#dirtbagswag whips 003: Graham's $500 Volvo

Graham (orange jacket), his boys, and his beloved Volvo

Some people can buy a new car and not drive but ten miles before having to go to a mechanic. Others can buy a twenty-five years old beat up Volvo for $500 with over 100,0000 miles, and only pay for gas, an oil change, and a window sized sheet of plexiglass. Graham is a lucky son of a gun in the latter group.

When Graham came into the guides' bunkhouse and said he was going to buy an old Volvo station wagon for $500 to drive 1,242 miles from Salida, Colorado back home to Nashville, Tennessee most of us laughed. Others offered wise economic council that Dave Ramsey would have been proud of. But Graham wasn't kidding.

The Swedish engineered, 90 degree, V6 engine rumbled like a good, old fashioned, American monster truck. The rear right panel window was missing. And the registration was of questionable legality but it had enough room for his gear, his bicycles, and his girlfriend so it was a done deal. All he had to do was drive it clear across the country.

Not only did "Marley" make it to Nashville, but in December it made it back to Salida for the ski season with four other passengers and only a few minor hiccups. And it almost made it back to Nashville again too -- and it did eventually get there -- but not without a tow truck. You can peep a rad little video of Graham and his buddies' cross country adventures HERE.




Whip Specs
make and model: 1988 Volvo 240DL 4 Door Station Wagon
under the hood: PRV 2.8L V6
gas mileage: "we'll get there when we get there... we're here."
dirtbag mods: plexiglass rear right window, homemade ski and snowboard rack

 

Graham's other vehicles include a 4x4 19XX Chevy Blazer lifted up on tires bigger than Muggsy Bogues, a bicycle he attached a lawn mower engine to, and a bicycle he just spent the last five days peddling the length of the Natchez Trace Trail (444 miles).

After putting some work into the engine, Graham brought Marley back to Wilderness Expeditions in 2014 and is leading groups to trailheads each week. And it's still the best $500 he ever spent (in one place).

#dirtbagswag approved (peep the guide's bunkhouse in the reflection)