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1961 Volvo P1800

The Volvo P1800 gained notoriety and stardom for its role in the hands of Roger Moore in the cult 1960s television series The Saint. The first generation of cars was built with the help of Jensen Motors in England until production was able to be transferred to Sweden. By 1971, it had evolved into a very practical and much-loved estate version. Production ended in the early part of the 1970s.

The P1800 sports car was powered by an overhead-valve four-cylinder engine displacing 108.5 cubic inches and offering 100 horsepower. It had an all-synchro four-speed manual transmission with overdrive and front disc brakes. The coupe had a seating capacity for two individuals in the front. It did have a tiny back seat which was more suited as storage than for passengers.

The P1800 had distinct bodyside moldings, tail lamps located below slightly finned rear fenders, P1800 script on the C-pillar, and a protruding oval grille in the front.

In 1961, the P1800 had a selling price of just under $4,000.

The P1800 was produced from 1961 through 1973 with 39,407 examples of the notch coupe and 8,077 of the sports estate. It wore a design by Pelle Petterson under the direction of Pietro Frua when Frua's studio was a subsidiary of the Italian carrozzeria Ghia. The mechanical components were derived from Volvo's Amazon/122 series.

by Dan Vaughan

Volvo had established a reputation for building sturdy sedans by the early 1960's. They had been building such cars for many years, and they had proven themselves more than capable of surviving the rigorous Scandinavian climate of their Swedish hometown. Volvo had become known for building reliable, robust, and practical transportation. But, during an exciting era of car design, they were left without an arousing design to arrest public attention. No sports car. No grand tourer. Volvo had no model in their line-up to excite buyers.

All this changed in 1961 with the introduction of the P1800. Combining a sophisticated Italian design with tough Swedish mechanicals, this new Volvo revitalized the company's image. With reliability, comfort, and practicality, the P1800 was a Volvo through and through. It managed to have a personality all its own, though, and a character much more engaging than its drab siblings.

The P1800 was a 2+2 with two seats up front for adults and a couple of chairs for the kids in the back. The Volvo had a fairly large trunk, which supplemented its additional seats and made the car surprisingly useable for an attractive sports car.

Mechanically, the P1800 was as staid as the other members of its family. Initially offered with a simple 1,778cc four-cylinder with an average of 100hp, it was no road burner. The engine did at least have the dual SU carbs obligatory in a European sports car. The motor was later enlarged to 1985cc, and fuel injection was added later in the model run.

The 'P1800' designation was only used on the first batch of Volvo's sports cars, which had their bodies produced by Jensen of England. After quality problems with Jensen, Volvo moved all P1800 production to Sweden and renamed the car the '1800S,' with the new letter standing for 'Sweden.' When fuel injection was added, the 'S' suffix was dropped in favor of an 'E,' and when a shooting brake variant was created for 1972 it was called the '1800ES.'

Though it was as quick as an MG or a Triumph in a straight line, the P1800 was more of a boulevard cruiser than a backroad hunter. Its rear drum brakes and live rear axle meant that the car handled and stopped more like a conventional sedan than a sports car.

The Volvo's size, though, suggested that it wasn't really a sports car at all. Instead, the P1800 was intended to be a grand touring machine: an automobile with style and panache capable of moving down the highway at a quick enough clip of speed, traveling toward some fashionable destination with a roomy trunk capable of swallowing a comfortable shopping spree. Looking at the car in that context, it's no surprise that the Volvo was able to accomplish its mission and end up a strong seller.

As a stylish grand touring car, the Volvo proved its worth. It was supremely comfortable, with the pleasant interior and excellent seats found in so many Swedish cars, and it had a great design that was distinct and modern. The P1800's styling is often attributed to Pietro Frua of Italy, but in reality, it was the young Pelle Petterson of Sweden who designed the car while working under Frua. The Volvo's combination of good looks and well-built mechanicals was a great combination that found many satisfied owners.

The car's only real downfall was no fault of its own. For as good of a vehicle as it was, the Volvo had some serious competition that it just couldn't match. Introduced the same year as the fabled Jaguar E-Type, the P1800 struggled in the shadow of the glitzy Jag that was only marginally more expensive. It enjoyed decent sales during its long production run, but was eventually outshone by more impressive competition and discontinued.

Sources Used:

Wilson, Quentin. The Ultimate Classic Car Book. First. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 1995.

by Evan Acuña

The Volvo P1800 is probably best remembered and known for the television show, 'The Saint' starring Roger Moore. During the entire production of the show, the Volvo Car Corporation supplied a total of five P1800 models. One of the vehicles was split apart so better interior shots could be ascertained. One of the P1800's was wrecked by accident in 1967. Some of the parts were salvaged by the production company and used to update one of the older P1800s.

Originally, a Jaguar XK-E was going to accompany Roger Moore on his adventures but when Jaguar did not respond to the production company's requests for vehicles, Volvo gladly handed over their P1800's. A decision Jaguar would quickly regret due to the show's popularity. However, in 1970 'The Return of The Saint' featured a white Jaguar XJ-S.

The P1800 is a departure from the vehicles Volvo is known for making. The company's reputation boasts safety, reliability, and a large and boxy vehicle. The P1800, on the other hand, was a stylish, responsive, sports coupe.

Volvo had attempted a sports car model which they dubbed the P1900. It was short-lived. After less than 70 examples were produced, production ceased due to financial decisions. Volvo then tasked Helmer Patterson to acquire designs from Italian firms. Four designs came from Italian firms and one from his son Pelle. The design that was chosen by Volvo was Pelle's design. Frua was tasked with building a prototype while Pelle assisted in the development.

The production of the vehicle was complicated. Volvo did not have the space required to manufacture the vehicle so they contracted a British company named Pressed Steel Company to fabricate the bodies. Jensen, a factory located in England, was used to assemble the P1800's.

Fueled by the popularity of The Saint, the P1800 became widely successful. It carried a rather inexpensive price tag when compared with other sports cars. The interior provided legroom for larger individuals; the weight of the vehicle and the size of the engine made it quick and agile.

The design was timeless - during its twelve years in production, only minor aesthetic changes were made. Mechanically, the biggest change for the vehicle was electronic fuel injection.

The P1800 is a true sixties car that proved to be an excellent companion for Roger Moore and 'The Saint'.

by Dan Vaughan