Value My Classic: How much is this rare ‘50s Volvo really worth?

WHO Steve Flagg MILES 50,283 PROVENANCE Good history MODS None HOW MANY LEFT Unknown

HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED THE CAR?

I bought it in 2010 for £7500, a private sale from an ad spotted in Classic Car Weekly. I was on holiday at the time and got my brother to go and look at it, with the instruction that if it was okay to tell the owner to hold it for me. When I went to see it, 60 miles from home, it turned out I went to school with the seller back in the Sixties. It has a 1414cc engine and three-speed manual gearbox.

HOW MUCH HISTORY?

Quite a lot! I have piles of old MoTs, a service manual, and handbooks in both English and Swedish. The car was imported to the UK in 1989. It’s left-hand drive because they were never made in right-hand drive – in fact, they weren’t even sold here in the UK until 1958.

There is an article online about this car, written by the owner prior to the one I bought it from. He was a director of the Volvo Owners’ Club. From all this I believe that the low mileage (converted from 80,923km) is genuine. I currently have it insured for £12,500.

HAS IT BEEN MODIFIED?

Not unless you count the roof rack. I have no intention of ever modifying it – it even still has the original six-volt electrics.

WHAT’S LEFT TO DO ON IT?

Nothing. It was a runner when bought and I’ve only done a few things; master cylinder, coil/ignition, exhaust, servicing. I have it MoT’d every year. The interior is original, as is most of the paint. It’s had a new wing at some time but only a small piece of welding underneath.