Dec
12
We’ve mentioned this every time we find a decent 1800S – they were ignored for a long time but no more. The styling thought to be a bit flamboyant years ago, has matured nicely. In fact, it is a very distinctive design that has stood the test of time. Our featured 1800S is finished in an off white or, as the seller says, “cream” color. It was restored a number of years ago and there is a new red interior done with the appropriate cut & sew pattern. Read More
Aug
21
If you are a frequent reader of Mint, you know we can’t pass up the possibility of a nice, early Volvo P1800S. We have had some really good examples including the recent offering from friend Mark S. (’64 P1800). Our thinking is the P1800S is probably the almost perfect entry-level sports/GT car. You can find a P1800S in almost any state of condition and no matter what that is, they probably run well enough to enjoy. And no, we are not referring to basket cases with no floors or rockers. Just decent, relatively solid specimens. The design has finally come in to its own and it beginning to be appreciated by astute collectors in the hobby. Will they ever be super valuable? Read More
Aug
8
We like to mix things up here at Mint featuring submissions that represent a wide range of cool cars. The blue car we featured a few days ago looked great in original condition. This one looks like all of the heavy lifting is done. So we made an exception with this Volvo P1800S – too nice to wait or pass on. It is no secret the enthusiast community has recognized the Volvo P1800 is a really neat sports car. It took quite some time to achieve that status. But back in the day, auto journalists liked the car. The press instantly recognized that this was a sporting car, rather than one built for out-and-out performance, and gave the P1800 good reviews. “In doing that for which it is intended, fast steady cruising, the P1800 is superb and it gave us the impression it would run forever at near maximum speed,” Road & Track said. Car and Driver liked the car, too:
Aug
6
After decades of having a blind-eye towards anything from Sweden, the collector car enthusiast has finally seen the light. Yes, they now know what legions of Volvo-isti (invented here) have known for years: the P1800S is a satisfyingly beautiful and well-built sports car. We are beginning to see quite a few P1800S examples that have great potential from what we can tell by the limited information given in some of the ads we are sent. But we know you wouldn’t buy one of these without someone looking at it in the flesh, right? Read More
Jun
13
It seems every Volvo P1800 seller trumpets the appearance of the car on The Saint starring Roger Moore. From what I remember of the story, the producers wanted a Jaguar XKE but they were in so much demand, Jaguar declined. Volvo smartly jumped at the chance. When you think about it, The Saint’s Volvo is probably one of the most famous TV cars. Comment on which one you think is the most popular. Kit, General Lee, Route 66 ‘Vette, Honey West’s white Cobra? Read More
May
19
Volvo wasn’t known for making sweeping changes year to year. But every once in a while, they were forced to keep up with competition and federal regulations. In 1970, Volvo made numerous changes to the P1800. They added an E which meant it had the B20E engine with Bosch D-Jetronic, a revised camshaft, and produced 130 bhp without sacrificing fuel economy. Top speed was around 120 mph and acceleration from 0–60 mph took 9.5 seconds. Read More
May
13
We love the Volvo P1800S and there are legions of new admirers snapping up the best ones. We found this California car on Craigslist and it looks and sounds like the real deal. But even the best one of the “unrestored” P1800S out there can have lots of needs. Read More
Mar
28
We’ve owned lots of Volvos. Probably can’t count how many have taken residence in our garage. The oldest was a ’52 PV444 that we found in the high desert in California. Most of the others were station wagons – the 240 and the 740 – plain and turbocharged. We had a Bertone 780 Coupe in a pretty dark red metallic too. But we have never owned an 1800. We think we may have missed a really neat experience. The 1800 acquired its name from the displacement of the engine. It was called a P1800S. The S is for Sweden. Read More
Feb
10
This wonderful P1800S has been re-posted by the seller on eBay. The starting bid is $15,000 and we have some suspicion that is all they want to make the deal. These early P1800S models are rare in this condition and although it has a few cosmetic needs, it looks like a good jumping off point. We haven’t inspected the car in person, so we don’t know the quality of the paint. But it certainly appears to be presentable in the photos. BTW, Irv Gordon, the P1800S 3 million miler, posted it on his Facebook page so we know it is worth checking into. Click here for the eBay listing.
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