Description
Martin Atkinson Specialist Cars are Absolutely Delighted to offer; A rare opportunity to acquire a true motoring classic – the iconic 1964 Volvo P1800 S, a beautifully styled sports coupé that represents timeless Scandinavian design, engineering excellence and classic British-era motoring appeal.
The Volvo P1800 S is one of the most recognisable classic sports cars of its generation, admired for its elegant lines, distinctive profile and enduring collector appeal. With its unmistakable styling and prestigious place in Volvo’s history, this is a vehicle that continues to turn heads wherever it goes.
This is quite simply the absolute best Volvo P1800S we have ever seen. AJT 710B is unrepeatable, not only of show standard quality but it has a wonderful level of provenance and history. Cars with this level of quality, and provenance are difficult to find, and this is somewhat unrepeatable. Last supplied by Classic and Sports Cars in 2021 to a Durham based collector who has carefully stored the car, AJT 710B first came to Classic and Sports Cars in 2018 as a good, strong, low mileage, full history car and was then taken back to a bare shell and taken to a magnificent standard. With pristine paintwork, gleaming chrome, show standard engine bay and painted underside, this car is exceptional, but also has to the very best driving Volvo we have had. To rebuild a P1800S to this standard today far outweighs our asking price, and when considering the unrepeatable history and provenance of AJT 710B, serious collectors will realise this is very much a one off opportunity.
AJT 710B has now covered 80, 000 miles from new and has covered just over 2000 miles since the major program of work that was carried out in 2018/ 2019. The incredible history file warranting the mileage comes with the car and is further detailed below. This 1964 Swedish built RHD P1800S is an interim model between the British and later Swedish production, sporting cow horn bumpers and hockey stick side trim shared with the first series British made cars. This significant and interesting car had just one Bristol based owner from new in 1964 to 1983 and retains its original service book recording its first service by Highland Square Garage in Bristol at 1457 miles in 1964. A following six service stamps from Highland Square Garage confirm they maintained the car at 2772, 4767, 7326, 10357, 11635 and 13598 miles in July 1966. In October 1966 Premier Garages Ltd in Bristol took over maintenance and stamps are present at 15236, 18156, 19300, 21495 and 23580 miles in 1968 before Charlton Repair Garage, also Bristol serviced the Volvo at 24715, 26414, 28147 and 29214 miles in 1969. The meticulous regular servicing continued with Brookland Motors/ Lex Brooklands later (Bristol) at 31998, 34512, 37104, 42034, 44971, 47584, 48464, 51073, 53503 and 57073 miles in 1973. A re-spray is recorded in the book in 1975 along with new discs and pads and a Company called Tanner and Sons in Bristol serviced the P1800S at 62053 before Lex Brooklands serviced and fitted a new exhaust in 1978 at 67378 miles. The last time Lex Brooklands serviced the car was in 1979 at 70, 438 prior to Pruens (Weston) Ltd of Bristol carrying out a full service in April 1980 at 73184 miles and carrying out further maintenance and repairs in June 1980.
In 1983 the Volvo changed hands for the first time with a warranted mileage of 75224 but was only used for two years and came off the road in 1985 with a mileage of 77900. The second owner in Cheltenham parted with the car in 2016 after 33 years and then the Volvo was in the hands of classic car specialist who re-commissioned the car and put it back on the road. Adding to the rather impressive service book, the car comes with invoices for servicing throughout the 1960's, 1970's and early 1980's. Pages of invoices from Highland Square (Saab Main Dealership), Premier Garages, Brooklands Motors/ Lex Brooklands (Volvo Main Dealership), Charlton Repair Garage and Pruens Garage (Volvo Main Dealership) making superb reading and show its first owner was not only meticulous with maintenance, but also with keeping paperwork and detailed records. Throughout the cars whole life every maintenance and service item has been recorded ensuring the next owner knows the full exact history of this very special car. Further to the invoices is a BP Energol Lubrication booklet containing from 1964 to 1966, original owner's manual and Volvo owners club correspondence dating back to the 1980's.
