boris:
Was their a difference in interior trim in the early chrome grill models with the uk & other markets? In the brochure i’ve seen it shows red fabric seats but i’m sure ‘ours’ had grey vinyl - like the 1st 86’s
hey Boris, It all depends a bit what was in stock,as the engine cover once was with check than plain than again with check.
And the colours differed from time to time too (dark white, normal or pale grey).
1 plain red imitation leather.
2 plain red imitation leather with design and ■■■■■■■■■■■ model (Bostrom 300 serie).
3 dark red cloth with leader sides (for the very very first F89 too).
A grey was mentioned in the parts book but never seen here (maybe an option??)
4 blue (seats and engine cover) from '73 and beige interior colour instead of grey.
5 Brown last version.
I think , I have roughly 5 or 6 different engine covers (there exists more).
And don’t look in brochures to sort it out,they showed sometimes the white steering wheel too.
But here a question for the Britsh Volvo specialists, I saw a nice restored F88 black grille of '73 or '74 with a grey painted interior,so now it is up to you specialists.
Bye Eric,
Thanks Erik , good info , i just wonder why the uk always seemed to be ‘different’ spec to rest of EU , like i said every 68-73 uk model i’ve seen always had the breathable grey pvc , unless someone on here knows different
[zb]
anorak:
I think this French F88 brochure pic is from 1965:
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Interesting pic Anorak, beautiful!
Leads me to a question for our specialist Tiptop: in mine, (1968 vintage) the coolant expansion vase is located vertically in the bottom left corner above the bunk, behind the driver.
It does not seem to be there on this one. Did it have another fitting in the very first versions?
boris:
Thanks Erik , good info , i just wonder why the uk always seemed to be ‘different’ spec to rest of EU , like i said every 68-73 uk model i’ve seen always had the breathable grey pvc , unless someone on here knows different
My 71 F88 had blue seats,we had a 68 model that had red seats,the later 76 290 I had the seats were brown.Don,t know if this helps.
My old F88 at the st lois border on the french side going to swiss in 1973.
My later 1977 290 F88.
boyzee:
boris:
Thanks Erik , good info , i just wonder why the uk always seemed to be ‘different’ spec to rest of EU , like i said every 68-73 uk model i’ve seen always had the breathable grey pvc , unless someone on here knows differentMy 71 F88 had blue seats,we had a 68 model that had red seats,the later 76 290 I had the seats were brown.Don,t know if this helps.
Thanks boyzee , thats the thing on here, you find out something new everyday , never seen a red seat one myself , don’t understand how your 71 had blue seats though ? 
Thought they didn’t come till 73 with the plastic grill & two spoke steering wheel updates
boyzee:
My later 1977 290 F88.
WANT IT!!!
I take it you liked your 88 then ROF 
?
It was the best lorry I had driven at the time and still ranks pretty high in my list of decent motors. However, I have to admit that I didn’t have to pay the fuel bill!
The interior of GPW375N from 1975 I think
boris:
Thanks boyzee , thats the thing on here, you find out something new everyday , never seen a red seat one myself , don’t understand how your 71 had blue seats though ?
The bloke who originally put this F89 brochure on the internet reckons it dates from 1971:
The 89 was launched in late 1970, so Tiptop495’s assertion that the very first ones had the red cloth seats makes sense, in that the blue cloth seats may have arrived some time in 1971.
Bloody Volvos- so far, we have become confused over the power output of the engines, the position of the windscreen wipers, the number of wheelstuds, the availability of right-hand steering wheels on 89s, the radiator grille on F88-250s, now even the colour of the seats. Why do we do this to ourselves?
My Dad had one on an L plate, DDH 22L that had red seats, but it was recabbed with one off an H plate. There’s a pic of it on tnet somewhere with its first owner.
[zb]anorak…Brilliant! 
- Is their any other vehicle thread with such a ‘twist’ ? Surely Volvo could have saved bucketloads in production with a bit more standardisation )across the range .
[zb]
anorak:
I think this French F88 brochure pic is from 1965:
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Hey Anorak, this pic is of '65 it has still the 4951 seats.
Hey Boris, the expension tank came in '68 and disappered when the wippers came down end '69.
Before '68 there wasn’t a coolant expansion tank.
Bye Eric,
Hey all, here the '66 model so new seats,look at the engine cover Always different and different.
bye Eric’
boyzee:
boris:
Thanks Erik , good info , i just wonder why the uk always seemed to be ‘different’ spec to rest of EU , like i said every 68-73 uk model i’ve seen always had the breathable grey pvc , unless someone on here knows differentMy 71 F88 had blue seats,we had a 68 model that had red seats,the later 76 290 I had the seats were brown.Don,t know if this helps.
Hey to all, Blue seats in a '71 F89 ok,but only in '73 for the F88 (but maybe a britsh version).
Bye Eric,
Heres an interesting roadtest & the wipers get a mention 
archive.commercialmotor.com/page … ry-1973/37
-:Has anyone got a better pic of the wiper control ?