Winning bid
£17,500

1973 Volvo P1800 ES

Highlights

  • Restored in 2016
  • Rarer shooting-brake model
  • New head gasket fitted in 2022
  • The number plate comes with the sale
  • Stylish Swedish classic

The Appeal

Piloted infamously by Roger Moore in The Saint, the Volvo P1800 is one of the most stylish Volvos to ever leave the Swedish factory. If you were after a bit more practicality from your sleek and sporty hatchback in 1973 then you could opt to go for the equally beautiful shooting brake. This example sat languishing in a driveway for several years, but it was restored in 2016 to this amazing condition.

The History and Paperwork

  • Leaving the factory in 1973 this P1800 has gone on to experience only 5 owners in 50 years
  • There is a fair amount of paperwork present with this Volvo
  • A lot of the paperwork is modern, from the time of the restoration
  • Some invoices reference some of the brake calipers being replaced
  • The current owner has also fitted new Uniroyal tyres all round 
  • A new head gasket was fitted in September 2022 along with a new thermostat 
  • During the restoration, the interior carpets were replaced
  • It is now time for you to get behind the wheel of this gorgeous classic 

The Interior

  • New carpets fitted throughout 
  • Lovely wood veneer dash
  • Large boot area
  • Sculpted black leather seats
The interior of this P1800 complements the exterior design extremely well, its black leather seats and dark wood veneer make for an interior that you can’t help but admire. If we start by looking at the seats, we can see that they are presented in rather good condition with only some slight patina. There has been a repair carried out on the driver’s seat so you shouldn’t need to source any new leather. The front seats look to be very comfortable indeed with their large side bolsters they should hold you well out on the road.
Just below the seats, you’ll notice the jet-black carpets. As previously mentioned, these were fitted during the car's restoration in 2016 and they have been tailored to fit the curves. In the boot, the carpet is fitted very well. In front of the driver is a well-thought-out dashboard. Providing all of the necessary driving information clearly you will always know how your P1800 is running. You may notice that it is still fitted with its original million-mile odometer which shows a genuine 52,000 miles. 
Spanning the width of the cabin the dashboard is void of obvious damage. Finished in a dark wood veneer it is very stylish and eye-catching. One of the more unique features of this P1800 is of course that large boot section. Trimmed in a matching black carpet this boot is large enough for you to pile in all of the necessary paraphernalia for a memorable adventure. Overall, the interior of this rare P1800 is in very good condition. You may find a few isolated areas of patina, but these only add to the car's charm and character. Just imagine all of the happy memories you’ll be able to make behind the wheel of this stylish Swede.

The Exterior 

  • Full re-spray carried out 
  • Matching tyres 
  • Beautiful styling
  • Good chrome condition
As you walk towards this P1800 you cannot help but stare in admiration. The exterior design of this car is nothing short of beautiful. With its classic chrome and striking red paint everyone will be jealous of your new classic. When this car was restored in 2016 it went through a professional respray, it is thanks to this work that it now sits in such great exterior condition. There are a few isolated areas of bubbling paintwork, one area that can be observed is towards the base of the passenger side door. 
We all know that you cannot have a classic car without miles of chrome and this P1800 is no different. Extending from the front bumper to the rear bumper the chrome adds to the curb appeal. Although the majority of the chrome is in great condition, there are a few areas that might need a bit of a polish. The front and rear bumpers for instance do have some slight crazing/scratching but these may come out with some metal polish. There is also a small area of bubbling to the boot hatch hinges.
There may be a few minor areas of age related wear, but you will be getting a nice and solid example of a rare Volvo. These cars are always admired wherever they go and with the added practicality of a shooting brake, what’s not to love?

The Mechanics

  • New head gasket fitted 
  • Powerful engine 
  • Running and driven example
  • Low mileage displayed
With most classics, this is a section you should pay close attention to, but with a P1800 reliability is its forte. How bulletproof are they you may be asking, well a similar example has clocked over 3 million miles. So, with 52,000 miles on the clock, this example should have a lot of life left in it. On the day of the photoshoot, this car performed impeccably. It was required to move around its yard into several positions, a task it completed with ease. 
In September 2022 the car was put into the garage to have a new head gasket fitted. It also had a lot of parts replaced during its 2016 restoration which should mean this car is ready to go wherever you want to go.  Another bonus of buying a classic of this age is that it is exempt from needing a yearly MOT, and you also won’t pay any road tax either.
Overall, the mechanics of this P1800 appear to be in good condition.

Summary

This is one of those classics that you can’t help but stare at. The design is drop-dead gorgeous and with these cars gaining a bigger following it may even prove to be a good investment for the future. 
Thanks to the car's restoration in 2016 you will be getting a car that you can get down to using straight away. Just imagine all of those memorable miles you will be clocking up in this beauty.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.

UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
All bidding, buying and offers are subject to our Terms and Conditions.
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Auction Details

  • Year1973
  • MakeVolvo
  • ModelP1800ES
  • ColourRed
  • Odometer52,512 Miles
  • Engine size1986cc
  • Seller TypePrivate
  • TownStansted
  • CountyHertfordshire
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • Auction ends

Bidding history

8 Bids from 7 bidders

Eason••••
Bid
£17,500
14/03/23
maxime1••••
Bid
£17,250
14/03/23
Foxyety••••
Bid
£17,000
14/03/23
maxime1••••
Bid
£15,500
14/03/23
Robertg••••
Bid
£15,000
07/03/23
paul-de••••
Bid
£14,000
07/03/23
MacChaf••••
Bid
£13,000
07/03/23
Voltair••••
Pre-bid
£500
07/03/23

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