Used Cars: To buy or not to buy old used Volvo?, model volvo, buying used cars

Question
I am looking at buying an 87 Volvo that has 119k miles on it for $1200.  The car looks like it is in pretty good condition.  I am quite a novice when it comes to buying used cars, and I don't want to be ripped off.  What kinds of things about the car, maintenance, etc. should I consider before purchasing?  What kind of reputations do old Volvos have?  Am I getting ripped off?

Thanks for any advice/information you can give to me.

Answer
80 Model Volvo's have a pretty good reputation. You can research the car online at consumer reports or edmunds and others. I would take any car I'm buying to a local mechanic and have a second opinion about the car, if someone would not let me do that then I would be suspicious. You can pull a carfax online and find out the history of the car and you can ask the previous owner if they have any maint records? Thanks and good luck.