A few weeks ago, a friend of mine told me about a honey hole he found in rural North Carolina with a property belonging to one individual absolutely strewn with desirable classics. Upon seeing this listing for a 1965 Volvo P1800 that’s offered as a parts car in Whitakers, North Carolina, I shot my buddy a note to ask if he had been to this particular stomping ground, and it turns out this Volvo was parked in the same place he had just visited. He knows there are a few Alfa Romeos hiding in the brush behind the P1800, and that’s just the stuff that’s sitting outside. Find the Volvo here on craigslist where the seller is asking $1,800.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Chuck F. for the find. The Volvo has clearly been a parts car for some time, and you needn’t look far to see the reasons why. Cracked dash, rusty body panels, wrecked upholstery – this poor Volvo was likely junked ages ago before these cars became collector’s items. But, knowing what I know about the owner of the property, it’s more likely that he used this Volvo P1800 for a while before moving onto a new project and junking the svelte two-door in his generous backyard. From what my buddy has told me, the owner of the property loves vintage European makes and models and has never slowed down in acquiring worthwhile projects. Fortunately, he’s wise enough to let some of the roughest ones go.
I doubt the hood has been lifted up much in the past 20 years, with the engine bay looking more like a squirrel hangout than an active power barn. The good news is that if you are looking for a parts car, this one is quite complete and should cough up some decent trim, switchgear, and hopefully, a healthy drivetrain. While it can be sorely tempting to think you can bring this one all the way back, the smart money is one negotiating down a bit, getting a treasure trove of parts, and hoping the seller lets you check out some other hidden gems on his property. If you could imagine one “dream” project car hidden in the weeds of this North Carolina property, what model would it be?
Probably 1,800 dollars worth of parts to anyone restoring one of these that doesn’t have some extra stuff to finish the job.
Once again, (for the umpteenth time), this is not a P1800. It’s an 1800S. The designation P1800 applies to the early cars from it’s introduction through 1963. After the production was moved from England to Sweden in ’63, the car was designated as the 1800S, the “S” for Sweden.
Please make a note of this so I won’t have to make this post again when the next 1800 comes up. That is all.
Thanks for your knowledge of this type Volvo.
Here here! 1800S! It says so right on the tail badge. Ask me how I know–I had a ’67 for a long time. Volvo was right to take production away from Jensen. I also had one built in England and it was a mess.
Hi Jim, it pleases me to see you go to bat for the quality of Swedish made Volvos! Hope all is well with you….
Yes, we are all mighty chafed having to read Rex non-stop directives regarding these Volvos.
I’m joking Rex and for no particular reason too.
Lighten up Francis
Please see this brochure issued by Volvo. There WAS a P1800S at least for awhile.
This just makes me sad. More cars that are so rusted it would take 3 or more times to restore than they are worth.
P1800 1800s most people could care less about the exact designation but thank you for again imparting your Volvo knowledge on us
Cool cars but I doubt there are any saints out there that would restore this one most likely a parts bonanza
Saints….I see what you did there!
Simon says, Finally someone else gets it!
Hey, if someone did a writeup on a Galaxie 400 XM, or a Camaro Z29, or a Datsun 279Z, or an Impala with a 408, you can bet they’d be corrected in a big hurry.
Keep in mind this is a classic car website, so the writers (who I like very much, especially Russ and Michelle and Scotty) should be and want to be accurate, I’m sure.
I’ve had 5 of them and still say P1800 unless it’s my E. If you say 1800 nobody knows unless you say Volvo with it.
The sad thing about this rust bucket is it can’t even be a parts car because the common parts needed are trashed. I know a yard that has 50 plus 1800s and over 30 years very few parts were sold…like few.
Gasser
And I call the people who find these cars just to let them rot in a field “Whack Jobs.” or “Wack Jobs” Somebody should have taken a torque wrench to them and tightened a few bolts to specification.
It looks like its parked in an old time pick n pull junkyard , and when a car hits the junkyard, there’s usually a good reason. these were known for severe floor and rocker rust ; I’m sure that’s why its left there. Much better to have an old junker lying around so others can keep their good ones going , then to send it to the crusher.
Everyone seems to forget that this Volvo 1800, P1800, POS or whatever you want to call it and most any old OLD CAR was that was not an exotic car was TRANSPORTATION to the original owner.
A tool to get from point A to Point B. Nothing More!
When it quit running, got wrecked or rusted out it was parked in the yard, parked in a field or it was SCRAPPED!
The real question you should ask yourself is “Why Did The Owner Keep that POS All These Years” when anyone else in their right mind would have scrapped that old car long ago back in the day!
Maybe people thought they should get it for nothing. I have dealt with people like that and before I would give it to them. I,d let it rot to the ground. They think its too much-but will go out and pay a outrageous price for a new piece of junk. Just to give people impression they have alot of money–when they don,t.
“Honey Hole”? Aren’t those full of Snipes?
Might need a translation.
A high winding small block of any nationality would wake er right up 👍👍👍
I agree with previous comments about a parts car. This one would offer few useable parts. Most would be better sourced from a decent example or from repro parts suppliers. A friend sold one of these a couple of years ago and all the knowledgeable Volvo guys inspecting the car used a magnet over the bodywork. Very few have escaped extensive body filler repairs.
Wow, I made the big time here…by the way, I have a parts business but not a Volvo parts business. My family has owned Volvos since 1958, the car in the ad was going to the crusher, I bought it as at the time I was driving an 1800. As I visit the crusher about once a week, I have saved a few cars that were literally in line to be fed in. Having a 30 year relationship with the guy who owns the crusher helps. I have a 63 544 that my dad bought new that is inside and will never be for sale. Y’all that know me might know ai just got married, lots of cars going up for sale
Alonzo:
You made a least two really good decisions in life: buying all those cars, and getting married.
C’mon DRV: don’t let T.J. get all the glory; be a tipster, and get us all excited! It would blow a lot of minds to see pics of a yard with that many.
Yesterday, I saw a restored 544, parked on a front lawn for passersby to admire. I stopped, and I did.