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Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Not long after undertw rescued a bunch of parts from a Volvo Amazon featured in this series, another old Volvo has been put out on the same yard. This is no run-of-the-mill Amazon, however- we're looking at a genuine Volvo 1800S (I'm going to say it's a '63, based on the grille) with plenty of good components ready for the picking.

2:40 PM on Thu May 1 2008
By Murilee Martin
1,022 views
67 comments

Comments

  • That's not a junkyard.
    It's a reliquary.


  • Jalopnik owes me a new mouse as I flung mine across the room in utter disgust at this residing in a junkyard.

    At least it isnt one of the wagon versions (2200? I can't remember).

  • It has curves and it's a Volvo?! I'm confused... but I like it.

  • @petedmeatv: 1800 ES is the wagon. This is the first Volvo that I have ever wanted to see more of.

  • Interesting related factoid: "A 1966 Volvo 1800S owned by Irvin Gordon of East Patchogue, New York, USA has the Guinness world record for highest mileage in the same vehicle he has been driving for more than 40 years. It had covered in excess of 3,572,342 km (2,219,751 miles) by March 2004, and passed the 4,184,294 kilometers (km) (2,600,000 mile) mark by October 2007." - wikipedia

  • @boosted-lego-wagon: because it contains the bones of a saint.

  • Who owned this last? Haven't they heard of Craigslist? Or ebay? Are you trying to make me cry?

    Please don't let me know if you find a PV444/544 in the yard. I don't know what that would do to me.

  • Looks like someone finally managed to kill The Saint - shame they had to junk his car too, though.

  • Yeah better not be Simon's car. How anything in California that is smog exempt gets hauled to the wrecker is a great mystery to me.

  • When I live in California, my next door neighbor had THREE of these, restored, at his house. Nice cars.

  • Sad to see that it ended up there...a classic...

  • A lot of those trim pieces and such would be worth some money on eBay.

  • Image of Mad_Science Mad_Science at 03:01 PM on 05/01/08 *

    @boosted-lego-wagon: I'll save everyone else from doing what I just had to:

    Main Entry:
    rel·i·quary: a container or shrine in which sacred relics are kept

    I definitely need to spend more time in yards. I've got none of Murlilee's reservations about collecting endless amounts of potentially useful/cool stuff.

    So many logos, blocks and gauge clusters that deserve better than to be melted into exercise equipment that'll never get used.

  • I used to own a '67 1800s and I loved the thing. Damn wife. Had to get rid of if when I went into the Army. Great little cars. Not all that fast, but built like tanks, and would go for ever. Had to keep a can of 20 weigth oil in the trunk to feed the twin SU carbs. Loved it.

  • @acarr260: Not up on your volvo history, eh?

    @petedmeatv: p1800es? e for estate.

    This is my dream car. Well, this or the p1800es. God, that's a beautiful car.

  • a 66 1800S was the only project car I've ever had that I actually made money on.
    It sat in my backyard for nearly a year while I sorted out the bad bearing in the rear axle (had to order it from Sweden, only to find it stamped "Made in Canada" when it arrived).
    The twin SU carbs were the main culprit... I only drove it twice, and one resulted in a small fire when a front bearing ran dry.

    Sold it to what I thought was an unsuspecting eBayer who promptly paid near twice what I had, but sat about an amazing restoration and still sends me updates periodically with beautiful pictures that make me jealous.



  • a bit of trivia: the 1800 preceded the 1800S and were made in the UK.

  • How in the hell does a car like this end up in a junkyard?

  • @philibuster: Sorry, I'm not even remotely a fan ov Volvos... though there's nothing wrong with that. This one sure is purty tho

  • Sigh. That's one of the earliest non-Jensen 1800s. And re: Petedmeatv, the wagon/shooting break version was the 1800ES.

  • Noooooo!!!!!

    Another fine piece of restorable sweedish steel hits the scrapyard.

    *Sven sheds a tear*

    I've parted out 3 1800s- One ES and 2 coupes - and only because they had either been eaten up terminally by east coast rust or had been smacked by something like a Freightliner doing 70. In the absence of either of these cases (ie this example here) I see no reason to junk one.

  • @smalleyxb122: I know of a PCH candidate 544 within a few miles of my house.

    Both this and that 544 would be perfect resto-mods with a little Turbo Inline 5 action.

    It would remind me of a snake, on a hot summer's day. [jalopnik.com]

  • But, but, but..

