1971 Volvo P1800E

‘VTA 485J’ is something rather lovely because not only is it a cracking example of the highly desirable Volvo P1800E (the 'E' stands for Einspritzung, the German word for fuel injection, something the VW Golf GTI conveniently ignored), it’s also been fully kitted out for historic rallying, something the model has always excelled at.

Five years ago the seller’s son suggested they try it, and the Volvo was the obvious car to start in – and they were hooked after winning the prize for the best navigator in their very first event.

The upgrades they settled on included progressive springs on all four corners, Bilstein dampers on the rear, a 123 electronic ignition system, new fuel injector connectors, and a new fuel tank. A new sports exhaust system too, fitted with the aim of improving underbody clearance rather than performance.

The underside and coachwork were also repaired and resprayed before being finished off with some nice details that include PIAA Competition 80 Series driving lamps and underbody protection for the engine sump and steering gear.

Interior appointments include a Brantz Rallymeter and in all, the seller has invested well over £27,000 in bringing it to the condition you see here, which was money well spent as it’s proven to be a very competitive car in their hands.

Now moving more towards long-distance and more complex events in places like Morocco, the Volvo has been usurped by a Porsche 911, which we’re told might be quicker “but isn’t half as comfortable!”
 

We understand that, following the ruthless extermination of rust, the bodywork and underside are now in “very good order”, although the seller points out that the car’s intended role means it’s not concours; ‘strong and presentable’ sums it up we think, which is exactly what a Volvo P1800 rally car should be.

And yet, we can’t help thinking he’s being unduly modest because the invoice on file from Rees Bros for the bodywork last year includes lead loading, which you’ll know is the proper way of doing things and not a cheap process. In all, the firm charged him just over £27,000 for their work over the years, which comprised 391 hours in total, excluding the outsourced respray.

It was absolutely worth it though because not only does the Volvo look great, the work also included injecting rust-preventative wax into the cavities and then capping the holes with rubber bungs, so it should continue to look good for many years to come.

This was a Proper Job.

And if you doubt the evidence of your own eyes then can we also point you towards the PIAA Competition 80 Series driving lamps, whose prodigious size necessitates the presence of adjustable bars at the top to hold them steady and set him back £564 all by themselves.

Other clues as to its competition car status are modest and restricted to well-marked front and rear towing points.

If you’ve got it, you don’t need to flaunt it.

Unless, that is, you include the genuine Minilite alloy wheels? Fitted in 2011 and showing only a few light marks, they’re fitted with a matching set of 185/65R15 Goodyear UltrGrip M&S tyres. Made in 2021, all of them have masses of tread left.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

Other nice touches are OE wipers and aerofoils, windows glazing that seems to be original as they have the registration number etched on them, and good lamp lenses.

Cosmetic issues are few. The chromed door mirrors have spots of rust on them, and the paintwork has some minor blemishes. Nothing to worry about, then.
 

The interior is utterly charming with some wonderful features including the Volvo logo embossed on the door cards and rear seat, the Swedish firm’s trademark seatbelt latching mechanism between the front seats, and a protective circle on the end of the handbrake to prevent the release button being accidently depressed.

Plus, of course, that Brantz Rallymeter whose specification includes a pair of relay screens for the driver; this is a comprehensive installation but then the pair compete to win, and aren’t afraid to spend the money needed to have the right tools to hand.

Other accountments include a large fire extinguisher, springy pen clips and a small netting pocket for the passenger, and comprehensive standard instrumentation for the driver that includes necessities such as separate gauges for oil pressure and temperature as well as the usual coolant temperature and engine revs.

There’s also a hefty OMP foot brace for the navigator to brace themselves against, not that that should be too much of an issue because the front seats are pretty shapely.

They’re in a very good condition with no visible wear. They also benefit from an adjustable lumbar support each and, of course, they’ve had their reclining mechanism disabled as part of the requirements for competition use but that could be reinstated easily enough.

Their design echoes that of the plain black rear seat, albeit with fancy red piping. And yes, they’ve left the rear seat in, which makes the Volvo more versatile than it would otherwise have been.

The heater and heated rear screen work well, and the Volvo “handles adverse weather very well!”

The boot contains a factory spare wheel, the tool kit and jack, and a set of aftermarket mats.

There is some wear ‘n’ tear including a duct-taped driver’s door card, a split in the rubber gaiter for the gearlever, and fraying stitches on the steering wheel.

Again, trivial stuff. 
 

Amazon Cars provided the sports exhaust system and the progressive springs, with Bilstein chipping in a pair of rear dampers. A new bronze idler bush was also fitted, as were new fuel injector connectors.

As you can see, the fuel-injected engine starts well and revs very smoothly. It shows good oil pressure too, and makes all the right noises and none of the wrong – and while we know the exhaust system was purchased with increased ground clearance in mind, but it sounds mighty fine, doesn’t it?

We are told it is “quite quick” and was neck-and-neck with a Porsche 944 during a recent event where two cars are run side by side: The factory quotes a top speed of 118mph and a 0-62mph time of 9.5 seconds from the 130bhp engine, which is plenty for this sort of use.

The P1800’s legendary reliability has also contributed to the duo doing “quite well” over the years, and, as a 1971 model, this one also boasts four-wheel disc brakes, which wouldn’t be a handicap either.

The engine bay is nicely presented and has been subtly upgraded with heat-insulating pads under the bonnet.

The underside, which sports sump and steering guards from Amazon Cars, has been recently undersealed.

The cable tie on the brake master cylinder the vendor tells us "was applied at the insistence of the scrutineer on one of the more challenging events we entered. It's not a repair as we have never had a problem with the cylinder. I guess he had a bit of a bee in his bonnet about Volvo's engineering of the cylinder! The events can get pretty rough though, and it seemed reasonable to agree that any risk, however small, of the cylinder popping off was best avoided if it could be so easily mitigated. So it's belt and braces to provide an event official's idea of extra protection over the rough stuff!"

As for issues, some of the wiring near the bulkhead could be a little tidier. 
 

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…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the Volvo’s history file includes a wealth of invoices and expired MoT certificates, the Instruction Book and wallet, and a V5 in the seller’s name.
 

If you’re looking for a quick, reliable, and well-sorted historic rallying car with real pedigree you could do much worse than this; solid and the beneficiary of significant recent expenditure, you could jump in and compete with it straightaway, although you would almost certainly be the weakest link in the team.

As for our estimate, we suspect the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £12,000 and £17,000, which is around half of what the pair have put into it in the past five years.

Even better, it’s being offered with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid, so you could be competing in events like the Three Castles Trial and other Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation events for even less than that.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.