When the Volvo came out of long term dry storage in 2016 it was re-commissioned and all work has been well documented. The Volvo was treated to new front and rear shock absorbers, the cooling system was overhauled including a new water pump, the brakes were completely rebuilt with new servo, discs, pads, calipers, shoes and hoses. Wheel bearings were replaced, as were track rod ends and a new set of Pirelli Cinturato tyres fitted.
All fluids were replaced and the car comprehensively serviced prior to arrival with Classic and Sports in 2018 and the car had covered just a few miles since the recent MOT test.
The Car was then sold by Classic and Sports Car soon after arrival in 2018 and the cars new owner had recognised the rarity of finding a P1800S in this condition with such a high level of provenance. The decision was made to take this car to the ultimate level, and a bare shell restoration was commissioned. The Volvo was completed stripped down to a complete bare shell. With all axles removed, engine, gearbox, ancillaries, glass, interior, every single component off the car, the bare shell was sandblasted and then rebuilt to a top class standard. The entire shell, inside, outside, underneath was re-painted in the cars correct original colour and then built up with all renewed chrome and brand new rubbers. The Volvo was built back up with detailed components and thousands of pounds worth of new parts. The fantastic, strong engine was cleaned, detailed and painted, and the engine bay rebuilt to show standard. The Volvo was fitted with a new wiring loom, all electrics completely renewed and any components requiring overhaul or replacement were dealt with. With every part off the car, every component could be checked to ensure the car was finished to the highest of standards.
For usability improvements, various upgrades were added to include poly bushed suspension, alternator conversion, electronic ignition, electric fan, tracker, immobiliser and clear waxoyl protection to the underside. On completion of the mechanical re-fit and rebuild, the interior was then re-trimmed to include new leather, carpets, headlining, door cards and panels. Invoices for all the work are present. The cost of this level of work way outweighs what the car can be purchased for, and opportunities to buy cars at this level, especially with full history from new is becoming increasingly difficult. Since completion the Volvo has covered over 2000 faultless miles, has never seen salt or rain, and has arrived back with us in stunning condition. This is by far the very best example we have seen, and its performance on the road is equally as impressive. This is a true collectors piece, and finding another P1800S in this condition, with this level of history, provenance, mileage and low ownership could prove impossible.
Whether you are a dedicated Volvo enthusiast, a classic car collector or simply looking for a distinctive vintage sports car, the P1800 S offers a unique opportunity to own a celebrated piece of automotive history.
Its iconic design and growing appreciation among classic car enthusiasts make it an attractive addition to any collection.
A genuine classic. An iconic design. A timeless Volvo.
The early P1800 S is admired for its elegant coupé profile, distinctive front-end styling and characteristic chrome details. As an important model in Volvo's sporting heritage, it continues to attract enthusiasts and collectors internationally.
With its documented history and restoration story, AJT 710B presents an especially interesting proposition for anyone seeking a classic Volvo with a substantial historical paper trail.
The early models used a 1, 778 cc B18 four-cylinder engine featuring a robust five-bearing crankshaft and dual SU carburetors, producing 100 horsepower.
The architecture of these power plants was derived from heavy-duty commercial truck engineering, scaled down for passenger cars. This design philosophy enabled extraordinary mileage milestones, most famously demonstrated by Irv Gordon’s 1966 1800S, which surpassed 3. 2 million miles on its original core engine design
The P1800 became widely known when driven by British actor Roger Moore in the television series The Saint which aired from 1962 to 1969. In 1998, an 1800S owned by Irv Gordon (1940–2018) was certified as the highest mileage private vehicle driven by the original owner in non-commercial service—having exceeded 3. 25 million miles (over 5. 23 million km) as of his death in 2018.
Known among Classic Car Collectors as one of the finest driving and most pristine examples of the model in existence, This specific right hand drive vehicle holds a unique place in automotive history. This P1800 has a fantastic amount of paperwork from old MOT certificates too service invoices we have never seen so much paperwork for one car!
