Seller Submission: 1973 Volvo 1800ES

The first time we featured a white Volvo 1800ES, it was way back in 2012 with a feature written by CFlo that was designated as the first Thorsday. A funny thing happened to the car since it was featured here -- it was purchased by a DT reader, had its interior swapped to red, received new paint (after rust repair), Cibie Oscar fog lights, and a whole pile of other new parts. Find this 1973 Volvo 1800ES offered for $16,000 or best offer in Wellington, FL via craigslist.  Seller submission from Doctordel. 

Some Assembly Required: 1968 Volvo 1800S

The Volvo P1800/1800S/1800E/1800ES is a regular offender on these pages -- why, you ask?  Simply put, it offers a combination of good looks, acceptable performance, and reliability for a low entry price.  It isn't the only option in town for a budget classic, but it makes a bunch of sense when you compare to some of the other overpriced European cars on the market.  Find this 1968 Volvo 1800S here on eBay bidding for $1,613 with 1 day to go, located in Renton, WA.

Roses Are Red, Contingencies Make Me Blue: 1964 Volvo 1800S

Even with some recent price appreciation, Volvo's P1800/1800S/1800E family of cars continues to be one of the better deals for a classic coupe.  The combination of Pelle Petterson's fluid design, Volvo's sturdy reliability, and a not-too-big/not-too-small production numbers means you can drive one without being commonplace like a Type 1 Beetle, but have parts/knowledge support better than a Type 34 Karmann Ghia.  The problem is that nice/restored examples are starting to demand premium cash, so the trick for a deal is to get an almost finished project for a deep discount.  Like this 1964 Volvo 1800S offered here on eBay for $8,200 with a few hours to go, located in Wichita, KS.

10k: Miata Powered: 1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod

 The Volvo P1800/1800S/1800E is a cool looking sports coupe built for worldwide consumption in decent numbers (39k from 1963 to 1972.)  The decent numbers part is important, because as a classic it lives in a land between massively overproduced cars you'll see everyday (Mustang or Beetle for instance) and massively under produced cars that demand a premium (Shelby Mustang). Today's example started life as a bullhorn equipped P1800, but is now a bit of a hot rod.  Find this 1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod here on eBay currently bidding for $6,500 reserve-not-met with a few days to go, located in Hillsboro, OR.

5k: Could Use Some Wax: 1965 Volvo 1800S

It is Thorsday, DT celebration of Scandinavian cars that makes a bigger splash than a torpedoed Russian submarine.  Today we've got a car that you are going to need to channel your inner Edd China and see past the cobwebs...but, like a nickle beer at a strip club, the price generates considerable interest.  Find this 1965 Volvo 1800S offered for $3,500 in San Jose, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy.

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.

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

From the DT Fleet: Duckling, the 1966 Volvo 1800S

Update, April 22, 2014: The Duckling has been sold! Thanks for everyone for the comments and compliments. We will post more updates (with the new owner's permission) in the near future.

From April 19, 2014: Believe it or not, there is a downside to moonlighting as an editor for Daily Turismo and having a stable of esoteric, affordable, and interesting older cars to tinker with and write about. That downside is that sometimes you have to part with one of your own. A few months back I (CFlo) offered my '66 VW Beetle for sale, and ultimately after a series of frustrating experiences I decided to keep the car. I'm happy I did, but now I have to bid adieu to another '66 - this Volvo 1800S coupe. For now, this is a pure DT listing - no craigslist flakes or ebay fees desired. And I suppose it's a seller submission since my wife is technically the owner. It's a runner and a driver, has some needs, but is a cheap classic in the finest DT tradition. Anyways, find our 1966 Volvo 1800S for sale right here on DT for $3900 (or certain trades, see below) in Torrance, CA.

DT Private Reserve: Swedish Jackpot: 1966 Volvo Pee1800

Welcome to the new and improved Daily Turismo Private Reserve, where our motto is: "Buy nigh, sell slow, and keep your reserves private."  Up next is a favorite of the staffers at the Daily Turismo, a Volvo Pee1800 -- lets see how the seller answers our questionnaire.

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.

10k: Squalo Giallo: 1967 Volvo 1800S

The Volvo 1800S is one of our favorite classic 2-seaters to feature on the pages of DT (along with the other 1800 variations), especially when we find one that is clean, cheap and classy.  The original P1800's sheetmetal was designed by Pelle Petterson while he worked at Carrozzeria Pietro Frua - an Italian coachbuilder from back in the day - and its mechanical parts were hewn of sturdy Scandinavian stuff.  Nice ones are out there and today's Ferrari yellow feature is no exception.  Find this 1967 Volvo 1800S for sale in Charlotte, NC for $12,000 via craigslist.  Tip from J Bourne.

