In 1970, Volvo equipped its 1800 coupe models with fuel injection, hence the designation 1800E. There was also a cosmetic upgrade to the car, though the basic body didn’t change until the cute 1800ES station wagon arrived in 1972. This “complete and running” bright yellow 1972 1800E coupe is for sale on eBay in Cary, North Carolina. The owner describes it as a project, but it sounds like with a new fuel tank it could be a driver. The current bid is $5,000.

The paint is “Safari Yellow,” and it looks pretty good in the photos, but the owner admits it’s a cheap job. The engine runs on a fuel bottle and shifts as it should, but a new tank is needed—not a big job on these cars. The most important thing on any S, E, or ES 1800 is rust—they’ll go at the frame rails, wheel wells, headlight surrounds, the trunk, and really everywhere. And they’re complex and difficult to restore properly. This being a Southern car helps a lot.

The photos (which don’t show the undercarriage) suggest a rust-free car, but the owner is up-front that it’s not the case. The Volvo has typical 1800 rust in the front frame rails, steering box, hood hinges, and floor pans. That could get expensive, especially if the car has started to sag. Incidentally, nothing dire should be inferred from the door fit. They’re all like that. I owned two of these 1800s.

The black leather interior isn’t terrible, but there are rips and tears, including in the rear parcel shelf with its cute embossed Volvo logo. On the positive side, all new brake lines and calipers have been installed, along with proportioning valves.

An accompanying video shows the car running, but raggedly—it seems badly in need of a tune-up. All the glass is there and intact, and the interior is complete. The owner says the original wheels, including the spare, are in good condition.

The owner is not wrong to suggest that this “is an affordable way into a complete entry-level 1800 project…These cars are bringing $30,000 to $50,000 completely restored. The reserve is set on this one for pennies on the dollar.”

These Volvos are exceptionally pretty and with the fuel-injected B20 engine reasonably fun to drive. The seating position is very low, which takes some acclimatation. Don’t expect them to handle like a Ferrari—the mechanicals are straight out of the 122S sedan, though with a Laycock d’Normanville overdrive unit (also used in a bunch of British cars) added. Actually, the overdrive is in some of the 122S cars, too.

Somebody is probably going to end up with this Volvo for much less than the current valuation. Maybe some have gone for $50,000 restored, but Classic.com suggests the current average price for the 1970 to 1972 1800E is $25,664. The downside is the metalwork on this one could be extensive.