Volvo P1800 - Restoration Project

[Donny_Dog]

My old man loves these cars, probably from watching Roger Moore potter around in one when he was a lad.

Anyway, he was browsing Ebay and rushed round to my house a couple of weeks back and asked if I could bid on a car for him. The auction had 17 seconds to run by the time I'd logged in, luckily enough his highest bid was the highest bid - and he won it.

The car has had 2 owners from new - 55k on the clock, with all the history and paperwork. The owner who was selling it, parked it up in a neighbours garage 22 years ago. It had a bit of rust that he wanted to sort, but was busy with work and family so accosted a neighbour who kindly let him store it. There it stood for over 2 decades and was forgotten about. One night the wind blew the garage door off and thus he thought its about time it went, giving the neighbour his garage back - Lol.

The car is currently stripped and there is no chance of my daughter seeing her granddad until its done - some time in the summer he reckons.

Here are the pics from the advert - check out the dials, pretty funky for 1967.

 

[Matt Cup]

Very cool, look forward to the updates.

 

[James105]

I love a good restoration project! Keep us up to date with the progress with pictures! Best of luck!

 

[DaveDreads]

That's a cool car.

 

[Donny_Dog]

Will do.

Phone's just rang "can you come and help me push it back in the garage?"

I'm in my PJ's FFS. I hope its not going to be like this until the summer.

 

[VeinAST]

Nice! Look forward to seeing this progress!

 

[Jamie_182]

very nice! my girlfriends dad's mate has one of these and its immaculate!

cool cars.

 

[leeds_182]

I remember watching the wheeler dealers episode with the p1800 in.

I love mike brewer.

 

[VeinAST]

I remember watching the wheeler dealers episode with the p1800 in.

I love mike brewer.

He's a tool. That programme is s**t really. Funny but s**t. They never make a profit due to Edd's labour! (which goes undisclosed)

 

[Donny_Dog]

Slight update.

Went round for sunday lunch at mums to find the old boy just finishing up a few hours work on the Volvo.


Not the most powerful lump in the world. The 1800 is an pushrodder and it'll be lucky to output 90hp nowadays. The engine turns, but he hasn't fired it up yet as he's waiting for the keys and new barrel.




Not much interior left now...



The seat bases made me chuckle. They're sprung with elasticated canvas.



When the interior was complete, I was quietly impressed with some of the minor details on this car (from 1967). The emboss'ing of the Volvo brand is pictured here on the door cards, as well as on the rear bench. I thought it was a nice touch anyway.



No doors on her now though



Classic wheel and dials in suprisingly good condition.




Another view




Original radio! Note: NO FM. So DAB is out of the question.



The previous owner didn't smoke, so these 'tabs' are from the first owner - They're over 27 years old. Not sure why I found that a little strange, the guy is long since dead who toked on these.



check out the light switch! The Lucas panel is obviously aftermarket, but probably still factory fitted - we believe, although not confirmed, that Jensen (of Jensen Interceptors) built this car. As Volvo are Swedish, the law didn't dictate fog lamps in Sweden, but it was mandatory in the UK, so the lone fog lamp on the front was 'stuck' on, with this cluster being a seperately switched light.


That'll probably be it, for quite a while. The hard stuff comes now, with attempting to turn the engine, before removing it and the box. Complete bodywork prep (some grinding needed) and new sills. It sure isn't gonna get pretty anytime soon. But it keeps my old man out of the pub :smile:

 

[Englebert]

Lovely looking things, and loving the retro modification!

 

[MarcoB]

Leave some new oil down the bores for a bit before you try and start it up Looks like a good project!

 

[DaveDreads]

Your old man didn't waste any time did he?
He's getting right stuck into that, good to see it moving along. :approve:

 

[James105]

Nice to see he is getting stuck in straight away!

 

[ElkWorks]

yes!!! get a b230 stuck in there, and it'll give it some more grunt straight away

 

[Donny_Dog]

Leave some new oil down the bores for a bit before you try and start it up Looks like a good project!

Not my cup of tea, but its quite interesting to watch it transform.

Your old man didn't waste any time did he?
He's getting right stuck into that, good to see it moving along. :approve:

No mate! he gets all giddy about it. Bless, at 52 years old he's like a little kid.

 

[Donny_Dog]

My old man has been working weekends on the Volvo and its getting there.
The engine was running about 6 weeks ago, which was great. It was missing but it'll probably be nothing.
Then came the strip down, with the engine coming out.

He then had some sheet metal made in the correct thinkness and measurements to replace the rot. Once they arrived it was out with the grinder and welder!

One side finished.

Just the other side to do now! which isn't as bad, luckily.

 

[James105]

Cracking on nicely with this now then! Has he got a deadline he is working to or is it very much when its done its done?

 

[Ian_182]

Coming on very well.

 

[andywa]

Great project. Seems to be coming on nicely.

 

[Donny_Dog]

Cracking on nicely with this now then! Has he got a deadline he is working to or is it very much when its done its done?

He's said by the end of summer - but we're thinking it'll be 'nearly' done by then and probably useable next summer!

 

[McGherkin]

Old Volvos = Cool.

Looking forward to the future of this thread.

 

[Donny_Dog]

Not sure if you can the see the picture below, but the car was finished earlier this month. Passed its MOT first time.

 

[-J-]

Love it

 

[McGherkin]

Can see, and holy f**k that looks good!

 

[Donny_Dog]

He's put some graft in. I'll try and upload a few more - bloody picasa is now photos... I don't get it.

 

[Donny_Dog]

 

[Feirny]

Thought you were dead!

Looks good does that!

 

[Donny_Dog]

Thought you were dead!

Looks good does that!

I'm still breathing, to the disappointment of the Mrs!

Hope you're doing well.

 

[Feirny]

I'm still breathing, to the disappointment of the Mrs!

Hope you're doing well.

Yeah I am cheers. Drove through your village last week and thought about you actually.

 

[Alan]

Beaut !

 

[Bluebeard]

Moar pics! Inside, outside, underneat, engine etc???

 

[Donny_Dog]

Moar pics! Inside, outside, underneat, engine etc???

Will do, I will get some tomorrow.

 

[Donny_Dog]

Yeah I am cheers. Drove through your village last week and thought about you actually.

Minha casa é tua casa next time. Number 9, Lee view. Kettle is always on.

 

[DaveDreads]

Did they come with Minilites or are they an aftermarket addition?

 

[Donny_Dog]

After market. On this one at least. Original wheels are on the first page

 

[v15ben]

That looks absolutely fantastic.
Such a great transformation!

 

[Ian_182]

Wow,thats turned out really nice.

 

[Cub.]

Wow! As Dan said, please can we have more pics

 

[B00mer]

Lovely job, looks a real classic