The Volvo 1800 first entered production in 1961 after Volvo at one point considered not producing the car, and in fact, denied the existence of the prototype vehicle. The reluctance of Volvo almost saw the car produced by a private manufacturer, but Volvo relented at the last moment and chose to put the vehicle into production. They are also notoriously long-lived, with an 1800S certified as the highest mileage car driven by its original owner in private use, having clocked 3,000,000 miles. This P1800 E is from the second last year of production and is listed for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Andover, Massachusetts, and is offered with a clean title. The sale price for this Volvo is $6,800 OBO, although the owner may consider an appropriate trade.

There are a few rust issues with this Volvo, and the seller is a bit vague on these. The rust that we see in this shot is a cause for concern. The rust in the front fender is quite difficult to fix, and the rust appearing in the rocker is also bad news. The rockers on a P1800 are constructed in three pieces, and if the outer rocker is showing rust, then it is virtually a certainty that the other two sections will be as well. Once again, repairing this is an expensive job, and it is definitely the work of a specialist.

The interior of this Volvo is in remarkable condition for a car of this age. The seats in the later model P1800 were a significant step up in comfort compared to the earlier models, and these seats look to be in good condition. The dash and door trim also look good and appear to be free of any damage or modifications. I don’t think that the steering wheel is original, as I believe that it may be from a ’73 1800 ES?

The engine in the Volvo would be the B20E 4-cylinder engine, which is backed by a manual transmission. This engine signaled the upgrade for the P1800 from carburetors to Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection. This resulted in an improvement in both power delivery and fuel economy. The car is also fitted with air conditioning. The seller gives no indication of the condition of the engine, or, more importantly, the fuel injection system. The fuel injection is a wonderful feature if it is operating correctly, but they can be troublesome, and some parts such as the injectors or wiring can be both hard to source, and expensive.

Values for these cars vary wildly, depending on condition. I would want to inspect this car pretty thoroughly before committing to it, as the rust that is visible is cause for some concern. I have been able to locate a clean example that is selling for $8,900, but at the other extreme, I have found an absolutely mint example that is being offered at $29,500. I really like this car, but that rust just worries me. The seller mentions that you could restore it or just clean it up and drive as-is. What do you think?