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P1800 coupe

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Obi Wan
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So, this morning I call up my mechanic and tell him I need to drop off our truck and he says come on over and he'll give me a ride home.

As he's driving me back we're talking about the latest new car stupidity (I'll start a new thread on that in a sec). I spot a light blue Volvo P1800 coupe going the other way an point at it.

I thought I was just pointing out a random cool car. But then he says it's one of his customers', he works on that car. The guy's owned it since 1962.
 
That is one of the coolest car designs I've ever seen. Wish I could say I've owned one myself since 1962!
 
If he's owned it since '62, it's an early one. Probably with the Jensen body (so technically, it's sort of British). A real keeper.

I had a 1965 P1800. With a 289 Ford V8 and 4-speed. It was maintenance-intensive and I bought it while I was a starving college senior so I had to let it go after about 2 years. Mine seemed like a professional conversion but it was also really "tired" and well-worn.
I read later on that Volvo N. America had done some cars like this so it may have been one of those.
I have actually exchanged e-mail with Robert Cumberford (from Automobile magazine) about my Volvo. He had a V8 P1800 too.
 
I wonder if that is the famous high mileage Volvo? Doubt it, still quite an impressive thing to own the car for that long, I've met a few people here in Alberta who are original owners of their cars dating back to the 1960's and one local man is the original owner of his 1951 MG TD...
 
Nope. it was in storage for a quite a while. It's got some miles but not super big miles.
 
They had more British in them than just the Jensen body, they had Laycock overdrives (standard I am pretty sure) and SU carbs (until they went to fuel injection).

I have always kind of wanted one, but there are cars I kind of want a little to a lot more, so unless a deal falls in my lap or a win the lottery, will probably never have one, but yes it is a cool design, I like the ES sportwagon, nice blend of sporty and practical.
 
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