We have seen cars with weeds growing around them and trees growing through them, but this could be first one that’s been covered in vines! Any guesses as to what could be hiding under there? Keep reading to find out. Thanks goes to Ian C. and others for sending in the tip!
Ok, so it’s not a valuable sports car or even a rare muscle car, but a Volvo 1800 is still worth getting excited about. Unfortunately, the outdoor storage has not been kind to that already rust prone body. There is a good story behind this car though.
The first owner picked up this car at the factory in Sweden in 1967 and then drove to Rome. That was their home until 1999 when they both moved to the United States. The car was still driven until 2003, but was parked in the backyard around that time.
The seller claims that the 49k miles showing on the odometer could be correct. Not that it matters much since this poor Swede is still going to need everything. It’s listed here on craigslist for $1,500 and we hope that someone can do something with what’s left.
Nice cars, but sadly, that one looks too far gone to be saved…
Someone’s old parts car.
The broken rear window and long term outdoor storage under tarps and foliage, have doomed this car. The sellers ad almost comes across as if he thinks the surrounding plants were a protective measure.
At least it’s priced realistically for a parts car.
Steve R
Hi Steve, The rear window was removed to save someone else’s car years ago when restored 1800’s were $10k cars. It made sense at the time. When I bought this car, it was in about the same shape it is now. I placed a heavy-duty tarp under the car as well which acted like a moisture barrier. In any case, it was better protected than when I bought it. Thanks for the comments!
If someone buys it I have a NOS rear windshield, still in the Volvo box
Thats downright criminal what the original owner did…..maybe I’m weird but I couldn’t sleep at night thinking about that car under all that crap knowing whats going on with the metal as I lay there. I know..its just a collection of metal rubber and glass….stilll
Surely a person can do a little better than tarps to cover their cars for years and years.. otherwise sell the car so that others have the chance to restore before they get in this shape. Pathetic owner!
The ultimate “patinated” car – just a little agent orange to keep it in fine fettle!
Hi Fellows,
I’m the current “pathetic owner” (thanks, Cool Hand Luke). Please let me assure you that this car was in this shape when I bought it-if you want photos, email me. The previous owner left it uncovered on the ground so I think I was a step up to have at least wrapped it in tarps-top and bottom- and then covered. It was a parts car then, IMO, and it’s rear window helped someone else’s running/driving 1800 in WVa. Even without the rear window, the interior was still dry after we “unearthed” it due to the thorough wrapping of tarps/covers.
Now, with increasing prices, someone may want to try and save it, if not then it can continue to be a donor for many other 1800’s. It’s the buyer’s choice. As someone else pointed out, the parts alone are worth more than I’m asking.
As I sold my restored 1800 S, I no longer need a parts car. Actually, the only part I used was the brake booster and I had to restore that before I used it. (If you want to see my restored car, go to Jay Leno’s Garage and look up Saint Volvo).
Thanks to the other folks for the humorous comments. There are alot of creative people here on BF! Keep them coming! Billkrz
New for 2018, the retro styled Volvo 1800 Kudzu edition!
…with custom crackle finish!
Please put it back where it was and let it “rust” in peace.
Crazy.
Running when parked?
The epitome of ‘yard art’. And would have been cooler if it had been left there as such.
Not Rodney K.
I was shocked how “relatively” solid the underside is. I am NOT saying it isn’t rough…. but not as bad as expected.
Maybe cut the rusty body off of the rusty floor put it on the un-rusted floor of a Miata (nobody will miss it) and drive it like the cockroach it is.
Don’t get me wrong, I love 1800’s, especially the ES’s. But there is no justifying fixing the piece back to stock.
Thanks for the comments, Ian. When I bought it, it was in about the same shape it is now. Having it sit on a H-D tarp that wrapped up the sides did help to lessen any additional damage while I had it as the previous owner had it sitting on the ground. When I bought this, restored 1800’s were about 10-12 K. Now that they are 35-50K, things become a little cloudy. I could have bought 3 E-Types for $300.00 back in ’71 (I did buy a Bugeye for $15.00 and a Mini for $35.00 at the time) so who knows down the road what the best decision is. I’ll let the next owner make that decision!
Bill
If it only only spent 11 years parked under vines it was pretty far gone already.
I’d hang the hood in my living room as the art it is.
Put the body on a Honda S2000 frame and hunt Civics.
I feel a “Monty Python” moment coming on!
Was that the owner above ? Must have been hard getting into the car with all that on? When did the owner start dismatling the car?
I think I could buff that out.
😂😂😂
I think it’s devine 👌
before I saw the picture of the Volvo, I was going to guess maybe Jimmy Hoffa was hiding underneath there? LMAO!
It never ceases to amaze me how people treat there stuff. ( I’m going to restore it some day ) if I had a car that I wanted to restore. I wouldn’t leave it sit under a Vine for over a decade. With no back window in it. That vine isn’t just a little grown over either it was completely covering the car. Clearly not highly valued by the owner. So he lets it go to crap and now he wants some money for it.
I was going to say before we knew what it was, whatever it is, got to be worth $10g’s,,,
Actually, this is a steal for any 1800. I’ve seen these in a lot worse shape go for a lot more. Parts alone. These 1800’s are getting hard to find, they only sold so many. Terrible rusters, sitting that long, I’m sure it’s fried underneath.
I love cars in camo! That’s a 356.
Posted over on BaT now, Loads of comments on it.
The ultimate environmentalists green car!
Plenty just like this parked in Chernobyl!
This kind of reminded me of the Barn Finds version of Storage Wars.
One option would have been to just leave it in there and use it as a hunting blind.
Let’s see if I’ve got this right, car was bought new, driven 49k miles in 35 years, then allowed vines to eat it! Sounds like nobody cared, just an other old abandoned car after the owner moved to out. Somebody else can take a beating trying to save it. I’ll pass.
My friend Greg was to choose his graduation gift (High School circa 1965). He picked a European “Sports Car” of a type unknown to his dad, but it was ordered, imported and arrived at the Portland Ore. docks. Greg and dad went to pick it up. That was when dad discovered Greg’s incomplete disclosure that the car was actually a factory race car,not the “Sports Car” that Greg had described to dear old dad. It was sent back. Greg’s next choice was a white Volvo 1800. :-) Terry J
Should have let it rust in peace
That’s a lot of money for 4 hubcaps…
Bring a hedge fund manager.
Keeps the HOA and Code enforcement people off your back,, car? What car??.
I was waiting for someone to mention camo netting, I had several sections of “Woodland camo” of netting and used them to cover several of my cars in storage at a rental.
Keep in mind some zoning, tax, and code enforcement people now use satellites imagery. Some use a software package that notes differences in imagery from year to year, so they then go looking closer. “oh!,, he built a barn and didnt pull permits!”. So, Its not just what people can see from the street anymore.
Just think if it was a 65 Shelby Mustang or 67 Z28 or Hemi Cuda or a LS6 Chevelle ….in this condition nobody would be talking parts car.
Prices and biding would be though the roof……And I would be included in that.
You guys are so negative, clearly, it will rub out.
Absolutely! Try using this.
Bill – you sold the Saint car???? :-o
Looks like it was sold before I saw this post. Good. For $1500 I would have been tempted. Definitely appears restorable for today’s market. Especially if the builder wants a modified car.