1800: 1972 pv1800es

[Othen]

I posted this in the 'Sales' area, but meant for it to be here, so what follows is a copy.

A friend of mine has just purchased a 1972 P1800ES, I've offered to help her collect it some time next week. It looks nice enough, this car:



... the car is advertised as having had a bare metal respray and being mechanically good. As long as the car is as described she is committed to the purchase, so we'll just be checking it is indeed as described.

I notice from the MoT history that its last test was in 2006, and then it failed needed considerable welding to repair rust. This must have been fixed - and it will be a trivial matter to make sure it has been. I don't know anything about these cars, is there anything more I should look out for?

Alan

[142 Guy]

Originally Posted by Othen

I notice from the MoT history that its last test was in 2006, and then it failed needed considerable welding to repair rust. This must have been fixed - and it will be a trivial matter to make sure it has been. I don't know anything about these cars, is there anything more I should look out for?

Alan

The high cost repairs on an 1800 are the body sheet metal repairs. The 1800 has a bit of a reputation as sections of rust held together with steel. If the body repair has been properly addressed then most other issues can be addressed at a reasonable cost.

Be aware that an original 1800ES will be equipped with a D jetronic electronic fuel injection system. There is nothing wrong with that, the system works well. However, the number of shops that have the knowledge to diagnose and fix an ailing D jet system are limited. If the owner can't diagnose and repair themselves, they may want to do a little searching around ahead of time to determine if there are accessible shops that can do the work for them should they need the service.

If a true bare metal respray and panel repair project was carried out it would be common for photographs to be taken during the restoration process as evidence. Ask for any photo documentation of the restoration process to satisfy yourself that proper repairs were carried out. If there are no photos, then I would do a little Google searching to make up a list of the many common 1800 rust spots. Then, armed with that list, a magnet (to detect bondo patches) and something pokey to test the soundness of metal do your own inspection. Or, make the purchase conditional on a pre purchase inspection by a specialist knowledgeable in the 1800.

If the last MoT was 2006, does that mean that the car has not been road worthy since 2006? Is the car currently driveable and registrable? If you can't test drive it, that would be deal breaker for unless the seller priced it appropriately.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by 142 Guy

The high cost repairs on an 1800 are the body sheet metal repairs. The 1800 has a bit of a reputation as sections of rust held together with steel. If the body repair has been properly addressed then most other issues can be addressed at a reasonable cost.

Be aware that an original 1800ES will be equipped with a D jetronic electronic fuel injection system. There is nothing wrong with that, the system works well. However, the number of shops that have the knowledge to diagnose and fix an ailing D jet system are limited. If the owner can't diagnose and repair themselves, they may want to do a little searching around ahead of time to determine if there are accessible shops that can do the work for them should they need the service.

If a true bare metal respray and panel repair project was carried out it would be common for photographs to be taken during the restoration process as evidence. Ask for any photo documentation of the restoration process to satisfy yourself that proper repairs were carried out. If there are no photos, then I would do a little Google searching to make up a list of the many common 1800 rust spots. Then, armed with that list, a magnet (to detect bondo patches) and something pokey to test the soundness of metal do your own inspection. Or, make the purchase conditional on a pre purchase inspection by a specialist knowledgeable in the 1800.

If the last MoT was 2006, does that mean that the car has not been road worthy since 2006? Is the car currently driveable and registrable? If you can't test drive it, that would be deal breaker for unless the seller priced it appropriately.

Thank you so much.

I understand the car has been registered as an historic vehicle for some years and so will not have needed a MoT test. I believe it is in good driving condition (such is the seller’s claim). This is the seller’s ad (in italics):

1972 Volvo 1800es 2ltr engine manual gearbox
This is a low mileage same number car.
I purchased the car 4yrs ago from its third owner who had kept the car for many years.
The car has undergone a bare metal body repair and repaint and looks amazing. Lots of new parts have also been fitted.
Since having all the repairs, the car had sat in my garage. Unused and no time to use it.
It runs and drives really well, the overdrive works without fault.
The interior is completely original and looks great, showing some wear but nothing that I would replace. The car retains that classic car interior smell which is a joy to sit in.
Any inspection is welcomed and recommended


... so that is what I’ll be checking for my friend (the buyer). I have not spoken with the seller myself, but my friend has, and she seems confident of the ad’s veracity.

Fingers crossed!

[Army]

I've never owned a p1800 so I can't really help.

I will say, however, based on my experience of my PV544 is that Volvo of that time made some very handsome shapes in sheet metal with subtle forms.

