Sometimes discussions around the Overland International water cooler take an unexpected twist, even within reoccurring topics like which vehicle we’d drive around the world. Ray Hyland brought to the mix an interesting option, the Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon. His arguments started to make sense pretty quickly. For starters, they’re dirt cheap. Take for example the specimen we recently found, a 1990 wagon with only 88,000 original miles. It’s a steal at under $5000. Fuel costs are also miserly with an average burn between 22 and 24 mpg.
Ray also pointed out that these things are cavernous on the inside. Sleeping in a Defender 90 isn’t an option, but the massive layout of a 740 wagon easily accommodates room for two. They also have a roof the size of an aircraft carrier, ready to accept all sorts of auxiliary gear. Lastly, these cars are mile eaters. Not only are they comfy travelers, they go, and go, and go… It’s not uncommon for some 740 owners to coax their machines over the million mile mark. That’s a mind boggling number when you consider this: A million miles is equal to 40 laps around the globe.
Right now many of you are dubious of the idea of a world-circling Volvo 740. We realize it can’t accommodate 35” tires, and doesn’t even have all wheel drive. That doesn’t mean it couldn’t wiggle its way around many of those rugged routes to complete a lap of the Earth. Think about it. Five grand, 24 mpg, massive cargo space, leather wrapped luxury, and bomber reliability, it sounds perfect. Welcome to the Overland International water cooler.
Purchase your new expedition platform here: Volvo 740
