The collector car market, in your inbox
Classic car news, hand-picked vehicles, and auction coverage. Choose what lands in your inbox.
Volvo wanted a wagon that could keep up with sport sedans, and it brought in Porsche to help. The result was the 850 T-5R, and a 1995 example in Cream Yellow is live with no reserve on Cars & Bids. The auction ends Thursday, November 12 at 2:36 p.m. EST, and the high bid was $5,855 when we checked.
What Made the T-5R Different
The 850 reached the U.S. in 1993 as Volvo's first front-wheel-drive model. The T-5R followed for 1995 with a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-five rated at 240 horsepower. Porsche contributed to the tuning, work that came after its involvement with the Audi RS2 Avant, another fast wagon with Porsche input. PistonHeads puts the T-5R's 0-60 time at about seven seconds. We covered the car's history earlier this year in Volvo's 850 T-5R Wagon Proved Family Cars Could Run With Sports Sedans.
Cream Yellow is the color people remember. PistonHeads reports it was offered only on the T-5R and dropped when the 850 R replaced it for 1996. Volvo originally planned a run of 2,500 yellow cars, then added Black Stone and Dark Olive Pearl when demand was strong. The listing says fewer than 7,000 T-5Rs were built for worldwide markets.
A Right-Hand-Drive Automatic
This car is not a typical U.S.-market T-5R. The listing describes it as a right-hand-drive, Japanese-spec wagon with a clean Washington title, a metric odometer reading about 220,000 kilometers (roughly 136,700 miles) and a four-speed automatic transmission. In the comments, the seller says the car was imported from the UK, so bidders may want to ask about its import history.
The seller reports 17-inch "Titan" wheels, a power sunroof, the T-5R body kit and suspension tuning, leather and Alcantara upholstery, heated front sport seats and black walnut trim. The only reported modification is a front strut tower brace.
Flaws and Service
The seller lists faded paint and exterior plastics, chips and scratches around the exterior, paint bubbles and corrosion on the rear hatch below the window, and wear on the seats and steering wheel. The seller also says the service light occasionally comes on. A timing belt replacement at 106,700 miles in 2023 is reported, but no documentation was provided.
Why It Is Worth Watching
Another yellow T-5R wagon showed up on the same site in September. That one had 168,600 miles and a manual transmission swap, and it sold for $38,000 on September 17. This car keeps its automatic and is selling with no reserve, so the final price is wide open. If you want to see how an unusual Volvo wagon gets there, the full listing has 65 photos and the seller's comments.
