# Volvo 262C > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Volvo_262C > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Volvo_262C.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_262C > Source revision: 1333007926 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Car model produced by Volvo Motor vehicle Volvo 262C 1978 Volvo 262C Bertone (with US-spec headlights) Overview Manufacturer Volvo / Bertone Also called Volvo Coupé Production 1977–1981 6,622 built[1] Model years 1978–1981 Assembly Italy: Turin (Gruppo Bertone) Designer Jan Wilsgaard Body and chassis Class Mid-size luxury car Grand tourer Body style 2-door coupé Layout FR layout Related Volvo 260 series Powertrain Engine 2664 cc B27 (PRV) V6 2849 cc B28/B280 (PRV) V6 Transmission 3-speed automatic 4-speed manual Dimensions Wheelbase 2,640 mm (103.9 in) Length 4,890 mm (192.5 in) Width 1,710 mm (67.3 in) Height 1,440 mm (56.7 in) Curb weight 1,425–1,440 kg (3,141.6–3,174.7 lb) Chronology Successor Volvo 780 The **Volvo 262C** is a luxury coupé made by [Volvo](/source/Volvo_Cars) from 1977 (as a 1978 model) until 1981. Based on the [264 six-cylinder](/source/Volvo_200_Series) saloon, the 262C was designed in-house by Volvo's [Jan Wilsgaard](/source/Jan_Wilsgaard), and built by [Bertone](/source/Gruppo_Bertone) in [Turin](/source/Turin), [Italy](/source/Italy).[2] ## Concept and design The 262C was positioned to serve as a [halo car](/source/Halo_effect#Marketing) for Volvo.[3] The automaker commissioned the Italian industrial design firm specializing in car styling and manufacturing. The plan was to assemble 1,200 cars per year, of which 1,000 were for the U.S. market.[3] The drivetrain, suspension, floor pan, and many of the body panels of the 262C were taken directly from the [Volvo 260](/source/Volvo_260) four-door sedan, with Bertone building the roof pillars, roof pan, windshield surround, cowl, and upper parts of the doors.[2] The roof of the 262C is about 100 mm (3.9 in) lower than that of the 260 sedans. The [chopping](/source/Chopping_and_channeling#Chopping) had the effect of cramping interior space, and the wide [C-pillars](/source/Pillar_(car)) made for small-sized rear side windows.[4] Rear view of a 1978 262C (pre-facelift) The 262C used the [PRV engine](/source/PRV_engine), a [V6 engine](/source/V6_engine) developed jointly by [Peugeot](/source/Peugeot), [Renault](/source/Renault), and Volvo.[2] The engine used a Lambda-sond [oxygen sensor](/source/Oxygen_sensor) system; this was the first use of this system on a production [V engine](/source/V_engine).[5] Standard equipment included [power windows](/source/Power_windows) and mirrors, [central locking](/source/Central_locking), [cruise control](/source/Cruise_control), [air conditioning](/source/Air_conditioning), heated front seats, leather interior, [alloy wheels](/source/Alloy_wheels), and an electrically powered radio antenna. The only optional extras were a limited-slip differential, a choice of stereos, and the no-cost option of a [Borg-Warner](/source/BorgWarner) three-speed automatic instead of the four-speed manual with electrically operated overdrive.[2] By 1981, the manual-transmission option had been discontinued for the U.S. market.[6] ## Reception Aimed mainly at the [United States](/source/United_States) market, the 262C was Volvo's first entry into the luxury car segment. About half of the annual production was earmarked for the United States.[6] It competed against the [Cadillac Eldorado](/source/Cadillac_Eldorado) and the [Mercedes-Benz 280 CE and 300 CD](/source/Mercedes-Benz_W123). A total of 6,622 cars were produced from 1978 until 1980.[2] The model was initially only available in one color combination: silver paint with black vinyl-covered roof. However, other color combinations were available in later years.[7] Road test by *Road & Track* magazine described favorable public reaction to the 262C.[3] The journalists detailed the all black leather interior to be of high quality and expected given it was the "priciest Volvo yet ever built" at $15,000.[3] However, lack of headroom was undeniable and the 200-series chassis did not provide the control, comfort, and ride of competitive models such as from Mercedes.[3] One automobile journalist described the 262C as "the strangely proportioned two-door looks like a chopped diesel locomotive" that "evades the classic ideals of beauty, regardless of the stylistic authorship."[4] ## Annual changes 1980 model year Volvo 262C (Europe), without the vinyl roof For the 1979 model year, the rear-end design was modified with a deeper trunk lid and wrap-around taillights. Upgrades included thermostatic heater controls, and cars with manual transmission included the shift linkage from the 242GT.