$6500 is the new $500: 1972 Volvo 1800ES

If any car-finding site has helped to drive up the values of Volvo's 1800ES shooting brake...then it's probably not us, but we were guilty of over-featuring the little mini wagon during our first few years on the web. For a long time these were affordable, incredibly stylish, and durable classics that could be used daily and make you look cooler than you really are. All of that is still true, except for the affordability part. Imagine our surprise when we found this 1972 Volvo 1800ES for sale in Las Vegas, NV for $6,500 via craigslist.

In the recent upswing in old car prices, many Volvos have been left behind but the 1800 lineup has rode that wave like a calm Swedish longboarder. The early P1800 coupe, followed by its later 1800S and 1800E successors, are definitely investment grade cars now. The 1972-73 only 1800ES 2-door wagon is the oddest of the bunch but has arguably seen an even bigger value gain.

When a 40-something year old car is cheap and easy to maintain, it's a great way to get into the car hobby and cut your enthusiast teeth. When you have to sell a kidney and drain the piggybank, it's not as advisable. Since 1800ES values are now around $10k - $12k for an average driver, I'm pretty stoked to be able to share this one at around half of that range, and it doesn't seem to need too much at all.

Granted this does have a soul-sucking slushbox, but the conversion to an M41 or M410 manual trans can't be too many weekends of knuckle skinning away, can it? It's not clear if this car is running or not, but appears to be complete and not a major basket case. The paint might even buff out.

From the seller:

1972 VOLVO 1800ES WAGON, NEVADA CAR, FUEL INJECTED, 4 CYLINDER, 92715 MILES. AUTOMATIC TRANS

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CFlo is wrenching on a 5.3-powered BMW and a Miata trackday car while enjoying the daily cushioned bliss of a Buick Roadmaster and the familiar turbuzz of a Volvo 242.