Seller Submission: 1973 Volvo 1800ES
The first time we featured a white Volvo 1800ES, it was way back in 2012 with a feature written by CFlo that was designated as the first Thorsday. A funny thing happened to the car since it was featured here — it was purchased by a DT reader, had its interior swapped to red, received new paint (after rust repair), Cibie Oscar fog lights, and a whole pile of other new parts. Find this 1973 Volvo 1800ES offered for $16,000 or best offer in Wellington, FL via craigslist. Seller submission from Doctordel.
From the seller:
I’ve done little things to make it more reliable and run better than
when I bought it. Rebuilt the distributor and replaced the points, plugs
and coil; tore down and rebuilt the steering box; replaced the copper
washer and banjo at the speedo cable to slow down (they never stop
completely) the oil seepage; applied single stage paint in original
California white after completing rust repair in both rear rockers; rust
repair in the battery box; cut out all rust from the frame rails and
floor and replaced with steel, treated; added set of Cibie Oscars;
installed IPD stainless braided brake lines after installing new brake
balance valves; new rear axle straps; new battery about 4 months ago;
replaced fuel pump and filter; complete interior replacement in burgundy
with Dynamat underneath; Coco mats; replaced all zinc exterior trim
screws with stainless steel hardware; replaced the rear hatch struts;
removed the cracked dash cover and machine brushed the aluminum dash
face; installed a Luisi wood steering wheel and vintage-look modern head
unit; factory A/C comes with the car but has been removed since it did
not really work well in the first place.
More info:
This is a classic, in excellent condition. The B20F engine starts easily
every time and pulls strong to redline. Minimal leakage of oil from the
usual spots on a red block, but always kept maintained and with fresh
fluids in block and rear end. Lowered on sport springs over smooth and
clean steelies. Mileage (97,401) is believed to be true, based on records from
the previous owner.
A few items that might need attention, per the seller:
-No speakers are installed. The car is not an ideal acoustic studio and I
never listened to the radio so I did not reinstall the speakers when I
had the interior completely redone, although the new door cards I had
made have the cutouts for them, they were covered over with the
upholstery. If the new owner wants to add speakers, it’s a pretty simple
job
-Aforementioned A/C not installed but included in sale
-Oil pressure warning light does not go off. The oil pressure gauge
reads correctly but the light does not go out. I have checked all
grounds and cannot track down the reason.
-There is minor surface rust that pops up on tiny areas where the paint
has worn thin. See the pics for images of this. These are very minor and
there is NO STRUCTURAL RUST WHATSOEVER.
-The right rocker could use about a millimeter of mud where the rust was
cut out and repaired with steel. I elected to paint the repair as part
of the complete repaint, and did not use bondo because I hate it. From
more than 18 inches away, this is unnoticeable. See pics for a closeup.
-I removed the old plastic dash cover, and ground down the steel and
aluminum to a finish that gives it a nice patina, in my opinion. I like
the bare metal but the new owner may disagree. Check the pics and decide
for yourself.
-There is a spot about the size of a nickel where the paint flaked of
near the DS door handle, revealing the old, same color paint underneath.
See pic.
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Damn, that is a crappy engine pic I posted…I gotta change that posthaste.
Thanks for the listing, DT. You even forgave my ALL CAPS lines, bless your heart. I left the 24HoL logo on the back glass and I'm wondering if people unfamiliar with the car think that means it's a lemon… I can't take it off in good conscience, though. I'll never get out of her what I put in but we never do, right? Time for the Nerd to find a new home.
This looks like a really clean classic, good luck with the sale!
Thank you, BuickFan.
Leave the Lemons sticker! This car needs to go to the right type of owner, with the correct automotive philosophies.
If it were only a bit closer…wrong coast, and all that…I'd be checking it out. The first sale enabled by DT has some sentimental value (*sniff*).
GLWS!
I really do like these ES variations of the P1800, but every time I see one, I can't help seeing this:
[image src=" imcdb.org/i006262.jpg" width="400px"/]