Volvo 740 GLE
The 740 put a four-cylinder engine into the spacious 700-series saloon, giving Volvo a new route into the large family-car market.
1984 Volvo 740 GLE Overdrive (15116407622).jpg · Niels de Wit from Lunteren, The Netherlands · CC BY 2.0
Research pending
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More than a set of wheels.
Volvo introduced the 740 GLE in 1984 as a four-cylinder counterpart to the 760. In Sweden its first engine was the injected B23E. The following year brought a different engine code, B230E, despite similar quoted output, making the model year important when describing an early car.
Look a little closer.
The 1984 Swedish GLE had B23E power; the 1985 listing changed to B230E while retaining 131 hk.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
The smaller engine broadened the family
The 760 established the new 700-series shape, and the 740 GLE extended that idea with a four-cylinder alternative. Its long 2,770 mm wheelbase and four-door body suited family use. This first-year profile concerns the saloon; later estates and engines belong to a wider family story.
Source: Volvo Heritage · 740 saloon ↗Read the year as carefully as the badge
Volvo’s Swedish dealer table lists the 1984 GLE with B23E and the next year with B230E. Both rows offer a four-speed manual with overdrive or a four-speed automatic. A GLE badge alone is therefore insufficient evidence for the exact engine under the bonnet.
Source: Volvo Swedish dealer guide · page 34 ↗Where these facts come from
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-02.