10k: 1966 Volvo 1800S, Minty Green

From Jan. 1 2013: The Volvo 1800 series of sporty two-doors is one of DT's favorite models to feature, if you haven't noticed by now. We love the classic Italian-ish styling of the coupe and the funky vibe of the ES shooting brake equally in their own different ways. Today we've found a very presentable 1966 coupe, which looks great in its pistachio inspired rare original light green color. Being an 1800S model, build quality was improved from the earlier Jensen-built P1800 cars; by this time production had moved and the 1800 was bolted together by Sven and Stig in Sweden. This one needs a bit of attention but seems like a solid platform to build on and improve. It's advertised here on craigslist in Towson, Maryland for $8400 firm. Fix a few things, put on some comfortable driving shoes and shades, and hit the road!

Update, Sept. 3 2013: This car is back up for sale here on ebay with the same pictures, for $10,900 Buy it Now or Make Offer. Assuming this is the same owner as the previous ad and it did not sell for $8400, we are wondering whether the $2500 bump in asking price is justified by any recent work done to the car, or whether it just reflects the recent up-trend in the 1800 market. This car has been for sale for almost two years by our count; with any luck there's some room for negotiation in that price.

30k DT Exclusive DTO: 1963 Holman Moody Volvo 1800 Racer

The DTO (Daily Turismo Omologato) is a rare or interesting example of a DT-friendly classic or performance vehicle, but priced somewhere above the self imposed DT cap of $20k. We see these cars as weekend fun machines that you probably wouldn't want to drive to work every day, unlike a regular Daily Turismo. Today's DTO feature is none other than a genuine Holman Moody engineered 1963 Volvo 1800 road racer. The car has a long and documented history, has been a privateer track car since new, and was thoroughly reengineered and rebuilt by famed NASCAR racing team Holman Moody in the early 1980s. This is a Daily Turismo Exclusive listing - you won't find it anywhere else! It would be a great vintage racer and a solid investment given the history and unique setup. It is being offered by current owner Mitch Duncan, who has owned it since 1996 and is a retired Volvo Cars North America executive. It is available for $30,000 in the Moosehead Lake region of central Maine. Email us here if you are interested, and we will put you in touch with Mitch.

Previous owner / driver Bobby Ford looking rather dapper next to car No. 55.

2k: P For Project: 1962 Volvo P1800

The original P1800 was built from 1960-1962 by Jensen in the UK, and while many folks call every 1800 a P1800, the early cars are the only ones to actually carry the P designation.  Find this 1962 Volvo P1800 in Atlanta, GA for $2,250 via craigslist.  This Thorsday special is a great starting point for a DT reader on a budget who wants to start an 1800 build. 

5k Sweetheart Deal: Solid Volvo 1800ES, Low Buy-In

If you narrowly missed the chance to scoop up last week's Volvo 1800ES in San Diego for less than $8k and you don't mind a trip to the Beaver State, DT has found just the ride for you. This 1972 1800ES wears the seemingly common for the model blue on blue color scheme, and is claimed to have just 99k original miles since new. It looks like it may have been sitting out on the pasture for a while but could potentially be put into regular service without much work. Find it here on craigslist for only $6500 or best offer in Scio, Oregon.

15k: Saintly Coupe; 1969 Volvo 1800S

Three Thorsdays in a row...that's just how we roll at DT. But unlike yesterday's 245 and Monday's 1800ES, this one is not a wagon. It is, however, one of the best photographed cars currently on ebay and as such earns the coveted Ansel Adams award (disclaimer: photos on ebay not actually taken by Ansel Adams). The car looks to have been fastidiously rebuilt and maintained over the last few decades by the previous owner and the current seller. It's a 1969 1800S, for sale here on ebay in Portland, Oregon. Bidding is currently hovering around $10k with reserve not met, and about four days to go.

10k: Swap Market Find; 1973 Volvo 1800ES; Roadkill

We at DT are constantly scouring the internet looking for interesting, affordable cars because there are few barn finds to be found in the metropolitan areas of Southern California where most of us spend our drive time. However, yesterday, DT's grey-haired cub reporter found this really nice 1973 Volvo 1800 ES for sale by the mechanic/painter who just finished restoring it to its former glory.  Here's the catch. He did the work for a customer who couldn't pay.  He now owns the car and is only looking to recoup his costs out of it, that's why it is for sale for just $7,950 as shown on the sign in the window.  The seller, Bill, is located in San Diego, California and can be contacted directly via Email and phone number listed below.This 1800ES is sold!
 

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.