1972 Volvo 1800 ES Sports Wagon

Description

The release of the 1800ES onto the market in late 1971 marked the beginning of the end of the twelve years long production run of Volvo’s popular 1800 series 2+2 sporting coupé.  Volvo’s coupé had gradually evolved to combine a Laycock overdrive, the 2-litre B20 engine with performance improvements and Bosch fuel injection before production ceased in June 1972, leaving the more popular 1800ES to end the Volvo 1800 series line one year later.  Several years before that happened, there were no mass-produced cars like the 1800ES anywhere and, like some other car makers, the Volvo design team was working on ideas for a sporty hatchback wagon.  Around this time, Volvo had struck up a working relationship with little known Italian prototype designer and coachbuilder, Sergio Coggiola.  When presented with Volvo’s sketches, he observed that the car would likely be very expensive to retool for manufacture as a variant of the P1800S.  After examining what others had done on the project, carefully reviewed the original body shape and concluded that his design would make the minimum of alterations to it, Coggiola received a P1800S to work on.  He proceeded to adapt the basic 1800 bodywork into a sporty hatchback wagon, retaining most of its original lines, even the rear fins, which then blended much better into the bodyline.  The new design simply extended the roofline of the 1800S from its highest point in an almost straight line from front to rear.  The original door shape was retained beneath the glassware, although the top edge of both the door and its glass were straightened out to follow the roofline along to the rear pillars.  With Coggiola’s alterations set off by an adventurous frameless glass tailgate opening on to a huge boot space, the 1800 series gained a completely fresh look for the 1970s and added versatility to its already long list of virtues.  With 135 bhp on tap, the ES is the strongest performer in the 1800 series, reaching a maximum speed of 190kph and taking just 9.7 seconds to reach 60mph, according to the manufacturer’s figures.  The car immediately proved very popular; so much so that 8,077 ES Sport Wagons were built during the two years from August 1971 and July 1973, nearly 80% of which were destined for the US market.  The combination of its striking good looks, rugged mechanicals, modicum of practicality and the added safety of side impact bars in the doors and mounting locations for four seatbelt straps, gives the Volvo 1800ES an enduring appeal that shows no sign of waning. Indeed, its value has risen fast in recent years.  Sound examples rarely come on the open market, making this auction a fabulous opportunity for the collector or enthusiast looking for something different.