Chassis No.: 18345VF19818

€23 500 | Sold

Elegant, reliable and iconic Rare car on our roads Good original condition Chassis: 18345VF19818 French collector's registration The Volvo P1800, presented at the Brussels Motor Show on January 16, 1960, owes its commercial success to the design of the Italian designer Pietro Frua and to its quality of manufacture. The impact of the British TV series The Saint, in which Roger Moore alias Simon Templar drove the car in 118 episodes of one of the longest-running adventure series produced in the UK, along with Leather Hat and Boots, should not be underestimated.

First proposed to Karmann in West Germany, the production of the first 10,000 examples was finally entrusted to Jensen Motors, which was unable to fully exploit its production lines. However, in 1963, the contract was terminated due to quality problems after only 6,000 units and production of the P1800 was transferred to the Volvo factory in Lundby, Gothenburg. It is one of these cars that we are presenting today. Equipped with the 1780cc B18B engine block developing 103 hp, our car was one of the 4,500 produced between August 1965 and July 1966 before the arrival of the 1986cc engine (type B20B).

On this series, the road handling benefits from important improvements brought by the reinforcement of the rear axle which gives the whole a better stability at high speed. A new exhaust system also improves performance and allows a top speed of 180 km/h, which in its time could still be a commercial asset! Delivered new to the United States, this car spent almost all of its life in California before its current owner purchased it three years ago. Never restored except for an old paint veil in its original light blue color (code 89), the bodywork alignments are good overall with some light dents in places.

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If some joints have dried with the sun, the chromes are in good condition and all the glass surfaces are original. The chassis is incredibly sound (complete file available on request). On arrival in France, all the running gear and the mechanics will be checked for regular use. At the wheel, the engine revs up quickly - no doubt thanks to the replacement of the original SUs by Webers - and the engine is surprisingly smooth. The gearbox, also from Volvo (M41 with 4 synchronized gears) is very pleasant and the optional Laycock-de-Normanville electric overdrive adds a nice touch to the driving experience.

The brakes are effective and the steering, while quite soft, is nevertheless precise, yet precise. Inside, the dashboards of the first series are in good condition, with aluminum plating. However, the upholstery and carpets will require some care for the most demanding collectors. More and more sought after, the Volvo P1800 is an endearing car in many aspects and sees its value rise year after year. There is no doubt that this example in strict original condition will attract enthusiasts of the genre.

https://www.aguttes.com/lot/113642/106c1f24-00c9-47c9-ae5d-4d769af3a491