Cars

More than 50 years ago, Volvo offered the world a sports car!

This fact could have been relegated to the annals of history, were it not for the fact that it also involved a TV star. Volvo’s sports car co-starred a modern-day Robin Hood named Simon Templar. If that name isn’t familiar to you, the actor who played him should be: Roger Moore. In “The Saint”, Moore and the Volvo P1800 were the sidekicks in the many adventures of Simon Templar, who faced Chief Inspector Claude Teal on a weekly basis throughout the 1960s.

The Volvo P1800 has had its share of adventures. The idea was born in 1957, when Volvo wanted a new vehicle for the American and European markets. The PV544 and Amazon were selling well, but the company was looking for other opportunities. Volvo was inspired by the growing number of sports cars produced on both continents, and felt the need to create its own car. However, Volvo did not have the facilities to build one.

In 1960, Volvo and Jensen, a small British company specializing in sports cars, agreed to build these cars in England. The P1800 was presented at the Brussels Motor Show that year, and the first production models arrived in 1961, after the Paris Motor Show. Volvo uses the B18 engine, a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with two Weber carburetors developing 100 horsepower. A four-speed manual gearbox was offered, as well as overdrive options, including an electrically-operated version. The cabin is a 2+2 design, due to the car’s small size, with small wings at the rear to distinguish it.

In 1963, production at Jensen was not going well. Demand was growing, but quality left much to be desired. Volvo decided to transfer production to Sweden, where it remained for its entire life. This decision led to a number of modifications to the car, now known as the 1800S. This is when the sports coupé takes off.

Power begins to increase over time. In 1963, the B18 was upgraded to 108 hp. In 1966, power was increased to 115 hp, while retaining the twin SU carburettors. In 1969, a new engine was introduced on the 1800S – a 2.0-liter four-cylinder now developing 118 hp. Fuel injection was introduced in the new engine for 1970, changing the model name to 1800E. That year, the new model was also equipped with four-wheel disc brakes as standard.

This example, a 1966 3rd series coupé from Switzerland, was completely restored in Germany in the late 90s. It’s a car of European origin.

Expertised at €52,500 in January 2024 (Report available on request)