Step 3, Profit: 1971 Volvo 1800E

I'm going to let you into a little secret.  Shhhhhhhhhhhh.  Don't tell anyone.  Okay, here it is-- you can drive a classic car as an occasional driver (somewhere between a daily driver and a weekend garage queen) without spending much money. The purchase price plus maintenance/restoration (maybe?) costs can be recouped in a few years if you hit the right spot in the classic car appreciation curve. The real trick is to find cars that are cheap as a general rule, but on the cusp of becoming cool but have good parts support. Oh...wait...you guys already know this.  Well here is a fact you probably don't know, approx 165,000 new cars are produced in factories every single day and the person who invented cruise control was blind.  Anyway, back on the subject of cheap classic drivers where you shouldn't lose money, find this 1971 Volvo 1800E offered for $8500 in Albany, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

10k: Comes With A Story: 1970 Volvo 1800E

For the 1970 model year Volvo improved their 1800 sports coupe by adding fuel injection, 4-wheel disc brakes, and the letter E to the end of its name.  The 1800E is arguably the best of the breed for the P1800/1800S/1800E family as it has been given numerous upgrades to solve earlier issues, and this next car comes with an interesting back story.  Find this 1970 Volvo 1800E offered for $10,900 in Playa del Ray, CA via craigslist.

5k: Fix And Go: 1971 Volvo 1800E

A significant number of the affordable classics you can find for sale have ugly exteriors with running mechanicals, but paint/interior can be extremely expensive.  What about the nice looking cars that have a busted motor, can those be a good deal?  The answer is yes, but only if the engines are cheap to rebuild - so stay away from 6.9 liter M100 Mercedes V8s and stick with something simple like a Volvo inline-4.  Here is a 1971 Volvo 1800E that needs engine work, offered for $5,000 or best offer here on craigslist, located in Orange County, CA.

10k: Hot Tip - Buy This Car: 1971 Volvo 1800E

As Daily Turismo's resident Vice President of Volvovaginitis I can say: you need this car. Buy it, now. This is a solid original 1800 coupe in one of the best original Volvo colors and its price near 10,000 dollars will seem like a steal in just a few years' time. Italian looks, street cred, originality, fuel injection, and durable underpinnings - what more could you want in a small, efficient GT car?  Find this 1971 Volvo 1800E for sale in Minot, North Dakota (with Oregon plates) with bidding near $8k (and BIN of $12,995) on ebay.

Coffee Brake: Cheap Volvo 1800 Roundup

It's Friday, so that means its time to un-tuck your shirt, roll down the windows and enjoy another episode of DT's Coffee Brake where the coffee is cold and the brakes are piping hot!  The Volvo 1800 is a regular on these pages, but it won't be forever because the market seems to be driving prices into Jerry Seinfeld price range...actually he drove one in an episode of the brilliant Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.  Luckily for folks on a low budget (like a mailman for instance...) you can still find a deal, typically from a project or a seller who isn't trying to squeeze the last cent of our his sale.

Image from http://www.psvsa.org/NewVolvoBrochuresAndAds.html

5k: This Won't Last: 1972 Volvo 1800E

 The Volvo 1800 is a regular on these pages, but it won't be forever because the market seems to be driving prices higher.  Luckily for low budget buyers, you can still find a deal, typically from a seller who has had the car for a few decades and isn't aware of the recent market updates.  This kind of seller is just looking to get what he paid for the car a few years ago and isn't looking to fund his kid's ivy league college degree.  It works for the seller and is a great opportunity for a buyer.  Find this 1972 Volvo 1800E offered for $5,000 in York, PA via craigslist.  Tip from Aaron K.

Coronado Roadkill - MotorCars on Main Street: 1972 Volvo 1800 E

Roadkill report by Hunsbloger
I attended the 2014 MotorCars on Main Street Car Show on Coronado yesterday and was very pleasantly surprised. Lots of very nice cars, most of which were from owners who live right there on Coronado. A slew of nice Corvettes, a gorgeous Jag XKE Coupe a handsome red Mercedes190SL with hardtop, and the gaggle of Volvisti shown below.

Seinfeld Drives Tina Fey Around In A Volvo 1800S And Now I Want One

If you don't watch Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, a brilliant video series starring the original NY car guy himself, you are seriously missing out.  The show covers in a Seinfeldesque stream of consciousness afternoon with Jerry and a guest getting a cup of coffee, drinking things like wheat puff cereal milkshakes and generally being funny.  However, the real stars are the cars and while season one's list of cars reads like a DT dream list (Beetle, Karmann-Ghia, MBZ 300 SEL 6.3, Triumph TR6, '70 Challenger) the second season amped up the rides to 1 percenter levels (Lamborghini Miura, '73 Carrera RS and E-Type Jag) but affordable cars still show up now and the Jan 30th episode stars Tina Fey a 1967 Volvo 1800S.

5k: Spokane For: 1972 Volvo 1800

The Volvo 1800 is one of those underappreciated classics that can still be found for a song/dance from time to time.  Typically examples for less than $5k will include a lot of rust and rat's nests - this one is no exception, but it does run/drive at a roller price.  Find this 1972 Volvo 1800 for sale in Spokane MT for $3,500 via craigslist.

10k: 1971 Volvo 1800E Thorsday from Oprah85

We like Oprah about as much as the next red blooded dude; lots of good tips on womens' issues, some soft central-left politics and just about the nicest Volvo 1800s and BMW New Classes on the block...wait, what?  Not the lady who interviewed teary eyed liars and cheaters; but Oprah85, the seller of minty clean vintage steel on ebay.  This Thorsday blue-plate special is a 1971 Volvo 1800E, covered in a nice coat of Safari Yellow, for sale in Mission Hills, CA and currently bidding on ebay for $8,100 reserve-not-met.

10k: 1971 Volvo 1800E; Thorsday; Minty Clean

Thorsday came a bit early this week - only because we wanted to give you a chance to get in on the bidding for a beautiful car before the gavel hits the block.  The Volvo 1800 (commonly called the P1800) was given its third minor redesign with the 1970 release of the 1800E, which included a fuel injected engine and rear disc brakes.  This 1971 Volvo 1800E is in impeccable condition and for sale in Mission Hills, CA, currently bidding on ebay for $9,000 with 3 days to go.  (Submission From DT regular reader, seller and contributor Tamas - Oprah85 on ebay.)
 

15k: Previously Featured 1972 Volvo 1800E Auction Closes Today

We have already featured the minty clean 1972 Volvo 1800E that DT regular Tamas is offering on ebay.  However, we did want to remind anyone who is interested that this auction ends today.  Today is your last chance to pickup one of the sweetest looking Volvo 1800s we've seen recently, currently bidding on ebay here for just under $14k.

10k: 1972 Volvo 1800E - Restored

We had recently posted a Volvo 1800S from ebay seller Oprah85 (a DT regular reader and commenter named Tamas) when he sent us an email with another minty clean 1800 (this time an E - fuel injected model) that was too nice to not feature. This 1972 Volvo 1800E is for sale in Mission Hills, CA currently bidding at $1972 with 5 days to go.