For the same reason, he deleted a rear wing because although it was "useful at top speed, the law doesn't like aftermarket wings and I didn't want to attract too much attention. I also felt it ruined the overall look of the car," Tobias said.
He was bolder inside, removing everything behind the front seats and lining it with diamond plate. He also removed the sound insulation and carpet, but kept it up front to look less hardcore.
Motorsport equipment includes the pair of Cobra Monaco seats with six-point Willians harnesses, a quick-release steering wheel and a full GUS rollcage.
The stock instrumentation wasn't going to suffice, so the speedo was replaced with a VDO dial that reads to 300km/h, while a giant KL-Racing rev counter with shift lights is mounted to the console. The center vents were also blanked off with diamond plate to mount a series of oil, water, AFR and boost gauges.
Looking forward
We've already mentioned Tobias is building a new engine for the 245 and, money no object, he'd like to add a carbon fiber roof and tubular chassis but freely admits there's a long wish list. "I started the project in '04, so it's been in development for six years. The day I sell it or crash it beyond repair will be the day I'm done with it," he confirmed.
But for now he's content to fettle the car and continue cutting lap times with suspension adjustments. "At the first track event I attended, the Race Wagon behaved better than I expected, and my expectations were very high!
"The car got lots of attention, and it's still a curiosity when I race because most people underestimate a station wagon. I love to see the look on the faces of M3, Audi, Skyline and Porsche owners when I pass them on the track. They simply can't believe it happened - being passed by an '81 Volvo 245 DL is nothing to tell your friends about!" he laughed.
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You've got to wonder what the missing gauge did?
Tech Spec
1981 Volvo 245 DL
Owner: Tobias Wasserman
Location: Norrtälje, Sweden
Occupation: mechanic
Engine: Volvo 850 T5 B5234 2.3-liter five-cylinder with reinforced block, SPM rods, shortened '96 Volvo 960 oil pan, ported head, modified Volvo R gasket, '94 850 GLT cams, adjustable cam gear, fabricated exhaust manifold and 3" stainless steel turbo-back side-exit exhaust, '04 S60 T5 ported intake with '96 960 throttle-body and housing, ST70 turbo, '93 Audi S2 wastegate, dual Bosch dump valves, dual '92 Mercedes 500 fuel pumps and '96 Saab 9000 pressure pump, '93 Toyota Hilux fuel cooler, '94 Volvo 850 Motronic 4.4 ECU with custom tune and distributor-less ignition controller for individual coils, Siemens 630cc injectors, modified Scania intercooler, Turbo-bandit aluminum radiator and catch tank, dual '02 S40 cooling fans, oil cooler with cooling fan
Drivetrain: '92 BMW 535i Getrag transmission, custom bellhousing, lengthened driveshaft, BMW pedal assembly with hydraulic clutch, '96 Volvo 940 clutch cylinder and '92 BMW 535i slave cylinder, four-puck sintered-bronze clutch with Sachs Racing pressure plate, lightened flywheel, '88 Volvo 240 axle with Torsen diff, 3.54:1 final drive, axle cooler and pump mounted in rear bumper
Brakes: '01 Jaguar XKR 360mm front rotors and Brembo four-piston calipers, 315mm AP-Racing floating rear rotors and AP four-piston calipers, custom e-brake drums, brake bias adjuster for rear brakes
Suspension: Sellholm front coilovers, relocated front hubs, reinforced '88 Volvo 240 ambulance upper and lower strut braces, 60mm lowered A-arms with uniball joints, quick rack without PAS, Bilstein rear shocks with Sellholm springs on custom height-adjustable perches, adjustable panhard bar, rear A-arms lowered 40mm, Sellholms adjustable sway bars
Wheels & Tires: 17x8'' Compomotive MO wheels ET11, 265/640 R17 Pirelli P Zero slicks
Exterior: Bross front spoiler, M3-style side skirts, custom carbon hood, RP-Glasfiber fenders and tailgate, Lexan windows, US-spec '86 Volvo 240 headlights and signals, single wiper, Dalhems Cup mirrors and fuel filler in rear window, quick-release latches on bumper and spoiler, red/clear tail lights, Volvo 139 paint
Interior: six-point GUS rollcage, Cobra Monaco seats, six-point Willans harnesses, Dalhems driver's net, rear seat and insulation removed, 300km/h VDO speedo, KL-Racing tacho, gauges for AFR, oil press, oil temp, water temp, volts and boost, Tekniq Snap-Off steering wheel, custom aluminium washer reservoir in diamond plate-lined trunk, Fuelsafe 10.6-gallon fuel cell
Thanks: Tony Eriksson, Lennart Nyström at Nyström's Mekaniska, Jörgen Gustavsson, Daniel Gränsgärd, Mikael Baalack, Jill Nilsson, Tage Wassermann