Lot Ended
Description
Restored about 5 years ago including bare metal repaint in Volvo
Light Green; sparingly used since; overdrive gearbox; Minilite-style
alloys; very smart indeed
Volvo’s
stylish P1800 was designed in 1957 by Swede Pelle Petterson while working at
Italian design house Frua. It was originally planned that Karmann would build
the cars but after many delays they pulled out and production did not actually
begin until 1961, the first 6,000 cars being built by Jensen in the UK, before
production moved to Gothenburg in 1963. It was at this point that the model was
designated the P1800S.
Based on the shortened
floorplan of the Amazon saloon, it shared many of the Amazon’s mechanicals with
independent front suspension, a coil sprung live rear axle and disc/drum brakes.
Power came from Volvo’s trusty B18 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine mated to a
four-speed manual gearbox with optional overdrive. Fitted with twin SU carbs and
pumping out some 115bhp, it could propel the coupe to over 100mph and keep it
there all day.
Despite a hefty price tag of
£1,800 in the UK (more than an E-Type Jaguar), sales were brisk from the start
and received a significant boost when Roger Moore’s Simon Templar was seen
running around in a white one in the cult TV series ‘The Saint’ from 1962 until
1969.
First registered in London in February
1968, this P1800S has had six owners from new, according to the V5C, our vendor
acquiring the car in 2018 at which point it had been off the road for many
years.
In 2019 it was completely stripped down
with the glass, interior and engine all removed. The body was professionally
restored with new front wings and rear valance before being repainted in Volvo
Light Green (code 91), a period colour which suits it really well. All the
exterior brightwork was replaced as required, including new stainless steel
bumpers, chrome side strips, front grille etc. A new set of Minilite-style
alloys were also fitted.
The B18B 1.8 twin-carb
engine (which is suitable for unleaded petrol) was found to be in good
condition, needing nothing more than a thorough service, as was the 4-speed
overdrive gearbox (a desirable factory option). A new wiring loom was fitted
along with Powerspark electronic ignition, a new uprated aluminium radiator and
a new ribbed aluminium rocker cover. The brakes, steering and suspension were
all refurbished as required with various new parts fitted.
Being a
1968 model it retains the attractive aluminium dash and blue-faced instruments
which were replaced by imitation wood and black and white dials from 1969
onwards. We are told that all the instruments work as they should, including the
clock which was converted to a quartz mechanism, but the rev counter stopped
working when the electronic ignition was fitted (it worked fine when the points
were still fitted).
The seats were retrimmed
in black leather and a new set of carpets fitted along with a new black leather
dash top. A retro-style DAB radio was also fitted with a pair of Dibeisi
speakers on the rear parcel shelf.
Although
there are no invoices to show exactly what work has been done to the car, there
are notes from the vendor detailing the main points plus an album of photos
which document much of the process (some of which are reproduced here). A
Brooklands workshop manual is also present, along with an original and highly
detailed Volvo factory parts catalogue in Swedish and in
English.
Since the restoration was completed
the car has been kept garaged and used lightly in fine weather only, mainly to
attend local shows. As you can see in the photos, it looks to be in very good
shape both above and below and has been starting promptly and running sweetly as
we have moved it around on site, with good 50psi oil pressure.
Widely considered to be the best-looking Volvo
ever made, the P1800 is also exceptionally durable and easy to maintain –
American Irv Gordon famously clocked up over 3.25 million miles in his P1800S
before he passed away in 2018 and it was still on its original engine. This
beauty only shows 94,072 miles so it will probably outlast us all…
For more information contact James on
07970 309907 or email [email protected]