One of the junkyards I frequent in the Denver area has finally, post-pandemic, decided to again start selling some of the less junky machinery that lines up at its chain-link pearly gates every morning. Usually it’s boring one-space-saver-spare from scrap stuff like bajillion-mile Y2K Impalas or decade-old Pathfinders with a weird CVT whine (Mechanic’s Special!), but every once in a while they fish something far more interesting from the scrap barrel.
In this case, it’s the twin to our own Aaron65’s 1967 Volvo P1800S which has been the subject of several interesting posts over the last few months (linked at the end), if perhaps discussing more of the somewhat unanticipated needs it seems to have versus tales of glorious late fall leaf-peeping drives or now early spring blossoming adventures. I’m starting to guess that old Irv Gordon had a parts car for when his million-miler P1800 failed him, and maybe Aaron could use one as well.
I’m not going to go into depth (or even wade in the shallows) regarding Volvo P1800 history, others here have done that (search at the top right of the page, please) and Aaron’s own series delves into it in much detail anyway, so let’s just enjoy the fact that someone decided to scrap this thing and now the junkyard thinks they can get $2299 for it. If it runs at all, they likely can without much trouble, and while it may have issues (I did not inquire), it at least apparently has a clean title. And all four hubcaps!
But first impressions, well, they impress. It looks straight. And not rusty, unlike the white Prelude with four wheel steering (!) next to it.
Sure, the paint is a little faded, it’s probably a single stage red so they all get like this even if only driven in moonlight, but that’s what grease on the elbows is for. Wax on, wax off, and soon it’ll be poppin’ like a Red Delicious on the teacher’s desk!
Alright, there just might be a little bit of bubbling around the rear wheelarch like a little cellulite on a supple thigh, that’s why they parked this side so it’s always in the shade. Crafty, that yardmeister is. There’s plenty of other angles to peruse on this svelte body though, which is perhaps one of the sexiest Swedish automotive things to come hither. Except for the wagon, of course, except for the wagon, yes, yes, that 1800ES would perhaps have one needing a moment in private, although after those two left the farm there weren’t really any more like that at the Volvo homestead.
It probably runs just fine. Seems complete enough from here and an Interstate battery is usually a sign of a somewhat conscientious owner, at least in my own experience. Really, what could it possibly need? Well, for that you will have to read Aaron’s posts…
The inside is a little worse for wear compared to the exterior, but not bad. The driver’s seat needs the most attention but Aaron’s current one seems fine so no issues there. The dash looks complete though, and quite attractive. And there are no huge (or at least visible) piles of rodent (or other) feces which is always a concern.
I’m not sure exactly what happened with that seat but at least there are seatbelts so you could strap yourself to it like Hannibal Lecter to the dolly. The left-hand parking brake is a sporty touch if a little, ahem, dangerous to the danglies, and the carpets are perhaps a little more faded than ideal. Still, the important bits seem to be present and I never said it was showroom fresh. It’s also $2,299 as compared to the average transaction price of a new vehicle that is presently right around $50,000. I’ll take a little fading of the carpet if it knocks 47,701 smackers off the price tag, thankyouverymuch, now THAT’S what it’ll take to get me to take it home today!
The Smiths gauges are simply gorgeous and the textured looking panel surrounding them is simple yet elegant while conveying the correct degree of sportiness without becoming any kind of caricature (cough, Chrysler, cough). I love a little color inside my gauges without too much of a good thing, and this is just about perfect.
That look extends all the way across the cabin (which, if we are honest, is no great distance really, it’s fairly small in here). I don’t know that the driver could safely operate the radio, but I suppose the passenger can take care of that while holding on to the seemingly largest grab handle ever installed on a dashboard with their other hand.
Jeez Aaron, if you don’t come out here and rescue this little critter I might have to do it myself. But you better hurry, one of the local Volvo freaks will probably jump on this, I doubt it’ll actually end up inside the yard like many of its compatriots on the lot tend to when they don’t sell. The car is at the U-Pull-&-Pay lot in Denver, Colorado and was there as of Wednesday the 11th.
Related Reading – Aaron65’s Car:
My Newly Acquired 1967 Volvo P1800S – “Is That One Of Those James Bond Cars?”
My 1967 Volvo P1800S Maintenance Log – No Sleep ‘Til Göteborg
My 1967 Volvo P1800S – The One Where It’s Still Not Running Right At The End
Ooh, nice! Isn’t this how all hoarding collections start? First one parts car that turns out to be so nice that a fellow needs another parts car for fixing this one up, and so forth. This could be the start of a big sale on Buicks up in Michigan so that Aaron can make room for the 5 or 6 P1800s that he will eventually come to restore and cherish. Might I go so far as to suggest that a Klein to Shafer to Cavanaugh to Aaron relay might get this little sweetie to its new home?
Seriously, this looks to be priced pretty reasonably. It seems that everyone in my area is trying to get 2 or 3 times this price for cars in far worse condition. “I know what I’ve got, no lowball offers” and all that. Its a good think this is an old Volvo and not an old Studebaker or Mopar, or I might start thinking about one of those cross country relays without the last step.
