1961 Volvo P1800

The Volvo P1800 is a sports coupe made between 1961 and 1973. It has a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and is fitted with either two or four doors. The car seats either two or four people.

Before the P1800, Volvo’s reputation was for building solid but unexciting saloons such as the PV544 and the 122 Amazon. In the 1950s, first attempted a sports car with the fibreglass P1900, but quality was poor and it didn’t handle well. Then in 1961, Volvo tried again, releasing the P1800.

Although the design of the car was until very recently attributed to Frua of Italy, it is now considered to be the work of a young Pelle Pettersen (son of 544 designer Helmer Pettersen). But the car looked Italian, with a beautifully sloping profile, low roof-line and pronounced tail-fins.

Early cars were assembled by Jensen in West Bromwich, but build quality failed to meet Volvo’s standards. As a result, production was switched to Volvo’s Gothenburg plant in Sweden, and the name changed from P1800 to P1800S. At this time, the original 1.8-litre B18 engine was replaced with the 2.0-litre B20 which added 18 hp. Both engines came with dual, English-made SU carburetors.

In 1970, the 1800E arrived with a host of changes including a new (and slightly less aesthetically pleasing) instrument panel and Bosch electronic fuel injection, one of the first cars to use this system. The change gave another 12 or so horsepower and improved drivability. The last major variant was the Volvo 1800ES, a two-door car with a glass hatchback.

The Volvo P1800’s big break in terms of marketing was when one was used as Roger Moore’s character’s car in the hit television programme The Saint. Having approached other manufacturers, the producers apparently decided on the Volvo at Moore’s own suggestion. The Volvo P1800 was also quoted as being the inspiration behind Michael Caine’s character Finn McMissile in the Disney/ Pixar movie Cars 2.

Today, parts support for the Volvo 1800s remains quite good (with trim items for the early cars being an exception), and several specialists are available to take good care of owners. And while the B18 and B20 engines are very robust, bodies rust easily, especially early Jensen – built cars.

Today the Volvo P1800 has a strong following, both because of The Saint connection, and because of its unique looks. Period alternative sports coupes could include the Porsche 356 and Porsche 912, the Jensen Interceptor and the Aston Martin DB6.