1996 VOLVO P1800S
‘Ifell in love with the Volvo P1800 from growing up watching Simon Templar dashing around in his car in The Saint on TV. Seeing an example in the metal convinced me that I had to have one and then a P1800 appeared on Wheeler Dealers – that was it. Time for action.
‘Ignoring all the rules about buying online I took the word of the guy on Craigslist Los Angeles that the car he was selling was rust-free and drove well. The Volvo was shipped to Tilbury Docks and I was gutted when it rolled up. It might have been rust-free but was a wreck in all other respects. And I had spent $15k on it!
‘I hid it in a lock-up for three years, I was too embarrassed to tell my partner. The paint was dreadful, the slam panel at the front was so bent that it looked like a Curly Wurly – it had obviously suered a significant shunt – and the interior needed complete renewal. The engine ran, just, but oil was leaking from a non-existent seal in the di’.
‘I kept looking at the car wondering what was I going to do with it before starting work in March 2019 with help from DT Restorations in Upton upon Severn. We prepared the car for paint and got it through an MOT by overhauling the brake and fuel systems and sorting out the interior. The idea was to return the Volvo to original spec, including its rare ice-blue paint – a colour that was only available in 1966 and 1967. ‘We completed the work in February 2020 – the P1800 now looked like a car and I presented it to my partner on Valentine’s Day. She was impressed that I had got such a good car online! I had to come clean about the state it was in when I bought it and how long I’d had it – thankfully I was forgiven!
‘Then the real time-consuming work of going through the car’s electrical system began. All of the gauges had to be reconditioned and the alternator replaced. All of the rubber bushes were shot so I replaced them with poly bushes. The road road springs were changed at the same time and a power steering unit fitted.
‘I’d bought a wreck – ignoring all the rules much to my cost and embarrassment – but had turned it into a show-winner. I’ve been through a lot but have saved it and made it look its best. The car looks really beautiful now and I’ll never sell it after all of that work!