There have been a few iconic Volvo car models over the years, but the two that probably stand out most for Gen-X/millenial Volvo fans are the 240 and the 142. They’re the classics, with just enough boxiness, just enough edge, and just enough vintage charm to make them enduring. You could easily forgive someone, then, for having a hard time deciding between the two– but what if you didn’t have to choose? That’s the question that Jacob Almqvist set out to answer with his JA-Custom Edition Volvo 244DL.

The JA-Custom 244 seems like the best of all worlds, with the classic roofline of the 240 series Volvo sedans artfully blended to 142-style front and rear clips and tastefully flared fenders wrapping a custom-built suspension.

Under the hood, Jacob’s Volvo is packing an 850-sourced Volvo Modular B5234T engine fitted with an upgraded Precision turbocharger and custom exhaust system. The block is reinforced, and the heads stay on with help from ARP head studs. All in, the powerplant is good for more than 500 HP– a fact that is borne out by the car’s 11-second 1/4 mile passes against a Porsche GT3 (on a wet track).

You can check out a bunch of Jacob’s build photos, below, and watch one of those 11-second passes in the video at the bottom of the page. Once you’ve done that, let us know what you think of this wild 244 in the comments. Enjoy!

Volvo 244 DL JA-Custom | Build Photos

JA-CUSTOM EDITION VOLVO 244 DL SPECS HP / TORQUE 514 HP / 427 TQ ENGINE AND EXHAUST SYSTEM reinforced B5234T ARP head stud bolts Precision turbo (1.5 Bar) electric water pump w/o thermostat (!?) TRANSMISSION ZF BMW gearbox POWER AND PERFORMANCE 1/4 MILE 11.90 @ 116 MPH 0-60 MPH < 4 SEC. CHASSIS home-built rollcage front subframe/suspension modified 4-link rear suspension 11 degree caster angle, adj. camber adjustable height/rates front and rear RIMS, TIRES 8.5×19″ front 11×19″ rear 305/25R19 OTHER DETAILS Full roll cage and home-built aluminum door skins with flared fenders, custom hood hinges, custom grille and 122-style nose and rear section, and polycarbonate (see-through) floor. Racing seats, full harnesses, and basic fire suppression.

Source | Images: JA-Custom, via Garaget.