1964 Volvo P1800

Fettled over the years to keep it in the condition you see here, this lovely 1964 Volvo P1800 also benefits from an electric power-steering system, a great little modification that helps it do battle in traffic-choked cities and congested car parks.

The MoT records show it has covered fewer than 7,000 miles since 2006, which means this P1800 doesn’t seem to have led a hard life – and given their legendary durability, that bodes well for its next owner.

As an 1800S, it’s Swedish-built too, which can’t harm its longevity, can it? In the care of the vendor and his wife since 2014, they now need the storage space it’s taking up for their new electric car, hence this reluctant sale.

White is a great colour for the P1800, and this one demonstrates why. With its elegant, flowing lines, the light hue allows the underlying shape to be seen in all its unadulterated glory.

It helps that it’s in fine condition, thanks to some significant earlier work; it had some work done in 2001, including repairs to the sills, floorpan and wings.

Further work to wings, doors, and the front valance was carried out a year later, with paint and Waxoyl being applied on both occasions, of course.

The result is a very tidy example, with straight panels, ripple-free flanks, and great shutlines.

The swage lines on the doors line up with the rear wings very well too, and the chromework gleams with only light pitting to most areas, a patina that should lighten with a bit of elbow grease and a tube of Autosol.

The steel wheels, with their chrome hubcaps, are in good shape, and they’re fitted with matching Maxxis Mecotra tyres. All have very good tread.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching tyres tend to be a sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Faults? Well, the nearside door glass has sprung loose and needs refitting/replacing.

Most of the chrome looks like it should polish up well but a few bits like the opening front quarterlights and the front bumper are probably too far gone to be saved and will need rechroming or replacing at some point.

The only other work we can see that needs doing is to replace the rubber seal for the fuel filler cap, which has been painted over and almost certainly doesn’t seal properly (#124).

The black leather interior looks sublime – and the fact that it’s supported by mid-grey carpets is a masterstroke; so many would have gone for black, or even bright red, but – again - the monochrome palette cleverly allows the underlying design to shine.

And what design. Scandinavia has justifiably become a byword for crisp minimalism and the P1800 is a great example of this.

Not that minimalism equates to parsimony, far from it; it’s just that what there is is perfectly judged and of high quality. (May we refer you to the three-million-mile example we discussed earlier?)

The black leather seats are lightly creased but no more, and still look as good as they feel. The rear seat has the Volvo name embossed in it too, which is a lovely touch.

But then the cockpit is full of lovely touches. Note the turquoise-faced instruments, for example, and the graceful steering wheel.

The headlining is good, and those mid-grey carpets look great - and they’re protected by sensible black rubber mats.

The boot is a bit messy but seems to be solid. It contains the spare wheel and cover plus a well-used tool kit.

Work to do? Well, the base of the driver’s seat has settled a little, the foam compressing with age and use. It’s not bad but if you were looking for a weekend project then we can imagine that stripping it down and replacing the cushion would be very rewarding.

The webbing under the rear seat is loose too, and could do with tightening; some of the interior paintwork would benefit from some attention (i.e. #89); the gear lever and seat adjustment handles could do with refurbishing; and the couple of holes you can see in the upholstery (#53 and #54) would benefit from being mended.

NB: The 307-265 trim code, which can be seen in slide #164, suggests that it left the factory with a red interior. Such changes aren’t uncommon and, for what it’s worth, this one looks great in black and grey!

The EZ electric power-steering conversion set the owner back the best part of £1,800 plus labour. Fair to say it’s transformed the car though, making it much easier to wield through heavy traffic and tight spaces.

A clutch kit was fitted in 2021 as well, and that work also included a new slave cylinder and a repair kit for the master cylinder.

Previous work included a new brake servo and pipes in 2016, plus some bushes and miscellaneous fettling.

Interestingly, the online MoT history makes no mention of rust, and given it dates back to 2006, we think it’s fair to assume that if corrosion was an issue, one of the testers would have mentioned it.

That’s not to say it’s rust-free, just that it seems to have escaped the serious rot so many have fallen prey to over the years.

As you can see, it starts and runs well. The engine note in the video sounds gruff and isn’t at all how it sounds in ‘real life’. In fact, the consensus in the office is that it actually sounds good, partly due to the new silencer you can see.

The underside seems to be solid and protected by a good coat of underseal.

NB: The engine capacity shown on the V5 is 1,990cc, which suggests that the Volvo may be fitted with a two-litre B20 engine from a later model. This has not been confirmed but we’d welcome viewings in person should you want to check for yourself.

There are a few receipts for work carried out since 2011, including routine servicing and the items we’ve detailed above.

The Volvo has been serviced and maintained by Templar and Wilde Ltd since 2014, receiving services in 2014 and 2016, after which is has covered only 2,391 miles. It’s fair to say it is probably due for another soon, though.

It has a current V5 registration document.

The Volvo doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

In need of only gentle TLC to allow it to fulfill its potential, this delightful Volvo P1800S benefits from a well-judged – and expensive - upgrade to the steering system that helps make it as practical as it is beautiful.

Despite that investment, it hasn’t been used much in the seven years the vendor and his wife have owned it, modest use that is confirmed by the Volvo’s online MoT history.

As to what it’ll sell for, we estimate the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £20,000 and £25,000, which seems fine value to us for a good, solid example of one of the most desirable sporting coupés of its time.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.