1962 Volvo P1800 review: Retro Road Test

Woolly jumpers, thick-rimmed glasses and antique chests of drawers. Until recently, these are all things that probably sprung to mind when you thought of Volvo.

The Swedish carmaker has done a commendable job of shaking off that image in recent years, though. Its current lineup is one of the strongest in the industry, and certainly up to the job of challenging German competitors. A focus on SUVs also makes its range very much on-trend.

However, Volvo hasn’t always made cars for the family man. At the 1960 Brussels Motor Show, the Italian-inspired P1800 was revealed. Intended to increase traffic to Volvo showrooms, the Amazon-based sports car was designed by Pelle Petterson, the son of Volvo engineering consultant Helmer Petterson.

The story goes that four design proposals were ordered from Italy, while Petterson also snuck in a design by his son: a student at the Petro Frua design house. A board unanimously agreed that Petterson’s proposal was the best, despite being penned by a 25-year-old local from Gothenburg. For more than 50 years, though, the firm would insist the P1800 was an Italian design.

Video: driving the Volvo P1800

The P1800 nearly didn’t see the light of day, as Volvo didn’t have the production capacity to produce an entirely new model – even in small numbers. Fortunately, two British firms were able to help out: Pressed Steel would build the bodies, while Jensen Motors painted and assembled the cars. This arrangement lasted until 1963, when quality control problems at Jensen led to production being moved to Volvo’s Lundby plant in Gothenburg.

This car, registered ‘480 MTT’, is a UK model built in 1962. Restored by the Volvo Enthusiasts Club at the National Classic Car Show in 1994, it was subsequently bought by Volvo Car UK and used for various marketing activities. It even appeared in an advert for the Volvo 480 (now a classic car in its own right).

Twenty-odd years of neglect led to it needing some TLC, which in turn led to another full-blown restoration. Volvo-approved bodyshop MR King and Sons completed the work, which included reworking of panels to rid the car of any filler. No new panels were needed, though, and the car isn’t in concours condition. Volvo wants it to be used, and retain some of the patina gained throughout its life.

Volvo P1800: What’s it like to drive?

Before I can drive the P1800, it needs pushing out of the reception of Volvo UK’s Maidenhead HQ. And before that can happen, people need to be cleared. In a company of car enthusiasts, barely a soul walks past without stopping to ask questions or take a peek beneath the bonnet.

Incidentally, under said bonnet is a 1.8-litre four-cylinder twin-carb petrol engine (fuel injection followed in 1969). As with all carbureted engines, it runs a bit rough on start-up and its exhaust emissions aren’t exactly office-friendly – hence having to push it out of the building.

Once out in the open and up to temperature, the 100hp engine runs smoothly and I can fully enjoy the magnificence of the P1800’s interior. It appeared in our coolest car dashboards feature – and justifiably so. The dash-mounted rear-view mirror is a personal highlight, as are the two-spoke wheel, needle-thin indicator stalks and cool dials, which were criticised at the time for being too gimmicky.

Oh, and there’s the ultra-clever – and ultra-simple – belt buckle. Volvo invented the three-point seatbelt, in case you didn’t know.

It takes a little time to adjust to the 60-year-old car, but I’ve soon got my head around the rudimentary controls. Finding gears is easy, although reverse takes a little searching for, and there’s an overdrive to help progress. By today’s standards, the P1800 is not fast, but maintaining 60mph on rural roads close to Maidenhead is no mean feat for a car as old as this.

While Roger Moore famously drove a P1800 in The Saint, I resist the temptation to ‘do a Simon Templar’ and punt the P1800 sideways in pursuit of baddies. Despite being rear-wheel-drive and free of electronic driver aids, it feels rather ‘Volvo’ on the road. By that, I mean it’s a car to waft around in, rather than chuck about in a sporty manner.

Still, who cares when you look as good as this? While we’re taking some photos in a rural car park, a guy in an E30-shape BMW 3 Series pulls up and asks if he can buy it. It gets a positive reaction everywhere.

Volvo P1800: Tell me about buying one

You may have to put some groundwork into searching for the right P1800, but there is a varied selection in the classifieds. Deciding what you want is the first step. A British-built P1800, as featured here and perhaps the most sought-after model, or a Swedish-built P1800S?

The P1800E came along with fuel injection in 1970, while the stunning P1800ES shooting brake estate was launched in 1972.

Fuel injection has its benefits, and we prefer the look of the ES, but early P1800s are the most desirable among enthusiasts. In truth, you’re better off buying on condition than getting too hung up about a particular model.

Rust is the P1800’s most troubling issue. The Volvo Enthusiasts’ Club offers a spares service that will help you find replacement or repair panels, but some are expensive and they’re not all available. Inspect any part thoroughly, and be on the lookout for dodgy repairs and filler.

If you find one that’s cosmetically sound, there’s little else to worry about. Mechanically, the P1800 is extremely robust, but do check that a genuine Volvo oil filter is fitted. Also, keep your eyes peeled for smoke on start-up, and be make sure the clutch bites cleanly without any juddering.

Volvo P1800: Verdict

Volvo is on form right now, yet the P1800 of 60 years ago remains one of its coolest cars ever. I’d be happy to have one on my driveway just to look at, never mind to drive.

If you’re after on-the-limit thrills, you’re probably won’t get them from the P1800. But you will get a great deal of pleasure from simply driving it around gently, being waved at by other motorists and attracting attention wherever you go. Volvo UK’s example is simply stunning – not perfect, but all the better for that.

Finding a good P1800 is tricky, but certainly not impossible. Buy the best you can afford – they’re not that expensive in classic car terms – and don’t underestimate the work involved in remedying rust.

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