Scandinavian design is known the world over, and it’s not because of IKEA. Alhough the “less is more” ethos is something that could have only come from Sweden and the surrounding Nordic countries, the famous department store is merely a reflection of that culture. Our Pick of the Day is one of Sweden’s most famous cars, but it happens to come from another culture of design. This 1961 Volvo P1800 coupe is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in the Netherlands.
Let’s start with the early 1950s: a wealthy Swiss enthusiast commissioned Virgilio Conrero to design an Alfa Romeo 1900 coupe for the 1953 Mille Miglia. The body of this car, christened “Supersonic,” was built by Ghia, but the car was destroyed in a racing accident. Nonetheless, the impact of the design was great, so Ghia built a handful of vehicles using the chassis of the Fiat 8V. Approximately 8-15 were built, plus three on the Jaguar XK120 and Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II chassis.
Volvo began a sports car project in 1957 after the fiberglass P1900 failed to attract enthusiasts. Helmer Petterson, an engineering consultant responsible for the postwar PV444, led the project, to be overseen by the design house Frua. Ironically, the design came from the pen of Petterson’s son Pelle, who was a Frua acolyte. As such, an Italian design ended up influencing a Swedish design supervised by an Italian and drafted by a Swede.
Volvo needed a contractor to build the new sports car. British company Jensen Motors was contracted to built 10,000 cars, which commenced in September 1960. However, due to quality issues that did not meet Volvo’s standards, production moved to a Gothenberg-based Volvo plant in 1963 after 6,000 units had been built.
Powering the P1800 was the “B18” 1.8-liter inline-four with dual SU carburetors producing 100 horsepower. It was backed by a four-speed manual, a unit produced by Koping Engineering for Volvo.
When production moved to Sweden, those cars became known as 1800S. For 1969, the engine was upgraded to 2.0 liters, with fuel injection added in 1970 to create the 1800E. A shooting brake variant (1800ES) was developed for 1972-73 before the series was discontinued due to increased safety and emissions standards being implemented in the U.S., a major market for the Swede.
This restored 1961 Volvo P1800 coupe is production number 3,273 of the 6,000 built by Jensen. It features its original 1,778cc four-cylinder engine backed by a four-speed manual with overdrive. “The exterior of this Volvo P1800 is finished in its original colour Red,” says the seller. “The interior exudes pure classic atmosphere with the black leather interior, a beautiful Jensen rear seat, and the original dashboard with aluminum finish and classic meters.”
Best of all, the seller has convenient shipping to Linden, New Jersey for interested parties—all you have to do is add $1,800 to the $67,950 asking price. However, don’t bother stopping by the nearby IKEA in Elizabeth because we can guarantee the POÄNG armchair won’t fit.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