My PV had been "repainted" to such an extent that the subtle shapes of the body had been obliterated by body filler. There is a tendency (I'm sorry to report) for people to slap on body filler with wild abundance...

...make sure your friend is buying something with out a whole load of make up!

I would take a magnet to identify potential problem areas - though I can understand that a seller might not be so impressed with that approach. A professional paint thickness gauge would be good.

A re-painted car is one of my warning signs - unless it has been done years and years ago. Photo's as mentioned above can help but it is a bit of a gamble as the first time something gets wet is more often than not the first time when something starts to bubble through...

[old fart]

There's a stripped 1800 coupe on e-bay at the moment. If you have a good look at the photos, it will give you a good indication of where they rust, plus the top of the front wings behind the wheel arch, and below the rear hatch on the ES, and underneath, of course. Good luck.

[Othen]

Will a 1972 P1800 run on bleifrei, or will I need to get some fuel additive?

[cassell]

Originally Posted by Othen

Thank you so much.

I understand the car has been registered as an historic vehicle for some years and so will not have needed a MoT test. I believe it is in good driving condition (such is the seller’s claim). This is the seller’s ad (in italics):

1972 Volvo 1800es 2ltr engine manual gearbox
This is a low mileage same number car.
I purchased the car 4yrs ago from its third owner who had kept the car for many years.
The car has undergone a bare metal body repair and repaint and looks amazing. Lots of new parts have also been fitted.
Since having all the repairs, the car had sat in my garage. Unused and no time to use it.
It runs and drives really well, the overdrive works without fault.
The interior is completely original and looks great, showing some wear but nothing that I would replace. The car retains that classic car interior smell which is a joy to sit in.
Any inspection is welcomed and recommended


... so that is what I’ll be checking for my friend (the buyer). I have not spoken with the seller myself, but my friend has, and she seems confident of the ad’s veracity.

Fingers crossed!

I am also the owner of a Volvo 1800ES and recall seeing this blue one from Stoke on Trent area for sale several times on Ebay in recent times, presumably it never reached a sensible price until now?

Whilst I have no knowledge or ever seen this Volvo I did, I think, once meet the owner/seller a few years ago on the Volvo Owners Club stand at the NEC Classic Car Show when displaying my own ES there (see photo). I had quite a long conversation with him about how he found the car locked away in storage for many years, bought it and carried out the restoration. I recall him saying that a lot of welding and bodywork was done as well as mechanical work. I think the main topic of conversation was how to refit the long side windows from memory.

My recollection is that he'd spent a lot of time and money on the car, including many new parts from a Volvo dealer close to his home. Quite why he is now selling it I don't know, but it does seem to be a good buy on the face of his adverts. He certainly seemed a genuine chap so I hope the purchase goes smoothly for your friend and that you enjoy driving the car home.

Paul

[Othen]

Originally Posted by cassell

I am also the owner of a Volvo 1800ES and recall seeing this blue one from Stoke on Trent area for sale several times on Ebay in recent times, presumably it never reached a sensible price until now?

Whilst I have no knowledge or ever seen this Volvo I did, I think, once meet the owner/seller a few years ago on the Volvo Owners Club stand at the NEC Classic Car Show when displaying my own ES there (see photo). I had quite a long conversation with him about how he found the car locked away in storage for many years, bought it and carried out the restoration. I recall him saying that a lot of welding and bodywork was done as well as mechanical work. I think the main topic of conversation was how to refit the long side windows from memory.

My recollection is that he'd spent a lot of time and money on the car, including many new parts from a Volvo dealer close to his home. Quite why he is now selling it I don't know, but it does seem to be a good buy on the face of his adverts. He certainly seemed a genuine chap so I hope the purchase goes smoothly for your friend and that you enjoy driving the car home.

Paul

That is so helpful Paul, thank you very much.

What you have said about the seller strongly supports my friend's opinion of the seller - he seems to be a decent chap. The story about spending good money on welding and decorating tallies exactly with my friend's account, but it is very useful indeed for it to be corroborated independently.

I have had no dealings with the seller myself, but I'm really looking forward to seeing the car and driving it back this week. If my friend agrees I'll post some photos and words then.

Best wishes,

Alan

PS. Your car looks absolutely first class.

[Othen]

I rather suppose all P1800 owners already know about these online documents:

https://volvo1800pictures.com/sweden...in_page_en.php

What a fantastic resource they are :-)

Although it is not even my car, I'm really excited about collecting the P1800ES for my friend tomorrow.

Alan

[lorenzo skerl]

Hi. Im searching for service manual of a 73 p1800es. Thanks