1800E

STORY

Volvo showed the P1800 sports coupe to the public in 1960 and put it into production in 1961. The shape came from Pelle Petterson, then a young designer working for Frua, and Carrozzeria Frua handled the three prototypes. Jensen Motors in West Bromwich, England, assembled the early cars, and in 1963 production moved to Volvo's Lundby plant in Gothenburg. The launch engine was the B18 at 100 hp on the British-built cars, a figure the sources give without naming a standard. The 1800 ES hatchback was built for 1972 and 1973, the last years of the line.