Bringing the Shine Back to a 60s TV Classic
At White’s Bodyworks we love it when a classic car comes to the garage and gives us plenty of opportunity to show what we are capable of. As you can see from the images below, this delightful 1968 Volvo 1800s needed substantial work undertaking including some major bodywork repairs and a full respray.
About the Car
The Volvo P1800 range went into production between 1961 and 1973 and has all the classic design aspects of this era in car manufacture. More touring car than sports car the 1800S gained notoriety when it became the car for the TV series The Saint. Other celebrity backers of the time included Roger Daltrey of The Who. It was a car that satisfied the sporty driver of the time without totally cutting corners on economy.
The design for the original P1800 began back in 1957 but interference from Volkswagen meant that there were delays in getting it to market. The car made its first appearance on the world stage in 1960 at the Brussels Motor Fair and finally went into production a year later.
Following some quality control problems, the 1800S hit the streets in 1964 and continued in production up until the 1800E replaced it in 1970. The car is marked by it’s longevity. One model achieved the highest mileage for a private vehicle, reaching three million miles, in 2013. Owned by American Irv Gordon it has been in his possession since 1966 and is now in the Guinness Book of Records.
With a top speed of 109 mph, the 1800S was no slouch on the roads. At the Viking Classic Auto Show in 2010, the car celebrated it’s 50th anniversary with no less than 350 vehicles taking part. It remains today a classic that many people love to drive.
Our Restoration
This particular Volvo came to our garage in October of 2016 and need some substantial work undertaking with the bodywork. That meant stripping it down and repairing areas where dents and rust damage had taken affect. As you might expect, several weeks of loving care and attention were needed before the full respray was carried out and the Volvo 1800s was ready for the road again.
With over 20 years’ experience handling classic cars of all types, the team at White’s Bodyworks like nothing more than bringing our experience and skill to bear on a project like this. If you have a classic car that needs repair, contact our expert team today.
