The world’s best spit-baller couldn’t make up enough words to fill a column on this barn find. Good thing there are four pictures, which is how many we typically print. They don’t do much but reveal a “forgot about it” car, covered in cloths, boxes, and assorted other detritus. We thank Gunter Kramer for find this buried possible treasure. It’s a Volvo P1800, from 1966. It’s available here on craigslist as it sits in a warehouse in Joplin, MO.
We don’t know anything about this car except that it has failed paint on the front end, and possibly filler from an unfinished repair. Oh, and the chrome trim on the driver’s side is intact at least. There’s hope here—what little we do see seems complete. However, what does “all glass and body panels” mean—they’re all there? That’s a start. Are they respectively cracked or rusty? How about the inside—do 200,000 miles of use show in wear to the seats and a cracked dash? The seller doesn’t remember what the mileage was when he picked the car up 20 years ago. He does say that the drivetrain is intact. No word on its fitness for use. This would have been a 1778cc inline four-cylinder with 115 horsepower.
This is like one of those mystery boxes they sell online. (Look it up—it’s mildly interesting.) You might know the category you’re getting—fishing gear, cosmetics, men’s casual clothes—but you don’t know what kind of whatever-it-is you’re going to get. One time good, the next time stuff you wouldn’t buy with a coupon and cash found as you walked down the street. Maybe it’s a good thing that his one is selling for only $1000. If that’s real, then this car will be gone pretty fast, because for the potential reward, a grand is not much to pay. Let’s hope it goes to a decent citizen with the money to restore it rather than someone who’s going to fluff it up and try to turn it in two weeks for $10,000—you’ll know that’s what happened if you see it here again.
What we do know is what this car could be after possibly considerable infusions of money and time. The body style is timeless—good enough for James Bond, good enough for anyone. The size is compact, but the car still has enough heft to feel OK to pilot on a busy freeway. You just kind of wonder what prompted the seller to buy in the first place and what has gotten in the way now. The car has to be picked up October 14th or 15th, apparently without fail. Maybe someone’s moving, or is sick of a storage bill. Here’s the sign that reality has set in: “I’m never going to get around to getting it back on the road.” I hope that’s said with a sign of relief rather than exasperation. No matter—somebody else gets the chance now. Hopefully that person will see this project through.
Here we go again: if this car is a 1966, then it is NOT a P1800. It’s an 1800S. If it were a ’61, ’62, or ’63, then yes it would be a P1800.
The early Jensen-built P1800 cars had quality control issues, so Volvo moved production back to Sweden in ’63 and re-named the car the 1800S (Sweden). Oddly, the Jensen cars are more valuable in the 1800 milieu.
If I were anywhere near this car, I’d snap it up immediately, wash it up and get it running and sell it to Europe for probably 10K.
Exactly. Anywhere near me and I’d be there with a trailer and the 1G.
Refresh my memory when James Bond drive a Volvo??
Not so sure about the car but I have a solid $2.00 for the tarp (delivered).
Which Bond flick did James have a Volvo?
looks like a hoarder, I know that title is around here somewhere?
Did James Bond really drive one of these? Sure you’re not thinking of Simon Templar?
What a bargain!
What a reminder!
When I feed the chickens, I’ll look on the other side of the little barn and see how buried the 67 1800S is that’s been there for 30 years.
I suppose a person could at least uncover the top layer…..
1K is low enough that if the bones are decent, as a parts car you could easily make your money back and then some…
My apologies to all the Volvo fans but the John Deere looks like it could be an 855 which I personally would be interested in!
Greg’s folks told him to pick out a new car for his birthday (circa 1965). He did and it was ordered from the factory in Europe. When it arrived at the Portland Ore. docks, they drove across the state to pick it up. To the folks surprise Greg
had not been totally clear that his choice was a factory race car totally capable of competing at high speed on any race course in Europe. It got sent back on the spot. The replacement (with the folks input) was a 1800s. Nice little car.
The right actor, but the wrong role….
(The Saint)
The Saint not bond
Good enough for the famous Simon Templar, I’m sure you meant.
I spy
I spy a car I think but it’s Roger Moore that drove a Volvo in The Saint
Where is the rest of the car?