Volvo 760
The 760 marked a new strategy for Volvo, as they introduced the executive six-cylinder model first with the four-cylinder 740 only following a few years later. Jan Wilsgaard, head of Volvo's Design and Styling Team, proposed over 50 new designs for the new car. Unusual for a new executive car at the time, the 760 had a live rear axle – Volvo's designers claimed that a well-designed one was at least as capable as any independent design, while offering substantial cost and weight savings. The axle itself was mounted almost entirely behind the passenger compartment, freeing up more space inside, and was unusual in that it is mounted in a sub-frame, allowing better passenger comfort than a conventional setup. Volvo called the system Constant Track Rear Suspension, drawing attention to another benefit of a live axle.[14]
It was introduced to the U.S. in 1982 for the 1983 model year as the 760 GLE saloon, with the V6 engine coupled to an automatic transmission, having been launched in Sweden in February 1982 and in Britain from July 1982.[7] The federalized Turbo Diesel went on sale a few months later, at the very end of 1982.[15] In February 1985 the 760 Station Wagon ("765" in internal parlance) was introduced, going on sale in US and Canada a few months later.[9] European markets only received the wagons beginning in the autumn, for the 1986 model year.
This new design was criticized by the media when released: Gordon Murray of Autocar Magazine said, "to me it's obscene. That goes right against the grain of what everybody else is trying to do. To me it looks like a European version of a North American car. It produces the same amount of power as a 2600 or 3500 — in this day and age it disgusts me to see something about like that. It's a definite step backwards."
The Turbodiesel, while presented alongside the V6 model, was not immediately available in all markets, with Volvo focusing on markets where diesels had a high market penetration. In Sweden, for instance, it only went on sale for the 1983 model year.[16] Contrarily, in Italy the 740 and 760 diesels sold more than the Mercedes-Benz W123 diesels and the BMW 524d combined in the first half of 1984.[17] The Turbo Diesel was somewhat handicapped in the United States market by only offering a five-speed manual transmission.[18] With the bottom dropping out of the diesel market this was not a major issue, however. The heavy diesel engine made for a pronounced front weight bias, with 57 percent of the car's weight resting on the front wheels.[19]
1983 also brought air conditioning and power windows as standard equipment in Sweden, while a bigger 82 L fuel tank was gradually introduced.[16] Turbocharged and intercooled variants were added in 1984, while the 740 (the 760's lower-specification sibling) was introduced for the 1985 model year. In 1985, an electronic traction control system was introduced. Unlike the lesser 740, the 760 received standard anti-lock brakes in many models.
For the 1988 model year, the 760 received numerous updates. From the outside, the most noticeable of the over 2000 changes were the revised front sheet metal, including an aluminium hood, recessed windscreen wipers, and new aerodynamic headlights. Inside, all 760s received a revised dashboard which was angled towards the driver, 3-position tilt steering, and a new stereo system. The top versions were now equipped with a new electronic climate control (ECC; standard on cars sold in the US). Underneath, saloons received the same multi-link independent rear suspension which was also introduced on the 780.[20] The new 4-link rear axle also required a new fuel tank, which was in the form of a saddle, sitting atop the driveshaft. The volume of the tank shrunk by 2 liters, to 80 L.[21] Along with the revised dash, the interior saw the addition of a revised dome light and many fabric accent pieces. The 760 Estate received the same changes, except it continued to use the live rear axle.[21] This was due to the weight increase: the new rear suspension weighed about 40 kg more than the old one, and Volvo determined that the loss of payload would not be worth the comfort improvements.[22]
East German leader Erich Honecker often used this Volvo in his governmental car pool.
For 1990, its final year of production, Volvo 760 saloons received taillights in the style of the Volvo 780 and minor interior changes. The 760 was discontinued after the 1990 model year (with production ending on 27 June 1990), replaced by the Volvo 960, an update of the 760 chassis. The Volvo 740 outlived the 760, remaining for another two years, finally being discontinued in 1992 after the 850 was launched.
The Volvo 760 was built in Kalmar, Sweden, and Ghent, Belgium. Cars were also assembled in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and in Clayton, Victoria in Australia.
