1963 | Volvo P 1800

GUNMETAL GREY METALLIC WITH RED LEATHER INTERIOR

Chassis # 5918

SPECIFICATION INCLUDES:- 4-SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX, METALLIC PAINT, LEATHER INTERIOR, PRESSED STEEL HUBCAPS, CIGAR LIGHTER, MAP READING LIGHT, 4.5J x 15” WHEELS, RADIO.

Hexagon Classics are delighted to offer this iconic Volvo P1800, which enjoyed a full restoration, and now shows just the right amount of patina. With just 20 of these Jensen-built cars left registered or SORN’d in the UK, the P1800 is a very rare car indeed.

Volvo had always been known for a focus on safety rather than speed, so it came as a real surprise when it unveiled the Volvo P1800 in 1960 at the Brussels Motor Show. The sleek and sporty Volvo was an Italian design by Pelle Petterson working at Frua, a subsidiary of the prestigious Carrozzeria Ghia. The 1,778cc B18 engine that powered the P1800 had twin SU carburettors and produced 100 hp.

Its beginnings were not as smooth as its waistlines, as Volkswagen forbade coachbuilder Karmann from producing the P1800, for fear of Volvo’s car offering too much competition to its own products. An uncertain period followed, but the Swedish firm eventually struck a deal with Jensen, who agreed to use its under-utilised production facilities at Linwood and West Bromwich to build 10,000 P1800 cars. In the end just 6000 cars were made by Jensen.

The Volvo P1800 ascended to prominence in the early 1960’s when a white 1962 Volvo P1800 with number plate “ST1” was driven by the character Simon Templar, (played by the late Sir Roger Moore), in the TV series “The Saint”, between 1962 and 1969.  The car became intimately linked to the show and helped raise Volvo's profile at the time. Initially, Volvo lent just two cars for the series, one for static studio shots and the other for moving shots.

Our lovely example was supplied new to the UK in March 1963. The 4th keeper commissioned a body-off restoration in 2007, just as the car is presented today. Accompanying the Volvo is as follows: original Volvo P1800 instruction book, original Volvo parts manual, original Volvo service manual, documented 5 previous keepers, historic road tax discs, documented history from 1970, pictorial documented restoration and spare keys.  ULEZ exemption and no annual road tax costs make the P1800 a very usable proposition for collectors.

This wonderful Volvo P1800 is now available for immediate viewing at our London showrooms.