The Volvo 240 isn’t exactly a car that screams for your attention. But, according to Hagerty’s Sam Smith, it’s a car that transformed the brand. It’s the result of millions of dollars of research and development, all in an effort to change the brand’s somewhat stodgy and hard-to-handle appearance. 

In the 1960s, Volvo’s top seller was the 140 series. The car came in three body styles and had an eight-year production run with more than a million examples sold. Its successor would, however, outshine this popularity. Not only was the 240 faster, safer, and comfier, but with 2.8 million examples produced during a 19-year production run, it was quite the success.

And it was reliable too. So reliable that Volvo recognized and actively rewarded those who clocked high miles. To enter this “high mileage club”, your Volvo had to have over 100,000 clicks on the odometer, after which you would receive a badge every 50,000 miles.

See: The 140 Series Was Volvo’s First Million-Unit Model

Of course, the 240 isn’t a classic for everyone. It lacks the pizzazz and allure of anything remotely curvy. But if you look past that and spend some time behind the wheel, you may just start to see the charm.

Above all, the 240 is a useable classic. A large part of this is down to Volvo’s over-engineered approach, with reliable transmissions, diffs, suspension components and an under-stressed engine. There’s plenty of parts available, too, with many being interchangeable with the multiple models that appeared over the production run — although if you’re looking at picking one up, this could be a factor to double-check if originality is high on your agenda.

If such a car tickles your fancy, it may be time to snag one, as prices are on the rise. In mid-2020, average values spiked some 60 percent to $8,500, with good ones as of last month being in the $9,200. But thanks to the sheer number produced, you should be able to pick up a decent 240 for well under that — hopefully for some time to come.