Volvo P1800S

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Volvo’s gorgeous P1800 was designed in 1957 by Swede Pelle Petterson whilst working at Italian design house Frua. 

Long, low and streamlined with a rounded nose and a swooping roofline that flowed into a steeply raked rear screen flanked by a pair of tail fins, it looked effortlessly cool from the outset. However, due to various behind-the-scenes wranglings over who should make the body, production did not actually begin until 1960.

Based on the shortened floorpan of the Amazon saloon, it also 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 old 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 was no fireball but could propel the coupe to over 100mph and keep it there all day.

Initially manufactured in the UK by Jensen, from 1963 onwards production was transferred to Volvo’s new Torslanda factory and henceforth the car was known as the P1800S (for Sweden). Despite a hefty price tag of £1,800 in the UK (more than an E-Type Jag) sales were brisk from the start and received a significant boost when Roger Moore was seen running around in a white one in the cult TV series ‘The Saint’ from 1962 until 1969.

Famously rugged and durable, a P1800S holds the record for the highest number of miles covered by one owner in the same car, American Irv Gordon having clocked up more than 2.7 million miles in his 1966 example with just one engine rebuild to date at 680,000 miles. When production of the P1800S came to an end in 1969, some 24,000 examples had been sold.

First registered in April 1966, this particular car has been in the current ownership since 1999. Black with a red leather interior, it was last on the road about six years ago but is said to be in good mechanical condition – the engine was rebuilt about 6,000 miles ago when the head was also converted to run on unleaded fuel while the gearbox is reported as “working smoothly with the overdrive functioning as it should.” The tyres are reported as “good and all matching.”

The front seats have been re-covered in red leather to match the originals but the vendor advises that the bodywork needs some attention and would really benefit from a full respray. Time permitting, it may have a new MOT in time for the sale. Supplied with a good history file, a quantity of spares and an owner’s manual, it looks mighty tempting at the modest guide price suggested today.

AMENDMENT: This car does not have a current MOT.