This 1973 Volvo 1800ES was acquired by the seller in 2017 and was subsequently refurbished and modified as part of a multi-year build over the next seven years. The car was fitted with flared steel bodywork and repainted black as part of the project, while the interior was updated with TMI bucket seats trimmed in black leather and microsuede. Further work involved servicing the 2.0-liter B20 inline-four and adding a custom stereo with a Kicker amplifier, a DB Drive crossover, and a Voodoo capacitor as well as Cadence and Rockford Fosgate speakers. The engine is equipped with a CVR finned valve cover, an IPD oil cooler, and a Griffin radiator with a SPAL fan as well as a SwedeSpeed exhaust system. Gear changes are through a four-speed manual transmission with an electric overdrive unit, and further equipment includes a Volante steering wheel, a short-throw shifter, and 17″ Corsa steel wheels. This modified 1800ES is now offered with a car cover, spare parts, and a clean Illinois title in the seller’s name.
Introduced in 1972 as the last variant of the P1800, the 1800ES featured a shooting brake design with a glass rear hatch. This example was fitted with flared steel bodywork and repainted black as part of the aforementioned build. The hood features a Camaro ZL1–style vent, while the rocker panels are said to have been retrofitted from an Audi RS 5 coupe. Further details include:
- Stainless-steel mesh grille
- Remote air suspension fill valve
- Black-finished Sickspeed horn
- H4 European headlamps with LED bulbs
- LED front parking and turn signal lights
- IPD taillight lenses
- IPD replacement windshield and gasket
- Shaved bodyside trim
- Shortened, smoothed, and re-chromed bumpers
- Hagans Hot Rods flush-mount fuel filler and fast-fill cap
The roof was cut to make an opening for a sliding canvas sunroof, though the accompanying Legacy sliding ragtop setup has not been installed. The seller notes scratches in the glass rear hatch.
The 17″ Corsa steel wheels wear Volvo-branded hubcaps and are mounted with 245/40 Bridgestone Potenza tires. The car rides on an independent front suspension paired with a live-axle setup with a Panhard bar out back. IPD sway bar links have been fitted up front, and braking is handled by power-assisted four-wheel discs. The seller tells us that Air Lift AutoPilot V2 air suspension components have also been added, though the air springs themselves have not been installed.
The TMI bucket seats and custom rear bench feature ventilation grommets and are trimmed in black leather and microfiber upholstery. Flocked suede covers the dash, center console, and armrests, while the headliner is said to have been trimmed in Alcantara. A Moinhanhan fire extinguisher is affixed to the driveshaft tunnel, and further details include a billet ignition button and switches along with stainless-steel door sill plates and aluminum pedal covers. The seller notes difficulty operating the custom window cranks.
The Volante split-spoke steering wheel features a piano black–finished wood rim and is joined by a short-throw shifter featuring a suede boot and a leather-wrapped AMCO knob. The wheel fronts an engine-turned dashboard that houses refurbished Smiths instrumentation including a 120-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, and supplementary gauges. The six-digit odometer shows 72k miles, approximately 100 of which have been added under current ownership. True mileage is unknown.
The custom stereo is controlled via an aftermarket in-dash digital media receiver as well as a remote bass adjustment dial and features the following components:
- Kicker DXA250.4 amplifier
- OKUR electronics two-channel subwoofer amplifier
- DB Drive electronic crossover
- Voodoo capacitor
- Rockford Fosgate R2D2-10 10″ subwoofers
- Cadence 8″ woofers mounted in custom kick panels
- Cadence 6.5″ component speakers mounted in custom rear side panels
The 2.0-liter B20 inline-four is equipped with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection and was factory rated at 112 horsepower and 115 lb-ft of torque. The seller notes that the following parts and components were installed as part of the build:
- Classic Volvo Restoration (CVR) finned aluminum valve cover
- IPD gaskets
- IPD water pump and thermostat
- IPD remote oil cooler
- Bosch ignition coil and spark plugs
- Accuspark silicone ignition wires
- Replacement distributor cap and rotor
- Adjustable fuel pressure regulator
- Griffin Aluminum Radiator with a SPAL electric puller fan
- Optima Redtop battery with billet hold down
Power is routed to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission with Laycock de Normanville electric overdrive. A four-into-one header flows into a SwedeSpeed-sourced exhaust system.
