The original sales brochure boasted that the P1800, with its 100hp (98.6bhp) engine and fully synchromesh-equipped gearbox, was a car which attracted attention through the “sheer beauty of its handsome lines and its effortless sparkling performance both in dense city traffic and on the open highway”. 

Originally offered in three colours – white with red trim, red with white trim and grey with red trim – the car was perceived as comfortable and stable and therefore highly suitable for fast, long journeys. “Volvo’s aim was to give the car a timeless shape. Overall, it was considered a beautiful creation – solid construction with fine details. The brakes and steering were praised, too,” says Collander, 50, who lives in Falun, north of Stockholm.

At its launch, various motoring journalists test drove the car with the lion’s share extremely positive. One wrote: “Volvo’s sports car is an excellent alternative for those who want a fast, comfortable, safe and easy-to-drive car at a good price and with low operating costs.”

However, as with most launches, there are teething problems and the P1800 was no exception. In October 1961, reports were received from Volvo’s technical and sales staff in the United States regarding the four-cylinder, 1,778cc coupé.

“Some said that the rear axle made too much noise and that the disc brakes looked cheap,” says Collander. “Criticism was also reported regarding the tightness of the body, with leaks at the doors, windows and fresh air intake. Externally, the quality of the painting was questioned, too, but these issues were subsequently resolved,” adds Collander, who owns reputedly the oldest-running, serial-produced right-hand drive 1800.

“The first right-hand-drive example produced was serial number 3001 and mine is 3004,” he says. “It was made in March 1962 and I saved it for restoration in 2006. The car was in London so I travelled on the freight ferry from Gothenburg to the UK and brought it to Sweden.