off topic: Volvo P1800

Hey guys, anyone familiar with this car? It's the little Volvo sports coupe from the early sixties that later evolved into a shooting brake type psuedo-wagon.

Anyway, I have a chance to buy one (a very early example, a 1963 I believe but I've never seen the title or called Volvo to run the VIN) in bad shape.

That said, I've known the car since I was a kid. It belongs to the elderly original owner and has 33k documented miles. He and I have been buddies since I was his newspaper carrier. This is one of "those" stories-too bad it's not a Speedster.

Mechanically, it's fine. The owner is something of an eccentric guy and he had the motor completely gone over three years ago, new exhaust, brakes redone, etc. Then he drove it home and parked it in the driveway.

The problem is the body is bad. It's got some rust just about everywhere. The rockers are beginning to show perforations. The edges of the trunk are rusty, the trim is rusty, etc. Essentially, it will need a complete body overhaul, probably including floors, etc.

Anyone wanna give me some advice on what it's worth. I imagine in restored shape, it might have some value b/c of the originality and the mileage. Heck, I'm sure I could even recover the original bill of sale and every receipt since new. But, the model isn't exactly a highly sought after piece.

Basically, I'm looking for the cost/benefit analysis. Without that from you guys, I know I'll buy it rashly.

TIA

Dave

1984 928S/5spd.
1976 912E

I was looking at one of these volvos last summer, and it appeared to have a seamless body...which is alot like the Karman Ghia--If I remember correctly, the ghia was leaded by hand--into the seams---this would be something to consider when you look at it, and wonder where the fenders or rear panels will unbolt.

These cars are really wierd to drive. High door sills and low roof. You have to be a contortionist just to rool the window up and down. They are pretty cool looking though. I used to want one until I drove one. I'm 5'10" tall and this car made me feel like Shaq. Seriously.

That aside, you will be WAY over your head as far as money investment unless you do all the work yourself and treat it like it's a body repair school course/time killing hobby. That would be a lot of fun and would have sentimental value for many reasons. Great excuse for overspending it's finished value. You can't put a price on that.

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet

Hello

The ES came in 1970 previous cars where coupes.

1963 are the very early and rare cars. The bodys where made in england and rustet heavy.
The bumpers are hard to get. S types were made in Sweden and are more solid and have other bumpers.

A complete restoration basis is hard to find. The cars worth is hard tio estimate. Very good examples have around 20 000 range.

Good runners are at 10 000 $ ( All german based prices)

Those cars have a very solid mechanic and are hard to kill. The 1 millon car is a Volvo 1800 E.

Restoration is as iky as on 914 with a bit more 356 on the outside. Some parts are rare and pricelevel is like Porsche, Some repros are poor quality, i.e rubber and trim. ( Like british parts use to be )

The car drives very good and sporty but not to british. A bit more beetwen MG B and Jaguar. Back in his days it competet with the 356 and made some points over it in drivingstability, noise, usability, heating.

I´ll try to find some usefull links.

A good strategy would be you ask the owner for assitance. maybe he will see the car in good hands prior making money. Hey have a car 37 Years then it is something close to your soul and not the wallet you sit on with your butt. Some people have the soul in the heart others in the brain, you will find out.

Grüsse

Yes, just so: Volvo was very unhappy with the inital body from England and moved the operation over to the home country.

Beautiful cars though. Will you be putting a saint on the hood? O;>

Roland/Others:

The car is not an "S". It is one of the very first ones to make it over here. I think 62 was the first year. Although I am not sure, I believe the car in question is a 63 but I do remember hearing the story told to me years ago about the coachwork being done in England (Jensen?).

Anyway, it's really all original. It might even have one or more of the original tires on it. I know the exhaust is recent and probably not correct, but everything else including the complete tool kit is there.

Can I pass this up?

Hello

Well had seen Roger moore in real, he is a dwarf ! Not really but average woman are similar hight. So the Volvo suits him. And we all are woundering why the car is so small.

The Volvo has character and needs character, very similar to many other cars. From today the car seems very aged but it is a 40 year old design and Volvo Drivers where a bit on the conservative side. But did not dislike to drive spiritet or even sideways.

Despite the valuequest you have to find out if you like the car and specific that car. And then think about the way to go.

My advice would be to get it át a very low pricelevel and preserve further roting then drive it for a while finding out all those things and bits, starting to maintain and collect expierience and connections. If you decide to sale it then you have the opportunity to marked that thing as it is but as you are not in the rush you can start to sale it to an collector in search for a low milage car then the history still has value even with you aa the secound owner.

If you like the car then you have to do the body as first major investment. As with 356, 914, Karmann Ghia, 190 SL, MG A, Alfa Bertone these cars are not the starterfriendliest the problem is most people start it and get frustratet and then it is an other basket.

Grüsse

http://www.saint.org/volvo.htm http://www.saint.org/volprod.htm
http://www.internetcarparts.com/bboard.html?date=10:31:03%201/24/101
http://www.volvoworld.com
http://www.p1800.com/n_part.htm
http://www.vsa.org/
http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/F.D.men/volvolinks.html
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/slm/1800es.htm
http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/pro_1800.htm

Hello

The early cars are a bit higher in value as many parts are hard to get.

IN my eyes it is a rare oportunity many people where looking/searching for years.

IT is not a typical supercar and the value is compared to other low while the parts are expensive but it might change in some years.

The competition was the BMW 2000 Coupe, Glas GT, Porsche 356/912, Alfa Coupe.... they are all in the same pricerank and cost similar money in resto or maintain. And value is something that is not only the money. You can buy maybe a brand new econobox for similar money or if you have to use professional help you will reach higher levels. But it has more value in future then an new car yet will ever have and it is more fun and very uniqe. Plus it will link you with the PO, see he is geting older and it is hard to him to let things go. So if you understand his situation and can manage benfits for you both it is not a typical buyer vs. saler relation.

I don´t know the background why he sales the car but as long he isn´t forced to sale for making money it is a good chance for interessting deals.

See you can buy a dog or you can recive a dog. It is a dog but the intention behind it is different.

Grüsse

Dave,

I don't know specifics about this car, but I think they look/drive great! I drove one a few years back that a friend had refurbished. He did ALOT of work on his and has since moved away and lost touch, but I recall he never mentioned having a difficult time with parts, although I think he did little sheet metal work other than prep and paint, mostly did mechanical.

I say, if it has only 33K, and you plan to own it as a collector, don't pass it up!

Good Luck.
Nick.

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Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe
nickshu@yahoo.com

Well, I'm going to talk to the owner this weekend and talk some $. I don't get the feeling that it's worth a ton of money, but I'd like to restore the car. Part of the deal, if any, is that I promise never to sell the car. That's a tough one on the outside, but how cool would it be to sell it to my newspaper carrier when I'm 80? That's invaluable. I'm thinking around $500 b/c it hasn't been driven in years, fair runners sell for $2000.00 or so, and the body needs totally refurbished. The interior is okay, but the seats will need re-leathered someday unless I go "preservation". Can you do that and have the body work done, or does it have to be totally original to show that way?