This is unreal for the price; it might be more solid than mine! It looks complete, too…
Oh, I wish you wouldn’t have shown me this, Jim!
I think it would have been a good price in the “before times”, nowdays it seems phenomenal. In person it generally gives the vibe of a one or two owner car that was driven and cared for and then parked inside (but not an infested barn) for several years.
I think it will be sold very soon, if it hasn’t already.
Wow, if it wasn’t in the wrong country I’d jump on this myself and join Aaron’s P1800 support group. Very fine condition especially at that price.
Maybe Jim and I should do a RoadKill, fix it in 24 hours and drive it to Aaron’s place in Michigan.
Love those colorful gauges!
I, and others, have probably mentioned it here in the comments before, but J P is absolutely correct. This is exactly why anyone seriously harboring an old Volvo cannot have just one. For every $5000 Volvo desperate to stay on the road, there are 10 $500 (or free) Volvos wanting to support that effort.
So yeah Aaron, I’d be heading to Denver toot sweet for this one.
The only problem is that this one is almost too good for total sacrifice. The reasonable thing to do would be to pull the drivetrain (We could liberate that engine in 45 minutes. Here, hold my beer.) and all of the electrical bits, put them in boxes in the garage, and toss the rest. But…….you never know when you’re going to need that handbrake lever, or a nice set of those steel wheels with the non-missing hubcaps, or…. And so the next thing you know is something under a tarp behind the garage.
Still, I say…ROAD TRIP!!!
I would LOVE to have the bumpers and the radio. Honestly, I’ll take the engine and transmission too. And the rear end in mine whines under deceleration. Etc., etc.
That is a heck of a price I think. If this was local to me it would be going home with me regardless of running status. Nice find.
If the floors are solid in this, it is WAY WAY WAY too nice to use as a parts car. Its complete, doesnt look rusty from the pics, very straight and not smashed in. I think it deserves a full restoration myself.
Thing is, these things are legendary for rusting inside hidden panels on all 4 corners. Not unlike BMW E9’s and E3’s…ask me how I know…only on these 1800’s it’s all the more hidden. I’ve been told that the general rule of thumb here is that if you see any rust, suspect a lot more that is structural that you cannot see. Not a deal breaker if you intend a full restoration from bare metal, but then your $2300 is chump change compared to what you’re ultimately going to need to spend.
In parts though, I’d agree that it’s a great deal.
It reminds me of a Peugeot 404 wagon sitting in front of our big junkyard in about the same condition back about 15-20 years ago. I still regret not taking it home. No rust, but the interior was a bit rough.
That is a steal. From the looks of it there is no body work to be done. While I can do body work I would always prefer a starting point without any. Paint work is easy but this might clean up and look fairly decent to start. Interior very decent and have a good friend who has done upholstery for 44 years. He is doing the seat bottom in my Cougar. Mechanical work expected but that doesn’t scare me when everything is right there.
This car is worth twice that price just to part out.
There is one that runs around here occasionally. It is also red. Were they all that colour? Chuckle.
Beautiful cars.
No way this is a parting-out car, it should be restored. I remember sitting in a new one with my wife at Volvoland in MD in ’72 while we were getting our ’67 122S carbs synced in 1972. Have always loved these 1800S and the ES wagon variant. We’re in Denver right now but we go back to NY for a spell in 6 days… this is so tempting! Not gonna happen though.
Here is what you get for $1200 in Healdsburg today.
‘Very’ rusty 1972 Volvo p1800E for parts.
No paperwork
Fuel injected 2 liter B20E motor
4 speed transmission with overdrive
-Has been sitting for many years.
-Motor ran when it was parked and it was started occasionally for the first several years
-Transmission and overdrive also worked when it was parked.
Love the ran when parked. Sure when parked in 1980.
the interior
Looks like with a proper detail, one might be able to double one’s money by flipping it.
Or is the crankcase empty or something?
Wow ;
At $2,300 it’s a steal, rusty 1/4 panel and all .
Yes, you’ll need to thrown $eriou$ ca$h at it but that’s the norm with any old car and this one could so easily be a stunner .
I bet that Bendix “Sapphire” radio still works well, at this point the capacitors are pretty elderly but those and a new speak oughta make it work fine again .
I hope this beauty gets saved P.D.Q. ~ I’m too old else I’d be on it like White on Rice =8-) .
-Nate
CC Effect! One of our guests last week (we own a B&B) was here for a New Zealand Volvo P1800 Owner’s Club excursion, and arrived in this gorgeous 1971 P1800E. First time I’ve seen one in the metal up close, and it was a beauty! I always thought the P1800 looked a tad awkward in photos, but in the metal it looked great with some lovely detail design – the location of the ‘VOLVO’ letters and taillights on the back end was sublime in the metal. Lovely interior, fabulous paint, and the genuine wire wheels suited it perfectly. The owner’s had it for years and loves it – but admitted to always travelling with a sizeable toolkit as it (and the others in the club) doesn’t always like to start or keep running. Started when he checked out though, and sounded fabulous as he and his wife departed.