Cars are worth buying for various reasons, and not all with the intention of returning them to the road. Sometimes they’re too far gone, but are still bargain parts gold mines. That’s likely the case for this 1964 Volvo 1800, here on Facebook Marketplace in beautiful Bellingham, Washington for just $1,500. I’m amazed it has been for sale as long as it has, with all the interest in the 1800.

The owner is honest. It’s a “rust bucket,” and it’s been sitting outside in rainy Washington State for a good long while. The title is missing. “Someone took the seats and door panels before my dad got it. The motor turns—it was supposedly rebuilt before the keys were lost and it sat for 25 years. It’s good for a parts rat rod, or a rusty daily driver. These are rare.”

Indeed they are, and that’s what makes this one easily worth $1,500. Although the interior is stripped, the rest of it is there. From 1961 to 1963, 1800s were built by Jensen in England, and the questionable quality is why Volvo took the project in-house as the 1800S (“S” for Sweden).

Let’s let Volvo tell the story: “After much deliberation, Volvo decided to use two British companies to build the car: Pressed Steel would build the bodies and Jensen Motors would paint and assemble the cars. Production got underway but this arrangement had its challenges. Constant problems with personnel, working methods, quality, suppliers and logistics—along with an unwillingness to deal with these issues—meant that Volvo transferred production home to Sweden as soon as it was possible. In the spring of 1963—after 6,000 Jensen-built cars—production of the 1800 started up in Volvo’s Lundby factory. But it was not until 1969 that body pressings were transferred from Pressed Steel in Scotland to Volvo’s press shop in Olofström.”

That history would suggest that this car was actually assembled in Sweden, and I think I see an “1800S” badge on the tail. But all the early cars had very different trim, including “bullhorn” front bumpers, early-style hubcaps, and “curved spear” side trim. Maybe that engine really was rebuilt, though it looks rather sorry for itself now.

Much looks salvageable on this car. It still has a decent grille surround and egg-crate grille, both worth their weight in gold. All the cool turquoise-and-black instruments are there and can be rebuilt (by Nisonger, as I recall.). The transmission is still there, and probably it’s British-made Laycock de Normanville overdrive unit. All the glass is intact, and the “racing-type” steering wheel is in place. The front bumper is bent, but the rear one might be saveable. The early-style radiator (without an expansion bottle) is valuable. Here’s what these cars are supposed to look like, though this is a later model–1966 to 1968 perhaps? Note the straight chrome strip, different grille and hubcaps, and the straight front bumper.

This car is déjà vu for me because I bought a 1964 1800 very similar to the example offered for $200. And the promise of a “rebuilt engine” was actually correct. The starter was bad, but when I replaced it the car ran and drove—albeit with one of the worst-looking rusted-out, bashed-and-crashed bodies ever seen on an 1800. The original seats were likewise gone, and the purple replacements were, I think, from a Mustang. I drove it like that for years. Given inflation, $1,500 seems more than reasonable now. It’s unlikely that this 1800 can be restored. It is indeed quite rotten. The driver’s floor is rapidly disappearing. The passenger door is sagging. These cars are complex to restore, and very costly. Sad to say it’s probably a parts car, but a very useful one. What do you think?