Wie das Rekordauto

The career of the Volvo sports car began in 1962 with the P1800. Because Volvo’s production capacity had to be created first, the first-year models were built by the English sports car manufacturer Jensen. After Volvo’s production facilities were ready and the cars rolled off the production line in Sweden, they were called the P1800 S, with S for Sweden. For the 1968 model year, the course of the side trim strips was changed. The bold curve of the trim strip had now disappeared. In August 1969, the P 1800 E model was launched, with a D-Jetronic injection system and a significantly modified dashboard. The classic chronograph-design instruments had now also disappeared, and the dashboard was decorated with artificial wood. In 1971, the coupé was replaced by the P1800 ES station wagon coupé, the first production car with a tailgate made entirely of glass. The still breathtaking design by Pelle Petterson, who worked for Pietro Frua in Italy at the time, and the legendary robustness of Volvo technology make this car a sought-after classic. Today, the coupés are best known for the 1960s TV crime series Simon Templar (English title The Saint), in which Simon Templar, alias Roger Moore, drove a white P1800 as a company car. He was originally supposed to drive an Aston Martin, but Aston Martin did not want to provide a car for filming. Volvo saw the opportunity and delivered the brand new P1800 as a film car free of charge. When Roger Moore later took on the lead role in James Bond, Aston Martin had changed its mind and delivered the Aston Martin DB 5, which became world famous, as a film car. The model also became famous thanks to the car of the American Irv Gordon, who drove 5,232,913 kilometers (3,250,257 miles) with his car from 1965 until his death in 2018. Although it had three engines, his car is still listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the car with the highest mileage ever.

This Volvo P 1800 S from the 1966 model year in cherry red and black leather corresponds to Irv Gordons’ record vehicle. The car was delivered to Ohio in the USA and bought by a fourth-generation collector of Polish roots living in Canada and reimported to Europe. The car was completely rebuilt by a restoration company in Poland, a good 160 kilometers east of Berlin, that we have known for 20 years. This company only restores Volvo P 1800 Coupés and Citroën DS and, as both vehicle models fit into our portfolio, a trusting business relationship has been built up over the course of decades. We can rely on the work there. This vehicle provided a very good basis for the restoration because it was in its original, untampered condition. Photos before the restoration, which won a gold medal in Poland, are available. We are delighted to be able to offer this excellent car.

Our Économie offer for €50,800 refers to the tested, fully roadworthy vehicle without a general inspection. The standard offer for €61,900 includes the conversion to DIN instruments and DIN headlights, four new tires, the subsequent installation of three-point automatic seat belts at the front and, of course, a new general inspection and an H-certificate. The Suprême offer for €65,900 also includes the installation of an uprated radiator, a new steering wheel, a right-hand exterior mirror, and cavity and underbody preservation with wax. We would be happy to send you a detailed list of the offers.