5k: Deal of the Week: 1973 Volvo 1800ES
Okay, I know what you are thinking. Another bloody Volvo. Really DT? You can’t find anything to do other than search for Snow White’s coffins? I swear, this is it. This is the last Volvo 1800 that we will feature…this week. Probably. Unless we find another one featured at almost half price relative to the market. This one will blow-your-mind. Find this 1973 Volvo 1800ES offered for $6,700 or best offer in Blountville, TN via hemmings.com.
The truth is that on a normal day Hemmings isn’t the best place to find the diamond in the rough examples of cheap classics that we prefer. While many of the cars on Hemmings have dents on the hood from falling monocles and tweed jacket scuffing on the driver’s seat bolster, you can get lucky and find a well priced example…and this one seems really well priced.
Based on the pictures alone, this 1800ES would easily be a $10k car, but part of the puzzle of the price lies right here: “but keep in mind, my knowledge of this car is limited.” Perhaps in this area of Tennessee it may be the only funny looking Swedish
hatchbacky-thing for hundreds of miles in any direction and no one knows
what it is. What does it eat? I dunno, better get rid of it.
Even in these blurry shots you can see that all of the factory sheet metal
seams look correct and haven’t been slathered with bondo. The front
rocker area where the front fender meets the rocker under the door looks
intact, which is a small miracle for these cars. On the driver’s side
anyways. The seam under the front turn signal where the fender joins the
cowl is visible and correct.
Now, on to the ugly part of buying a car that is offered via an estate sale. The seller is certainly dealing with the loss of his
father and is probably grieving and just plain not familiar with the
market for these cars. Get his name, then look up for an obit on the father. If you find
the father’s obit you know how long the car’s been sitting. Maybe you can even find references to the car on a Tennessee Volvo forum – who knows, the point is; use google and do your research. Try
to find out who would have been the likely service point, except be aware they might snatch it out from under you.
Bottom line; somebody is going to buy this car and get a great deal. Will it be you or will it show up in 3 weeks from a dealer in the rust belt with a $6k markup? tips@dailyturismo.com
Great deal or not, be mindful of potential title issues with buying a car which may still be in the decedent's name. Every state is different. Some title clerks might not accept a title transfer where the seller is named George Jamison and the signature of his grieving daughter who just cashed your check involves her usual swoopy curly-q's and a heart over the i.
Assuming no hidden mechanical problems, this is a steal at this price.
How long before someone sees it here and then reports it to BAT like with the Maserati/Chevy earlier this week …
That 1800ES looks like a deal, but I have a soft spot for any ES in white.
Here is a picture of mine:
Since I bought the ES I have not had time to get into my restomod plans. (Now I want a 2014 Mustang 2.3 drivetrain!)
I have been too busy keeping a pair of Audi 5000's running, the wife's Mustang II project, and work. Now we are thinking of selling the ES to get a new outboard motor for the boat. Darn outboards are expensive! I hope I can swing both!
ES picture: flickr.com/photos/29396384@N05/4778970751/in/photostream/
I flunked the III commandment
Rene-Thanks for posting some very nice pictures of 1800's at a country car, including that guy with the 3Million mile car. Lots of nice paint/wheel combos. Couldn't help but notice the one copper colored car that looked like it had 1800 panels on some other chassis with a targa style roof. Do you know anything about that car?
This one? Copy & paste:
flickr.com/photos/29396384@N05/2749354665/in/photostream/
This is a C4 Corvette with Volvo 1800 panels grafted on.
Yeah, that's it, I mistyped the color.
~ nice car, Rene. can't believe i have never seen this before.
~ keep the ES, sell the boat. 😉
To clarify, the Volvette is not my car. (BTW, I just made up that name)
That car was photographed at the Great Lakes Chapter Volvo national event at the Gilmore car museum.
This white ES is my car. Copy & Paste
flickr.com/photos/29396384@N05/4779602296/
Those wheels dont really fit your ES and whats up with the automatic transmission?Those slushbox transmissions are unresponsive and boring.Otherwise pretty clean interior.
Rene are you interested in selling your 1800 ES?
+ DT and others above warning folks about the infamous estate sale car and title issues. I just went through it on a early Miata with 45k miles and not a lick of rust (I am in the dreaded rust belt). In that case the signature was the Executor of the will which is fine as long as you get paper work that clearly defines that authority. That last authority was the critical piece and I found that on-line they post the probate and executor name for the estate. Serious PIA though and slowed titling as did having to get a release of the original bank lien on a loan still on the title dating back 24 years. What fun. Odd they list in Hemmings without much knowledge and hope the OBO is not a measure of starting low to extract a $12k offer. Looks nice though. As soon as the weather is good in DC area and salt washed away…my 66 Volvo will be ready to finally roll.
Does it come with Roller Skates ?
Well now that it is on DT………its toast. And those wheel dollies tells me that the seller knows a mite more than would be apparent by its location. Like the color combo though
Really nice find, guys. Add my list to the names who hope that the ask is reflective of perceived regional values and not hidden cancer.
Great point y'all made about the seams by the rockers. These are only maintained if any body rust repairs there are done with new panels; otherwise, the seams are typically not reproduced by new metalwork or bondo. However, if no one has attempted to repair any rust here then re seams will still be intact but God only knows what lurks behind the surface. I unfortunately found this out the hard way when my ES needed-I would call it moderate-body rust repair done in the rockers. Before the cancer was all cut out, the seams-indeed the entire external body-appeared clean and straight. 3 weeks and a LOT of welding (but no bondo, thank you) later, the seams were gone but the rust was as well. My next ES, should it have any rust issues at the rockers, will have the panels replaced.
The Cali white is the quintessential color on the coffin, bringing the likes together better than any dark hue. The smurf hides are not everyone's taste but trading to a black or red interior is as simple as a call to VP Auto. I would be willing to bet my left 4th toe there is at least one switch on the dash that does not work correctly but panel accessibility is a breeze. The choice of Hemmings is curious, agreed. Could be that he (correctly) assumed that a car this cool doesn't belong on CL…?