- To mark its 50th anniversary, the iconic Volvo P1800 is reinterpreted for the 21st century.
- Sketches of a modern-day P1800 were created at Volvo's Monitoring and Concept Center in Southern California.
- One British Web site described the original P1800 as "a Volvo that was to The Saint what the Aston Martin DB5 was to James Bond."
CAMARILLO, California — The iconic Volvo P1800 has been reimagined and reinterpreted for the 21st century at the automaker's Monitoring and Concept Center here.
Design Director Chris Benjamin created digital images of a modern-day P1800, to mark what the company described as the car's 50th anniversary.
So far, the sketches exist only in cyber form. There are no immediate plans for production.
The original P1800, while never a volume seller, turned out to be an eye-catching and fondly remembered image-builder for the Swedish automaker, which is now owned by China's Geely Automobile.
The P1800 coupe was designed in Italy at Ghia subsidiary Pietro Frua by Pelle Petterson, the son of longtime Volvo consultant Helmer Petterson. Assembled initially by Jensen in the U.K., production was soon moved to Volvo's facility in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The coupe — later renamed 1800S — was followed by the even more sensational 1800ES sport wagon, which was designed in-house by Volvo's Jan Wilsgaard and provided the inspiration for the company's current C30.
When production ended in 1973, Volvo had built only 39,400 coupes and 8,000 wagons. Nevertheless, the 1800S lives on, especially in reruns of the old British TV series The Saint, which starred actor Roger Moore (later of James Bond movie fame) as Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like thief.
One British Web site described the 1800S as "a Volvo that was to The Saint what the Aston Martin DB5 was to James Bond."
Inside Line says: Not to get too technical, but it's actually the 51st anniversary — the first production P1800 left the Jensen shop in fall 1960 as a 1961 model.
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tysalpha says:
01:40 PM, 12/11/2011
Looks like a 1995 Buick Riviera with a Volvo grill. Not that that's bad... just saying it doesn't look distinctively "Volvo" in this sketch.
mini23 says:
11:16 AM, 12/11/2011
1st-I have to concur-This sketch does not say P1800 to me. I applaud the idea though.
2nd-Volvo needs a "Halo" car. The P1800 would fit in nicely with Volvo's new 4 cylinder technology
approach.
I think that Volvo should build a new P1800. Obviously it cannot be RWD simply because the
rest of
Volvo's line up is not RWD. However it could share a platform with the C30 or the new V30 platform
(which I guess will also offer a 3 door hatch to replace the existing C30). It would be a natural
progression and it gives Volvo a sporting design to talk on not just the Golf but also the Scirocco.
The V30 4dr hatch is a smart move against the Golf. The C30 3dr hatch against the GTI and the P1800 against the Scirocco. That to me makes marketing sense. I'm sure Volvo wont do it but they should.
eldaino2 says:
09:37 AM, 12/11/2011
uh doesnt this already exist as the c30? this drawing even looks like a conceptual sketch for the current version after the refresh. please volvo.
mce63 says:
09:22 AM, 12/10/2011
When will the auto companies realize that this kind of fluff just doesn't cut it anymore? Sure it looks nice as far as concept drawings go. But without the captions, I'd have expected this to have an Austin Martin or Jaguar emblem on it. That's how generic this looks.
lincolnman3 says:
12:00 AM, 12/10/2011
If anyone should design a P1800 replacement, it should be Peter Horbury. He's been bumped up to be Design Director of Geely, but if they do decide to bring this car back, they should most definitely let him design it........he just has a real gift for Volvos.........
cz_75 says:
07:10 PM, 12/09/2011
I'll pass - barely resembles the P1800, unless you squint... maybe.
qdp says:
12:02 PM, 12/09/2011
Yes, looks like a teenage's render. With the computer's help, alot of Ameuters can do this sort of things nowaday.
sniperruff says:
11:43 AM, 12/09/2011
Butchered. Love the C30 though.
alaskanroads says:
11:18 AM, 12/09/2011
@ bemanix88 says:
"...... this looks nothing like the P1800. It looks like a crappy teenager's render."
If this is what a teenager can come up with, Then that is one talented teenager! This concept sketch looks Bad Ass! If I was an Auto Company CEO, I'd fire my head of design and hire this kid.
hooklyn says:
10:34 AM, 12/09/2011
@ bemanix88
I agree. That is why Americans will eat it up.