    It looks like it has no rust!

    Don't you people realize how coveted rust-free bodies are in the Northeast?

    *Sniff*

  • The "E" in 1800ES does not stand for Estate. The 1800E was the coupe version simultaneous to the 1800ES. The "E" signifies the electronic fuel injection, by Bosche, that came about in '69 or '70. The "S" signifies the station-wagonny-ness of the beast.

  • I was just breezing through a Villa d'Este gallery, but this gallery draws me ten times more. Oh, and I'm with smalleyxb122 if a 544 or 444 comes up, just spare me. I'm just not strong enough.

  • Someone grab those Smiths gauges...they go for $hundreds$ even in non-op state (which they usually are).

    I'd give $500 for just the metal shell of this car, no interior, no running gear, just the bare shell. Rust-free chassis like that don't come around every day.

  • Image of Murilee Martin Murilee Martin at 03:12 PM on 05/01/08 *

    @Dave7: OK, which pieces are worth the most money? I can be at that junkyard in 15 minutes...

  • Oh noes! They got Simon Templar!

    @petedmeatv: It's the P1800ES you're thinking of.

  • Image of graverobber- Same great taste, new low price! graverobber- Same... at 03:15 PM on 05/01/08 *

    @abgwin: By Jensen! Volvo took over production of them due to quality control issues and the fact that the upper lip of the wheel arches was too stiff.

  • @mechimike: I stand corrected.

    Man, that trunk-lid is gorgeous.

    It's so clean on the outside, save for the markings of "OK" and such.

  • Image of Mad_Science Mad_Science at 03:31 PM on 05/01/08 *

    This is the answer to the QOTD from a few months ago: What would you swap a turbo-Ecotec into?

  • Ermmm... to everyone calling this clean, isnt that a bit of rust poking out on the passenger side front quarter panel? Or is that just dirt?

  • This picture actually made me say, "Awww. The poor thing."

    I know it's just a car, but I really, really like the little Volvo runabouts. They are in my personal fantasy garage.

    My inexhaustible supply of pragmatism quietly steps aside for my inexhaustible supply of fantasy money and time whenever I see one of these wonderful swoopy cars.

    I may have to buy a plane ticket.

  • @mechimike: you're correct that the "E" means fuel injection, the "S" predates the "E". Some Volvo diehards suggest it stood for "S"weden, as it was applied when Volvo took production of the 1800 away from Jensen.

    @Mad_Science: indeed, sir!

  • Murilee: Can you cut off the front fenders, the back pan under the trunklid down to the bottom and out to the fins, and the front clip, and stick them on a greyhound bus to Spartanburg, SC? Let me know what the damage is. My Paypal account will cover it. ;)

  • @Murilee - always wondered - these cars look very shaky up in the air - are 'civilians' allowed to pull parts, or does the yard have to do it? Just wondering how this works in our law-suit happy country.

  • @mechimike:

    I knew there'd be a mechimike comment!

    I think I helped push your supercharged P1800 off the Charlotte Motor Speedway kart track when it stopped running, and then bothered you with EFI questions.

  • @Murilee Martin: Based on what I see in the pics, I would suggest: (Prices heavily dependent upon condition)

    Grille - up to $350
    Grille surround - up to $150
    Bumper - up to $175
    Transmission - up to $250 if overdrive
    am/fm Blaupunkt or Bendix radio - up to $70
    Interior lights - up to $50
    Gauges - $lots (at least $50/ea, dunno about hundreds?)
    Side view mirrors - up to $100
    Rear view - up to $80

    Keep in mind, of course, that I have absolutely no way of knowing what the condition is based on the photos. If they seem like they'll clean up well, and you list 'em on eBay with a decent pic, you should get close to those prices.

    Good rule of thumb: don't pay any more than 1/3 the expected sale price no matter what the condition. Preferably 1/4 or less. Time has a habit of adding up fast and eBay fees, PayPal fees, packing materials and fraud losses also add up fast.

  • @dculberson: I forgot to specify that those are approximate upper ranges for the sales price and not what you should pay for them!! (Hopefully that's self-evident.)

  • heh...nope, I don't have a supercharged 1800...Just a very raggeddy 1800ES ('73, the last year) in need of those parts I bugged Murilee about. Oh, and three 122s.

