Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002
Dear Glenn,
I have been wanting an 1800E since I was a teenager in California. I am hoping to buy one in spring of 2003. This should give me some time to become the educated consumer, I hope. I am not auto-mechanically inclined at all. My husband used to work on muscle cars in his youth, but I would be afraid to depend on him for repairs and maintenance because of his work load. What kind of mechanic should I look for, for maintenance and repairs? Do I go to a Volvo dealer or an independent shop?
What do you feel are average costs for, say, tune-ups or brake jobs? I guess I am really asking if it will be a huge money pit if we don't work on it ourselves. I own a 2000 Dodge Durago, which is hardly cheap to maintain. Example -- my 30,000 mile service was $600.00. I live in Atlanta, Georgia, now. Are there any Volvo rallies or shows happening in my area that you know of? Would a show be a good place to pick up a car? Do you know of any resources in my area?
I will be willing to pay around $6000.00 for a car. What will that buy me condition-wise? If I can't buy a car in mint condition for that price what should I be willing to give up body condition or mechanical condition? Last question I promise for now. I am reading people are driving these cars well over a million miles. Tall tale or gospel truth?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Maureen Allaben.
Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2002
Maureen - It is a well-documented fact, included even in the Guinness Book of World Records, that a 1966 Volvo P1800 has traveled more than a million miles. It is probably the only car of any make to have been documented at such a high mileage, so I think that says more about the owner than about the car. It does also say that support from Volvo with parts and service has been good over the years.
However, of the 40,000 or so Volvo 1800s produced, Irv Gordon's '66 is the only million-miler. Most of the rest are now wrecked, neglected or crushed. The ones that are left are being driven, carefully restored or simply preserved. Volvo has spun off parts production to an outside vendor, Genuine Classic Parts (http://www.gcp.se), who is actually very good, but finding a good 1800 mechanic is just as difficult at a Volvo dealership as at an independent shop. In short, although Volvo has just about abandoned the 1800, there is still enough interest to keep them alive and running.
I can't comment on costs of repairs and maintenance, because I do my own maintenance and repair work. Your best bet would be to contact other owners for estimates and referrals, so you are definitely on the right track in looking for local clubs. There are two main clubs in the U.S. for vintage Volvo owners, the Volvo Club of America (http://www.vcoa.org) and Volvo Sports America (http://www.vsa.org). Both are national organizations with local and international chapters. In addition, there are enclaves of enthusiasts who meet informally independently of the clubs.
There are many resources available on the Internet. I highly recommend the 1800 e-mail list (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1800list). There are several members of the list near Atlanta who would probably be willing to show off their cars and share local contacts. There is a good new and used parts source in Atlanta called Voluparts.
If you want to walk out today and buy the best "driver" 1800 on the market at a price that's not hopelessly inflated, you're probably looking at $8500. Show cars and no-mileage freaks will cost up to $20,000. If you make lots of contacts in the next twelve months, save your bucks and keep your ear to the ground, you should be able to get a very good example for $6000. Body work is more expensive than mechanical work, so if you have to choose, go for a good body. But for $6000, you shouldn't have to make that choice. -Glenn.