So Bruce...when are we buying this for you?

[B10er]

http://bringatrailer.com/2010/02/24/odd-swede-1978-volvo-343-dl/

[Double02]

Hey! Funny we were just talking about these not that long ago. What are the chances?

Less than $1k and it's already met the reserve. What a deal. I don't think I can quite swing it now unfortunately. Of course if someone else wants to pick it up they can safely assume I'd buy it from them in a few years. More likely I'll just have to wait until that Europe buying trip for the Pug 504, then ship it back with one of these...

Very cool find Chris.

[Poon]

Man, I really hope that twin belt set up is a joke!

[Double02]

Man, I really hope that twin belt set up is a joke!

Nope, it's for real. I don't get all the panic over it - maybe my mechanical engineering background. It's definitely weird, and bulky, but seemed to have done the job for the basic transportation application. The Subaru Justy had something roughly equivalent.

[motrhead]

That belt set up worked well and lasted quite a long time in the DAF cars, and even longer in the Volvos, although they did make the regular manual transmission available in later years.
There used to be a 343 in Cranbrook, BC, but it was sold and I don't know where it ended up. I have met a couple of 343s on the road in BC.
The 1980 European Rallycross Championship, Touring Car division, was won by a turbo 343...

[Double02]

For those who thought these had no potential, check out this TB link...

http://www.turbobricks.org/forums/showthread.php?t=199099

Not really digging the cartoonish look, but it does burnouts!