[2] The 1980 model year featured an engine displacement increase from 2,664 to 2,849 cc (162.6 to 173.9 cu in) as a result of the bore going from 88 to 91 mm (3.46 to 3.58 in). The engine was also reconfigured, with seven main bearings instead of four and an increase in compression ratio from 8.2:1 to 8.8:1. Also, in 1980, the front air dam from the 242GT was added to the 262C.[2] For North America, the 2.8 L engine was rated at 130 hp (97 kW).[6] The [vinyl roof](/source/Vinyl_roof) cover was deleted for the final 1981 model year of production.[2] ## Convertible Volvo 262 C Solaire On the occasion of Volvo's 25th anniversary in the United States, Volvo North America contracted Newport Conversions of [Santa Ana, California](/source/Santa_Ana%2C_California), to convert the 262C into a [convertible](/source/Convertible). It was destined as a gift to the company CEO. The version was called the 262C *Solaire*. Volvo's Swedish headquarters vetoed the project due to safety concerns. Nevertheless, a total of five convertibles were made.[8] ## References Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Volvo 262 C](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Volvo_262_C). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Volvo 262c"](https://www.volvoclub.org.uk/pdf/brochures/IMP-262C.pdf) (PDF). *Volvo Car Club UK*. Retrieved 6 May 2024. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-McC_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-McC_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-McC_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-McC_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-McC_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-McC_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-McC_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-McC_2-7) McCourt, Mark J. (23 September 2018). ["Volvo 262C Bertone Coupe"](https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/volvo-262c-bertone-coupe). *Hemmings Motor News*. Retrieved 6 May 2024. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Niedermeyer_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Niedermeyer_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Niedermeyer_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Niedermeyer_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Niedermeyer_3-4) Niedermeyer, Paul (26 December 2020). ["Vintage R&T Review: 1978 Volvo 262C - "There Simply Is Not Enough Headroom""](https://www.curbsideclassic.com/vintage-reviews/vintage-rt-review-1978-volvo-262c-there-simply-is-not-enough-headroom/). *curbsideclassic.com*. Retrieved 14 January 2026. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Puthz_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Puthz_4-1) Puthz, Martin (28 September 2020). ["Cut-price cruise liners: Volvo 262 C and 780 Bertone"](https://www.classicandsportscar.com/features/cut-price-cruise-liners-volvo-262-c-and-780-bertone). *Classic & Sports Car*. Retrieved 3 August 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-hartford_5-0)** Hartford, Bill (February 1978). ["Imports & Motorsports: 1978 Volvos"](https://books.google.com/books?id=vc8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42&dq=Popular+Mechanics+Volvo+262C&hl=en). *Popular Mechanics*. Vol. 149, no. 2. p. 42. Retrieved 14 January 2026 – via Google Books. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RT127_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RT127_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RT127_6-2) Hogg, Tony, ed. (January–February 1981), *Road & Track Road Test Annual and Buyer's Guide*, p. 127 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Volvo 262C Petrol"](https://www.volvocars.com/en-ca/cars/legacy-models/262c/). *Volvo Cars of Canada*. 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Nyblad, Fredrik (15 July 2019). ["Volvo 262C Solaire – med himlen som tak!"](https://www.klassiker.nu/video/volvo-262c-solaire-med-himlen-som-tak) [Volvo 262C Solaire - with the skies for a roof!]. *klassiker.nu* (in Swedish). v t e « previous — Volvo Cars road car timeline, 1975–2019 — next » Type 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Owner Volvo AB Ford Geely Small family car 66 480 C30 440/460 340/360 S40/V40 S40/V50 V40 Compact executive car 850 S60 S60/V60 240 S70/V70 V70 Executive car 260 740 940 S80 S80/V70 S90/V90 760 960 S90/V90 Sports sedan/estate 242 GT 240 Turbo 850 T-5R/R S70 R/V70 R S60 R/V70 R S60/V60 Polestar S60/V60 T8 PSE Coupé 262C 780 C70 C70 Crossover utility vehicle XC40 XC60 XC60 V70 XC XC70 XC70 XC90 XC90 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Volvo 262C](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_262C) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_262C?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.