    Hmmm...Charlotte Motor Speedway... ;)

  • Image of Rust-MyEnemy Rust-MyEnemy at 03:52 PM on 05/01/08 *

    Murilee:- Best snap 'em up before the junkyard owner learns some stuff about "weird little yoorpean cars"....

  • @abgwin: Right, I forgot the "S" came along sometime in the early-mid 60's, as you state.

    But the "ES" together was definitely only used on the shooting brakes of the early 70's.

    You know, my girlfriend is flying out to San Diego this weekend for a baby shower...I wonder how much she loves me...and if she could fit my sawzall into her luggage, and some sort of "cut along the dashed lines" instruction sheet...and a wad of cash...

  • @dculberson: &hundreds$ (or "$Hunnerds$" as we say here in South Cackalacki) for an entire set...which as I can see, this one is missing the smaller, round gauges off to the right. $50/e is a pretty good estimate.

  • I miss my '79 242 GT... *tear*

  • @drk1313: Shaky? They've got real jackstands on them. My p'n'p yard has just three sets of two steel wheels welded together holding each of them up. You have to sign a waiver before you are allowed to enter.

    Mechanically the P1800's are very similar to the 120 series. It may look pretty on top but it's quite possible that the skin hides a hopeless rust bucket and someone couldn't stand the heat in the PCH anymore.

  • I still remember the first time I ever saw a Volvo Amazon and literally not believing that it was actually made by Volvo. Sweet little odd-ball car.

  • Image of Murilee Martin Murilee Martin at 04:18 PM on 05/01/08 *

    @drk1313: You sign a release when you go in (I usually sign "Vladimir I. Lenin"), and the stands are welded steel things that are pretty secure.

    Still, I bet they get sued. Lots of ways to get hurt there.

  • Image of Bentos, Der Frischmacher! Bentos, Der Frischmacher! at 04:21 PM on 05/01/08 *

    I walk out into my Fantasy Garage. If I was going to go through the canyon to the Valley, I'd be starting the Fairlady 240Z...If I needed to pick up some folks, I'd grab the Citroen SM...but this will be a straight shot down to San Diego..So I'm taking the Volvo P1800 and then.......I wake up to choppers flying over the burt shell of a hollywood Night club for the 5:30am news! DAMN YOU, Kent Shocknek! DAMN YOUUUUUUUU!

  • Image of Murilee Martin Murilee Martin at 04:21 PM on 05/01/08 *

    @dculberson: Yeah, I need to make about 3X what I pay for a part before I'm willing to do the eBay thing (especially now that feedback for eBay buyers is going away- it's gonna be hell for low-volume eBay sellers like me, once the flakes and snakes realize there's no reason not to screw over sellers).

    I pulled the complete intake/carbs/linkage/air cleaners assembly off a Triumph GT6 on 1/2 Price Day not long ago, but the cashier wanted to charge me for every link component, fastener, etc- came to almost $100. I passed, even though I could have sold it for $200 (maybe)- not worth the risk.

  • Image of Bentos, Der Frischmacher! Bentos, Der Frischmacher! at 04:21 PM on 05/01/08 *

    Can we have Volvo day here at the Jalop???

  • Dang ... it's definitely rare (and sad) to see one of these in a yard these days. Unlike the "bricks", the "round fenders" have increased in value.

    In my junkyarding adventures, I have seen a few rusted PV hulks and a reasonable number of Amazons, but never a non-wrecked 1800.

  • @TurboBrick: The pull-a-part yards here in Atlanta don't even weld the rims supporting the cars. It is just one rim standing up inside another one. They do use one at each corner though. Looks scarier than it really is. I wouldn't do it at home. The only rule here is no power saws or torches.

    There was an 1800 here in Atlanta a while back, it was rusty. Someone was getting most of the suspension off it when I was there.

  • If these were around in 2005 I think I might go for them instead of my MINI...

    Plus yellow wheels add 5-10hp.

  • @vwminispeedster: Ooofa. I wouldn't wear novely boxers that looked like that.

  • I happen to know where one is DOTS style. I'll get pics as soon as I can borrow a camera.

    Murilee, be ready.

  • I love junkyards as much as the next demented pack-rat, but can you please stop this series? It makes me sad...

  • Definitely not a 63. That is the later style grill which was used from 67-69. And it doesn't have the big DOT side reflectors, so it's a 1967. QED.

    (I had a 68, and I sent a 67 and 64 to the junkyard.)