UNRESTORED SURVIVOR : 1961 VOLVO P1800 -JENSEN - Calif Black Plate- w/log book !

Greetings everyone ! I am offering probably the rarest-and most unique - early Volvo p1800 coupe that I have ever encountered. I had a Volvoville once and I sold it to a passionate collector in Belgium that had the financial resources to restore the car to its former glory. I also have had an early p1800 that was in similar condition to this one that went to a collector in Chicago. In both cases---they became museum pieces---and can be found on Karl Erics' fine Volvo1800pictures dot com web site. I think this car deserves the same future. The main challenge--especially on these early Jensen built cars- is rust. Experienced vintage car shoppers often look for Southern California BLACK PLATE cars because they know the cars have not been in a hostile weather environment-generally speaking. Not only is this car from Southern California---but it was serviced in Beverly Hills---see door sticker picture. Additionally. the car has a log book from purchase date in January 1962 to 1987 showing each service stop. mileage. gas station. total cost. and any notes. The log stops in 1987--as that is when the car was retired. So. getting back to rust issues. Start with the underside---and the jacking points. They are pristine. The floors are completely amazing given their age. Some minor scaling on drivers side topside---no softness or rust through. Rockers--one side has both original seams still----very unusual for a unibody non undercoated car. The other side ---the front seam is covered---indicating some bondo fill probably when the car was re-painted. There is surface scale on the hood. roof and trunk from thin paint sun exposure. There is the beginning of perforation on the lower front fender drivers side and passenger side---very minor. The trunk is clean. The battery box is original and very intact---probably the first one of these that I have seen that is not rusted through. This no doubt saved the floors ! Speaking of paint--- the repaint was very poor--whoever did it. Things like not removing the rubber seals. chrome. gaskets etc---along with what appears to be a poor prepping effort- have resulted in a cool patina---but really a deserved re-paint is called for. I know digital pictures make the paint appear better than it is---and please be under no misconception--- the paint is not great. By the way. color code 70 is Red on these early ones as the engine bay plate indicates. The interior is supposed to be white. It is not white anymore. Oddly. all the Jensen parts are here-- like the map pockets. lower door trim . rap around cubby in the back etc---but in black. Since as far as I know theses early Jensen interiors were not offered in black---either these were dyed black or maybe swapped out for a 63 S type that had leftover Jensen trim. Either way. a perfectionist will want the white returned. The seats I have in white----but none of the others and the seats will be conveyed. The interior is other wise all there---livable for a driver---but one will probably want to cover the dash cracks either temporarily from a just dashes cover---or later during restoration. This might be a good time to discuss fate for this car. I remain puzzled as to why these cars have never fetched the kind of money that other sports cars of the era do. Maybe someday they will. I mention this because the move might be to just invest in this car and leave it alone until they start appreciating to a better level. If I had a barn or warehouse---I might liken it to buying a non dividend paying growth stock and see what it does in a few years. No. I have a bride who I love dearly---and one garage space for one toy ---and so it goes. Next chapter---Jensen specific items. The early Jensens had several unique pieces that were only offered a short while---like the oval license plate light like mine has. Most all Jensens had:: The cow horn bumpers. egg crate grille. Tach regulator box. unique horns. overdrive switch on the dash. lear flashers up front. raised cowl. urbine style box perimeter hubcaps. etc. I am only missing the clear flashers up front and the "Volvo" porcelain emblems . The emblems are available aftermarket. Some Jensen items are expensive and hard to find---at least with this--you will not be hunting down rare parts. The challenge ::: This car has been unused since 1987. It has 88. ooo original documented miles. The engine does run. BUT. the master brake cylinder is full of gunk. the master clutch cylinder is full of white sticky powder. Both rear axle limiting straps are broken. Most all the gaskets to the suspension are original and past it. The rubber seals around the glass and windows are probably original and need replacing. The shifter shifts---the emergency brake brakes. The car rolls fine. I have no idea on the age of the tires. The exhaust has holes in several pipes. The lights work. The passenger side hood hinge is broken---a common fault w/ all 1800's Summary. I am pretty sure this was a one owner car until 2006 when the owner passed away. I suspect the family could not be bothered with the car and had it towed away . The tow lot put the car on Hemmings and the second owner---who I got the car from had it inspected and then had it shipped to Florida in 2006. The previous owner collected parts for the restoration---but never got to it. The car showed up on a local Craigs List ad----and I bought it a few hours later because I am knowledgeable about them and like a stray animal---I want to see them get a good home. I will add more details as I think of them and will post all questions asked. I can be reached at 1-321-749- seven two five seven before 10PM for any questions or discussion. I believe the car is worth $6500. oo and I am offering it now in case it is heading to Europe for a winter project. Thank you. jeff PS- It stopped raining long enough to roll the car out for the outside pics. The car is dry ---not wet. jpb

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