Volvo timeline -
1982 700 series launched (the 764 was first)
1984 740 series launched
1985 745/765 series launched
1990 700 ends and 940/945/960/965 launched (simply put, a redesigned 700: redesigned by a Brit - Peter Horbury)
1994 960 launched, largely redesigned architecture taking the 960 more upmarket
1997 S90/V90 launched, last of RWD Volvos.
I've kept the timeline focused on the RWD cars. The 700 series was the last of many Volvo's (Amazon, 140/160 series, and the 200 series) designed by Volvo's ace designer Jan Wilsgaard - hence my original comment.
Jon.