After over a year of trying to figure this out, I confirmed that the dealer in California brought my 1998 S70 T5 in from Belgium and completed a customer requested conversion to an "R". I was able to track down the previous owner with his name from a bill for the custom stainless steel exhaust he had installed. Found him on Facebook, messaged him and was able to talk to him about the car and he mentioned that the original owner told him thats what he got the dealer to do.
This is why i can see the S70R emblem(was badgeless when i bought it last year) on the upper right side trunk lid on my car(i have a pic but not sure how to add it to this post).
Therefore there are north american versions of the "R" which were dealer conversions but not up to the standards of the European cars.
Sounds like a mostly cosmetic conversion of the T5.
This would be why the build sheet i got from the dealer showed it as an S70Rn(i believe the small n is for north america) with sequential #1.
Interesting don't you think?

 

curious what your VIN decodes out to say...

 

what do you want to know? im not trying to fool anyone. just trying to get to the bottom of this once and for all. its been quite the puzzle so far. keeping me out of trouble too which is nice lol. let me know how to add a pic in this thread and i will post it for you if you want.

 

I would bet the "dealer conversion" is simply adding a badge and whatever other cosmetic add ons you see.

 

please see the original post stating that they were cosmetic conversions.

I also called the dealership in california where my car was delivered and spoke to a long time employee, who confirmed he remembers doing a couple of them. R rims, badging, etc.
saying that, i think the only difference performance wise in 1998 between the t5 and the R is 2 pounds of boost and lowered suspension?

 

My point is slapping some cosmetic stuff on it doesn't make it anything official.

It's like taking an S60 and buying an R badge and grille and rims and calling it a "conversion".

I'd be curious to run the VIN if you care to provide it.

 

i didnt do it. someone else did. its what the customer wanted so they did what they could to keep the sale im sure. its volvo dealer done. thats all.
i never said it was factory or anything of that nature. it is the true story of my car. like it or not, it is what it is.
what part of my vin are you interested in. i doubt i would give you my full vin. i dont know you.

 

ES6T is a Volvo Dealer Technician who has been very helpful to many members here, including looking up recalls, etc using the VIN Number. I personally do not see any issue with giving out the VIN number of your car.

 

i dont normally give out information about my personal stuff over the internet. i am 53 years old and spent the last year and a bit tracking down info. i have no need to pretend. dont believe what i have said. no big deal. i did it for me and not someone else. just thought i would share what i found out. sorry if it doesnt meet someones standards.

 

I would need to whole VIN. There is nothing I can do maliciously with the VIN.

 

Might I suggest that you could PM your VIN to ES6T and he could check it out for you.
As we are all interested in the general outcome of the conversion carried out itself,subject to your OK he could then post the relevant info' only to us???
That may make you feel more at ease?