Some Body Work Required: 1968 Volvo 1800S
This example of a Volvo 1800S is a heartbreaker. Long-term knowledgeable owner? Yes. Mechanically restored? Yes, including motor rebuild. Desirable colors? Absolutely, and a brand-new interior. From a distance, this car looks superb. But when the current owner acquired the car in 1989, it had been repainted and some rust was repaired – but not thoroughly enough. Now this car is seeing rust breaking through previously repaired areas and advanced cancer in places where no attention was given. We don’t know if that’s why the owner has opted to put the car up for sale, but for whatever reason, here on craigslist is a 1968 Volvo 1800S with an asking price of $19,000. The car is located in Scarborough, Maine. We have Healeydays to thank for this great tip!
Volvo conceived the P1800 for America and Europe, where it wanted to participate in the booming market for sports cars. Previously known for more sedate saloons – but not without some success on the track with the PV444, 544, and Amazon – the 1800 apparently surprised even Volvo, who couldn’t find a manufacturer at first. The initial overtures to Karmann amounted to nothing thanks to the objections of Volkswagen, and other German makers didn’t have the abilities Volvo was seeking. Finally, Jensen Motors in the UK was hired to produce the car. Unfortunately only 6,000 were made before quality issues arose. The rest of the production run through 1973 was completed in Sweden. The motor is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with two SU carburetors, making about 115 bhp. According to the seller, this motor – from a 1967 car – has been rebuilt in every detail and runs strong with good compression. It has a four-speed manual transmission with optional overdrive.
The interior is refurbished right down to the insulation; only a couple of components were untouched and show wear. Everything works except the clock and the tachometer, which reads high. The list of replaced and rebuilt parts throughout this car is truly impressive and we won’t repeat them here; suffice it to say that the seller’s job at a Volvo dealer paid dividends in the restoration area.
The underside reveals the rust issue, seen at right in this photo, where the sill is decaying. The seller notes that paint is lifting on a fender, the sills – as noted – need to be replaced, and rust is showing through the trunk; a thorough in-person inspection is probably a must here. And now it’s time to think about price. Early Jensen-made cars, identified by their “cow horn” bumpers, sell at a premium; it’s not hard to find dealers asking $40,000 or more for these cars. Later cars sell for considerably less. This exact car failed at auction in early November at $11,500. Perhaps a compromise between the current asking price and the auction bid is in order; what do you think?
Comments
Time for an BF staff meeting. Everyone gather round.
There is no such thing as a P1800S.
You can have a P1800, which was produced in England from 1961 through 1963; or, you can have an 1800S, which would have been produced from 1964 through ’69 in Sweden. But there is no P1800S.
In 1970, the model got fuel injection, and then became the 1800E. In 1972 and ’73, Volvo produced the wagon version of the 1800, and it was called the 1800ES.
In review: 1961-’63=P1800; 1964-1969=1800S; 1970-1972=1800E. ’72 and ’73 wagons=1800ES. Please circulate this info to all writers, as I am sure you strive for accuracy. That is all.
Thanks I will make the correction. I see the two designations used interchangeably – didn’t know this.
It’s ok, Michelle. Even some of the “experts” don’t know that Volvo themselves referred to their car as a P1800S for awhile….
Best Regards,
Billkrz
Here is the reverse side so you can see it was issued by Volvo themselves in Sweden.
Perhaps print a wallet-sized card…
So Rex if you have a Jensen p1800 with an engine from a 1967 1800s what do you get?
A p1800s kind of like a hybrid LOL!!!
I don’t make the rules, I just know them.
Dear Rex and other experts,
Please see the attached brochure issued by Volvo themselves in which they themselves describe their car as a P1800S.
While Volvo later deleted the “P” in later advertising, this brochure clearly shows that there WAS a Volvo P1800S at one time.
You are welcome.
Best Regards,
Billkrz
Cover of brochure
Last page of brochure. Please note Volvo issued it.
I’ll be happy to add chassis codes, like the cool BMW, M-B, and Porsche guys do. If it has 2 doors, like the featured car, the chassis code is P182, and the 3-door wagon has a chassis code of P183.
…and another footnote in the nomenclature tale is that when the engine capacity in 1969 went from 1.8 to 2.0, the 1800 designation was retained, presumably because as a model name it was well-regarded, rather as Chevrolet kept selling SS396s even after they’d started installing 402s.
I’m just wondering. 1968 was the first year of federally mandated side marker lights. I don’t see any on this Volvo. Was it a European delivery or could it be a 1967?
Here’s a list of 1800 identification items year by year. It looks like the side marker lights showed up part way thru 1968. Also, it’s possible that the prior owner who did the paint & body work eliminated them.
https://volvo1800pictures.com/wordpress/?page_id=685
I stand guilty of eliminating a whole bunch of side marker lights.
You’re right. 1968 was the first year for side markers. But I’m sure you know that “1968” models are generally released in the latter part of 1967. So “1968” models don’t need side markers unless they are built after 12/31/1967.
Many manufacturers built early 1968 cars to the 1/1/68 laws, but not all. Volvo was in the latter group. The sedans didn’t get dual-circuit master cylinders until 1/1/68. Certified Volvo Nuts™ refer to early-build 1968 cars as 1967.5.
My neighbor has a P1800S wagon.
Would that be a ’72 or ’73 1800ES?
He should have taken the $11,500.
With the dreaded tin worm attacking this one even $11K seems a bit of a stretch,$19K is definitely reaching for the moon. .Unless you can do all the body work and paint yourself, This one would be a pass. High hopes on the seller’s part needs a bit of reality check. Fix all the rust to high quality repair then put it on the market.
Putting all the misinformation aside, I have always loved the style and design quality of this vehicle. Personally, I consider it worthy of more work at the right price! I’ve seen pictures asking a ton more for vehicles looking way worse than what this photo depicts and I find this one worthy of a closer look.
Didn’t some guy on the east coast drive one of these something like 3 million miles?
I believe he was from Long Island and I think Volvo now owns it
That would have been the late Irv Gordon. He was a very nice fellow.
Decades ago at my high school a guy had a red one like this in his driveway with a tarp half covering it and on blocks. I always loved the look of these and thought even back then why weren’t people dropping big blocks in them Shelby Cobra style..but today 19k is a lot but it would be fun for 10k