York State Law/ New York resident owners are eligible for all other Volvo On Call benefits. If a Volvo has trouble in New York and the owners live outside the sate, the trip interruption provision of On Call is available to them because they would be filing for reimbursement outside the State of New York. |  |
Dimensions and Weight
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780 Engine: V-6 B280F gasoline en- gine with aluminium alloy cylinder head and block, overhead camshafts, electronic ignition system with spark advance and knock sensor, LH- Jetronic electronic fuel injection, and Lambda Sond® emission control.
speed automatic is standard. 780 Product Features and Equipment Power-assisted brakes and steering Anti-lock braking system Nivomat® automatic leveling system Cruise control Power front windows Rear window demister with auto- matic shut off timer Front and rear fog lights* Dual, power mirrors with heating element Centrally-conrolled locking system including trunk Anti-theft alarm system Remote trunk release Remote fual cap lock release Power moonroof AM/FM stereo cassette receiver, seven-band electronic graphic equalizer, 4 speakers, power antenna Leather upholstery Front and rear headrests Power adjustments on driver's and front passenger's for legroom seat cushion height and angle, and seat back angle |
Automatic glide feature on front seats for ease of entrance into rear seats Adjustable lumber support on both front seats Heated driver's and front passenger's< seats Illuminated vanity mirror Front and rear reading lights Front spoiler Five mile/hour bumpers Halogen high and low beam headlights Tinted glass with windshields shade band Intermittent cycle on front wind shield wipers Stell-belted radial tires Three-point, self-adjusting safety belts in the four outboard posi- tions; lap belt in rear center posi- tion; automatic pretensoiners on front belts; driver's side supple- mental restraint system (airbag and padded kneebar) Front and rear center armrests with storage Front door panel storage compartments Rear seat storage passage to trunk Interior light delay Engine and trunk lights Instruments; 120 mph (220 km/h) speedometer; odometer (999,999); trip odometer; tachometer; engine temperature, fuel level, engine oil temperature gauges; voltmeter, quartz crystal clock Tool kit * Subject to state and local laws. All specifications are subject to change by the manufacturer without notice.  1986 Volvo North America Corporation manufacturer without notice. |
