1972 Volvo 144 GL Rally Car
No Reserve - Previous Carrera Copacabana Rally Winner

Registration No: HAR 957L
Chassis No: 346074
MOT: November 2026

• Purchased into the current ownership in 2009 and converted into an historic rally car with extensive lightening and uprating throughout
• First-placed in the month-long 2010 Carrera Copacabana Rally in the hands of the vendor
• Scarcely used in anger since!
• Three previous keepers from new, with the second owner from 1973 until his passing in 1999

Taking six years to progress from drawing board to production line, the Volvo 140-series was introduced during August, 1966. Styled in-house by Jan Wilsgaard, its robust monocoque bodyshell boasted front and rear crumple zones and a built-in rollover bar (concealed within the roof lining). Other passive safety features included anti-burst door locks, a collapsible steering column and front headrests. Equipped with independent coil-and-wishbone front suspension, a twin trailing arm-located 'live' rear axle and cam-and-peg steering the new model also gained dual-circuit four-wheel disc brakes. Powered by a range of torquey 1.8-litre (B18) and two-litre (B20) four-cylinder OHV engines, most variants were capable of over 90mph. Famed for their ability to withstand Scandinavian winters and clock up huge mileages, 140-series cars were also surprisingly comfortable, benefitting from reclining front seats and fully carpeted interiors as standard.

Volvo’s saloons were capable rally cars and the 144 (the 140 series’ four-door saloon) was no exception. Notable endeavours included the 1968 London-Sydney Rally and José Araujo and John Batley’s entry in the 1970 London-Mexico World Cup Rally. ‘HAR 957L’ had a quiet life at first, being sold through the Park Road Garage in Bedford in 1973 to an Italian ice-cream seller, to be used for his summer holidays in Italy. When the Italian died in c.1999, the Volvo was offered back to the Park Road Garage having covered 60,000 miles.

The present owner acquired it in 2009, becoming only the fourth keeper, and considered it perfect for his own rallying ambitions. The car was stripped down and thoroughly lightened, with all the glass and interior removed. Upgrades included a GT dash, a full rollcage, new coil springs and Bilstein shock absorbers, uprated brakes and larger-diameter 1980s Volvo wheels. The car was entered in the month-long 2010 Carrera Copacabana rally and proceeded to be the Winner! It was one of only seven finishers in the challenging drive from Argentina to Brazil, traversing Chile, Peru and Bolivia. Following its victory, the Volvo has seen little action and remains in excellent order, and is offered with a history file which contains the ownership history, MOTs back to 2000, and much documentation from the Copacabana rally.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452