The third and final “star car” of the 2026 New Hope Auto Show is this 1971 Volvo 142E. I first spotted the car from the rear as I circled the show and headed back to the Alfa Romeo class. A man, presumably the owner, was standing at the Volvo’s open trunk. I approached him and asked, “is this a ’71 142E?” When he replied in the affirmative, my next question was, “would you like to sell it to me?” He quickly countered with a “no,” but my question began a conversation about his ownership. He told me that he bought the car, perhaps ten years ago, after finding it advertised for sale on Long Island. He turned and handed me a copy of the VSA (Volvo Sports America) club magazine, for which he is the President. His name is Tony D’Agostino, and we had a pleasant chat about this car and Volvos in general.

Most people who desire a Volvo sports car gravitate to the 1800, produced as a two-door coupe and three-door hatchback from 1961 through 1973. They are attractive cars, and certainly look the part of “the sporty Swede.” However, the driver’s fit is tight, the steering can feel heavy, and outward visibility is limited. None of these deter the Volvo faithful from collecting them. I speak from some experience as I’ve driven plenty of them through the years. I’ve also driven the 1971 142E, which was a very special car. At that time, in addition to the 1800, Volvo produced the 140 series in three body styles: two-door sedan, four-door sedan, and station wagon. The 140 was Volvo’s bread and butter car, with a four-cylinder carbureted engine, a choice of manual or automatic, cloth seats, and a limited option list. For those who wanted more, the 164 four-door sedan included a six-cylinder engine, along with leather upholstery and metallic paint. By 1971, the 164 and 1800 had switched to fuel injection, while all the 140s stayed with carburetors. Well, almost all. The limited-edition 142E was the first 140 to offer Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection, along with leather seats and metallic paint. The high-compression engine produced 130 HP, impressive for its time. Compared to the other 140s, the “E” was quicker, and also roomier than the 1800. I consider it to be one of the lost gems among old-school Volvos.

The 142E model rarely comes up for sale. I’ve been casually following the market, and most that do appear are in dire need of some restoration. While Tony didn’t reveal what he paid for the car, I vaguely remember an ad for one on Long Island several years back, with an asking price in the $20,000 range. Sounds expensive for a 140, but compared to what some 1800s fetch, for the right car, that price might be considered fair. The rarity alone. along with its outstanding condition, made Tony’s 1971 142E an easy pick for a star car at this show.

Entire blog post content copyright © 2026 Richard A. Reina. Text and photos may not be copied or reproduced without express written permission.