BUYER'S BRIEF
From P1800 coupé to practical 1800ES, James Walshe checks out this svelte Swede
WHAT TO PAY
PROJECT £2000-£4000
RUNNER £8750-£10,000
GOOD £18,000-£35,000
TECH SPEC
Engine 1986cc/4-cylinder/OHC
Power 112bhp@6000rpm Torque 115lb ft@3500rpm
Gearbox 4-speed manual
0-60mph 11.3sec
Top speed 116mph
Fuel economy 27mpg
LIVING WITH A P1800
How easy to work on
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■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Performance
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Why you want one
When Volvo gets sporty, you’re guaranteed a uniquely beautiful car. Styled by Pelle Peterson while working for Frua, the P1800 captivated buyers back then, just as it does today. Whether you’re looking at bagging an original or a last-of-the-line 1800ES (as pictured here), it’s worth knowing this is the Swedish sports car that very nearly didn’t get built. Karmann was earmarked to commence production in the late Fifties until VW threatened to pull the plug on their partnership with the Osnabrück manufacturer. Volvo instead hastily partnered with Jensen Motors, with Pressed Steel in Linwood building the shells.
The first P1800 left the West Bromwich line in September 1960 and 6000 were built before Volvo shifted production in 1963 to Gothenburg, where it was rebadged 1800S (although body shells were built at Linwood and shipped to Sweden until 1968). Buyers hunting either of those two models, or the later 1800E 1800ES, will be thrilled to know there’s a market bristling with enthusiasm and support. The actual cars can be much harder to come by, however. Here, we help you to find your dream example.
Which one do I want?
The rarest and, to some, most desirable is the earliest Jensen-built P1800. Many parts are unique to the model, with items such as the roulette wheel trims expensive and hard to source these days. Most of these models were built with the steering wheel on the left and ended up elsewhere in the world, so you may have to work hard if your heart is set on one. When Volvo's West Bromwich production line shut down in 1963, Volvo began assembling 1800S in Sweden retaining the earlier car’s Pressed Steel built body, but gaining a new range of standard Volvo paint schemes.
If you’re viewing a car from 1964 onwards, you’ll find your 1800S has a new-style bodyshell and doors, among other things. This 1778cc 1800S model was tweaked again cosmetically over the following few years so be sure to check with the clubs to find out what your chosen 1963-1969 version is. These run from ‘Type B’ to ‘Type ‘P’. The final 1800S arrived in showrooms in 1968 and is something of a rarity. While it’s the first to be fitted with the new 1986cc B20 engine (with twin SU or Strombergs), it was also
