Many car enthusiasts love wagons, but their stubborn preference for two doors keeps them from wholly embracing the long roof design. In the case of the Volvo 1800ES, you can sort of have your cake and it eat, too, as it combines the classic wagon design with two doors and a backseat that is largely useless. The 1800ES was produced in limited quantities, and the 1973 model shown here on eBay is sought after not only for being a low-mileage survivor but also because it wears gorgeous original orange paint, which was a one-year only color. Bidding is currently at $9,800 with the reserver unmet.

I’ve always loved the 1800ES, as it’s one of the few times Volvo has managed to build a truly “pretty” car (before the modern era, at least) that also captured the legendary durability Volvo is known for. The huge rear glass; the narrow, gun-slit windows; and the gorgeous chrome bumpers combine to create a design that is as radical as it is gorgeous. Ample use of chrome trim and a roof rack that is likely never used but looks fantastic just sitting there are all reason to love this quirky wagon; factor in the rarity and it becomes an absolute home run. And did I mention that orange paint is downright awesome no matter the car?

The interior of the Volvos were also quite tidy, with leather seating surfaces and full coverage on the door panels. You also got a classic assortment of gauges and a richly detailed instrument binnacle, which is just the sort of detail a company like Volvo would throw into a car that wasn’t really positioned as a luxury models. An automatic transmission was optional and not all that uncommon, so it’s a major plus here that this one comes with the standard manual gearbox. The seller reports that the Volvo runs and drives well and that the overdrive still works.

The 1800ES was powered by a B20E engine that came equipped with factory fuel injection and was good for 112 hp and 115 lb-ft of torque. The car wasn’t particularly fast but it wasn’t a slug, either, and could pull in a 17 second quarter mile. The seller reports he has thrown some new parts at it, including injectors, ignition components, fuel pressure regulator, and a battery. While I don’t like to make bold claims, I do feel this is one of the better investments you can make in a vintage European car right now owing to the wide appeal, limited production, and stunning design. We’ll never go back to the quirky days of Volvo, so you can bet classic models like these will forever be held in high regard.