Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard - Jalopnik Comments

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

SuhagBelus — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:12:30 EDT

@GrandmaSideways:
Was the bead blasted and primered shell for sale ? Ted

SuhagBelus

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:17:39 EDT

@dculberson: The self serve yards down here in San Diego often have different "grades" of parts, i.e. a small reflector lense is Grade 1 and cheapest, whereas a big full size tail light is a Grade 4 and most expensive.

The common trick they pull on 1/2 off day is to treat every part as the highest grade and then discount it by half. I actually saved money by stashing a a tail light for my LTD on 1/2 off day and coming back the next weekend to buy it at full price.

LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

dculberson — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:38:15 EDT

@Murilee Martin: Ouch on both counts. eBay's on crack, and the junkyard counter people can sometimes be bizarre. I had one try to charge me $40 for a fuel pump from a Rabbit. Because it was a luxury car.

Same yard, different day, they sold me a perfect door panel for my friend's Volvo 960; nice leather, included the switches, a $300+ part new, for $10. Then they tried to charge me $100 "exchange" (they wanted the old one back?) for the steering column from an Astro.

Truly a monumental intellect at work.

dculberson

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

CeRuLeaNBLu(oNPoLaЯWaTCH) — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:16:34 EDT

This is only the second Volvo I've seen that I wanted, (Letterman's V8olvo was number one). It's sinful to have it rusting away in a junkyard.

CeRuLeaNBLu(oNPoLaЯWaTCH)

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

GrandmaSideways — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:11:31 EDT

That's too bad.
There's a beadblasted and primed perfect shell of one locally... If this was closer I'd buy it to strip all the useful stuff of the shell.

GrandmaSideways

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

v8corvairpickup — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:07:45 EDT

Truly a sad sight. Definately on my short list of favorites.

v8corvairpickup

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

NovaloadMissesPolar — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:02:15 EDT

Ah, in the best of all possible worlds, Jalops would all regularly convene at a yard picked by Murilee and launch a scavenger hunt to see who gets the coolest part, the most expensive resale part, the rarest part etc etc.
But we'd all have to be filthy rich and in no need of employment.

NovaloadMissesPolar

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

petedmeatv — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:17:59 EDT

@vwminispeedster:

I was looking at those at the auto show because they intrigued me.

There is literally no trunk. I think you may (MAY) be able to put a medium sized duffel bag into it. It's stupid.

petedmeatv

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

TurboBrick — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:45:12 EDT

@DoctorNine: Yes she did, then she sold out and swapped the green P1800 for a silver S60.

TurboBrick

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

DoctorNine — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:56:57 EDT

Didn't 'Carter' on Stargate SG-1 drive one of these things?

DoctorNine

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

superbad — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:45:46 EDT

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.)

superbad

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

13thfloorelevator — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:36:44 EDT

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

13thfloorelevator

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

something_unique_and_descriptive — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:32:15 EDT

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

Murilee, be ready.

something_unique_and_descriptive

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

boosted-lego-wagon — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:55:08 EDT

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

boosted-lego-wagon

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

vwminispeedster — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:45:56 EDT

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

Plus yellow wheels add 5-10hp.

vwminispeedster

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

P161911 — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:38:32 EDT

@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.

P161911

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

narf — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:22:38 EDT

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.

narf

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Indiana Bento and the lost Temple of Citroens — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:21:56 EDT

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

Indiana Bento and the lost Temple of Citroens

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Murilee Martin — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:21:14 EDT

@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.

Murilee Martin

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Indiana Bento and the lost Temple of Citroens — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:21:06 EDT

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!

Indiana Bento and the lost Temple of Citroens

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Murilee Martin — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:18:02 EDT

@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.

Murilee Martin

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Hot_Carl — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:17:45 EDT

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.

Hot_Carl

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

TurboBrick — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:03:17 EDT

@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.

TurboBrick

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

G for GRENADE — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:57:22 EDT

I miss my '79 242 GT... *tear*

G for GRENADE

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

mechimike — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:56:18 EDT

@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.

mechimike

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

mechimike — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:54:18 EDT

@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...

mechimike

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there! — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:52:18 EDT

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

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

mechimike — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:51:57 EDT

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... ;)

mechimike

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

dculberson — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:51:25 EDT

@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.)

dculberson

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

dculberson — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:49:47 EDT

@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

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

MattP — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:49:11 EDT

@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.

MattP

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

drk1313 — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:48:19 EDT

@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.

drk1313

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

mechimike — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:44:51 EDT

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. ;)

mechimike

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

abgwin — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:43:14 EDT

@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!

abgwin

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Elhigh — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:43:03 EDT

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.

Elhigh

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

petedmeatv — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:34:10 EDT

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?

petedmeatv

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Mad_Science — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:31:32 EDT

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

Mad_Science

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

philibuster — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:20:10 EDT

@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.

philibuster

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

graverobber- Two BEER minimum — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:15:03 EDT

@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.

graverobber- Two BEER minimum

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Maymar - now with 37% less anonymity — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:12:51 EDT

Oh noes! They got Simon Templar!

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

Maymar - now with 37% less anonymity

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Murilee Martin — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:12:49 EDT

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

Murilee Martin

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

mechimike — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:12:09 EDT

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.

mechimike

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

voodoojoo — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:10:43 EDT

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.

voodoojoo

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

mechimike — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:09:52 EDT

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.

mechimike

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Uncle Trash — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:09:18 EDT

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*

Uncle Trash

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

teargas — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:07:00 EDT

@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]

teargas

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

mechimike — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:06:40 EDT

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.

mechimike

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

anaxomander — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:06:27 EDT

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

anaxomander

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

acarr260 — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:05:23 EDT

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

acarr260

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

clinto — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:05:11 EDT

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

clinto

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

abgwin — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:03:32 EDT

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

abgwin

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

abgwin — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:02:14 EDT

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.

abgwin

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

philibuster — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:01:57 EDT

@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.

philibuster

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

cptgreg — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:01:53 EDT

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.

cptgreg

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Mad_Science — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:01:32 EDT

@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.

Mad_Science

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Dave7 — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:00:44 EDT

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

Dave7

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

itswemy — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:59:18 EDT

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

itswemy

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

MOPAR-MAN — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:58:54 EDT

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

MOPAR-MAN

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Sth002000 — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:58:51 EDT

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.

Sth002000

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

Steel_ETC — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:57:08 EDT

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

Steel_ETC

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

smalleyxb122 — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:54:47 EDT

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.

smalleyxb122

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

boosted-lego-wagon — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:54:22 EDT

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

boosted-lego-wagon

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

acarr260 — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:54:20 EDT

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

acarr260

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

acarr260 — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:52:36 EDT

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

acarr260

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

acarr260 — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:51:37 EDT

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

acarr260

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

petedmeatv — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:50:01 EDT

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).

petedmeatv

Volvo 1800S Joins Its Amazon Brethren At East Bay Junkyard

boosted-lego-wagon — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:48:56 EDT

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

boosted-lego-wagon