2k: CheapESt: 1973 Volvo 1800ES
The Volvo 1800ES gets a regular DT spotlight not because it is worshiped by self-styled enthusiast (cough cough, BMW 2002) or sporty (cough 911), but because it is an honest underrated classic built in limited numbers and, most importantly, it is affordable. Nothing demonstrates this better than the pennies being asked for this project 1800ES. Find this 1973 Volvo 1800ES project for sale in Santa Clara, CA for $1700 via craigslist. Tip from Kaibeezy.
It is almost impossible to tell that this 1800ES left the factory in Gothenburg around the same time as the $74,000 1800ES with 90 miles on the odo…but they are long lost cousins. The $74k example attended only the best prep-schools and found his own software company that he sold to Google for a couple hundred million, while this one dropped out of middle school and joined a biker gang. The years have not been kind.
At least the engine runs (see spinning fan blades in pic) and while this car needs a cosmetic restoration, there is a chance the mechanical bits just need some polishing and rubber part replacement. The nice thing about the 1800ES is that it can take many parts from similar vintage 1800s and 120-series cars or you can pick up aftermarket parts from places like IPD.
Quick, someone buy this car before it gets traded into a place with a cheap red sign that says “CAR DEPOT, AUTO SALES, BUY -SELL-TRADE.” See another starter project? tips@dailyturismo.com
Is there another car that shared the tail lights with the ES?
Every time I see them, I get this feeling that they were used on another car. Just can't remember what it was.
To me they are very reminiscent of the VW 412 wagon's taillights…but obviously not the same parts. The 1800ES used the same rear quarter panels as the 1800 coupes, so from the centerline of the "fin" outwards, they are the same size/shape as the 1800 coupe lights.
VW 412 wagon
Volvo 1800S coupe
They are lights made for the ES and still available with mount for euro or US markets.
The money needed to make this decent is indecent.
I remember the first time I saw a Toyota Corolla Liftback I though it was such an incredibly blatant copy of the P1800ES. The lights aren't exactly the same but man those were the days when Toyota was making Japanese versions of the Mustang Fastback as well and calling them Celica Liftbacks.
Nice Sunburst NA Miata in the background on that last picture! "Only" 1,500 ever made.
Is that the fuel line hanging out of the rear hatch….looks like a sandy victim…
Maybe its an omen, but I left the house last night on my daily shuffle to the bar down the street (when did I turn into Andy Capp?) and practically tripped over an orange 1800ES street parked . Maybe I'm looking for the wrong mid-70's RWD sporty import?
As a sporty self styled enthusiast (cough, cough) I can't decide whether such an underrated classic is worthy ofthe work needed. Me wonders.
It's debatable what this is worth, but the prices on these have definitely gone up in the last few years; so there may be hope of avoiding being completely upside-down in this car. Naturally, I find it very tempting. I bought a '74 Volvo 142 in similar condition (although not running) several years ago and learned all about K-Jet in the process of getting it running. Sadly, I had to sell it before really finishing it, as I could only justify shipping so many cars in a cross-country move. The 1800ES uses D-Jet, which is a good thing vs. K-Jet! That also means you can use MegaSquirt if you want to go crazy with the mods. I'd love one of these or a 142E!
Aw man some of the most (driving) fun I've ever had in a car was in a sleepy New England college town as the passenger in a 142e that was gutted, caged, and set up for some long forgotten back woods rally. We monkeyed with the carbs until we could shoot fire pretty much on demand during WOT upshifts. It was terribly slow, but incredibly loud. If I could find a 142 locally that hasn't been thrashed / hippied all over, it would be in my driveway before my HOA knew what hit them.
And before you say anything, yes, I know the 142e left the factory with fuel injection. This vehicle was no longer graced with it, but retained the high compression 2 liter.
RyanM-was that Amherst by chance??
Ha ha yessir. I saw it on the way to Mom's last night. You must be a local then… or I left the GPS tagging on and you checked the EXIF… haha.
Nope on the EXIF, but yes to having been raised in Amherst many years ago. Learned to drive in a '68 Camaro on the back roads in Shutesbury long before I was eligible for a learner's permit.
Wow that's uncanny – this is on Amherst Avenue (in Los Angeles just off of Wilshire blvd) a few blocks south of where I live. I thought we were neighbors for a second there.
Nah..I was talking about your reference to a "sleepy New England College town" where the streets are "Pleasant" and most of the cars are rusty.
Ah ok I get it now. Nope, the sleepy college town to which I was referring was Brunswick, ME (home of Bowdoin College).
Still… I saw Amherst and was like "whoa, he must have seen the same 1800ES last night."
I know the seller. He and his buddy, who are true enthusiasts of vintage Volvos, were very helpful when I was restoring my beloved 1800ES and dropped by for a part swap. His open air shop (seen in the background) is a veritable scrap yard of 1800S/E/ES parts. I'm not familiar with this particular car, but the pictures and description in the ad — rust, registration fees due — suggests this is more likely a parts car than a resto candidate.
Damn you left coasters and all your ubiquitous specialty car shops.
Remember when Homer was hired by Scorpio and wanted to buy a hammock in his Pleasantville-esque town? It's like that for cars in CA, I swear.
Me: Yes, I need to find a part for my Volvo.
Him: Okay! What model type?
Me: 1800es.
Him: Oh, wow! Nice car. What year?
Me: '73.
Him: Great year, great year! Hmm…let's see…
Him: Well, you've got Steve's ES Emporium on Maple Ave; then there's Victory VolvoES off of 3rd and Pine; you can try 1800s Only-that's on Wilshire. If they don't have what you need you might want to stop by the shop in Santa Clara, he's got 713 copies of every part found inside a 1973 ES. Good luck!
Me: You had me at "what year?".
That's just about right. The Bay Area is a vintage Volvo blast zone with Berkeley as Ground Zero.