CONTINUED

Volvo 1800E – Type ‘U’

Production Years – August 1970 to July 1971 – 4,750 Units Produced

There were no major changes to the 1800E for the Type ‘U’ other than engine performance was increased from 130bhp to 135 bhp.

Volvo 1800E and 1800ES – Type ‘W’

Production Years – August 1971 to July 1972 – 1800E = 1,865 Units Produced

1800ES = 3,070 Units Produced

1800ES: 1971 saw the launch by Volvo of the new 1800ES, a very innovative car, being the 1800 sports coupe, with an estate back on the same bodyshell. The car had rally type seats with integral headrests, inertia reel seat belts and an all glass tailgate. A feature that would return as a design feature on several of Volvos models in the future e.g. 480 and now the new V30. New all steel wheels (as fitted to the 164) were also a design feature of the 1800ES with 186/70 HR low profile tyres as standard. The car retained the 135bhp 2 litre fuel injection engine but gained the stronger M410 gearbox from the 164, the six-cylinder saloon. Automatic models were also available, however many have been converted to standard manual/overdrive over the years A conversion, which is easily undertaken with donor parts.

1800E: This would be the last model for the 1800E with only 1,865 units produced. It was built with the same interior as the new 1800ES and had the same plastic front grille. This model also gained the steel wheels and tyres from the 1800ES. Badging on the rear panel was revised with the loss of the individual ‘V.O.L.V.O.’ letters, which had been a feature from the very first P1800 in 1961, to be replaced by badging similar to those of the 1800ES. This model is an extremely rare car with only two known to the club in the UK, however other may well exist.

Volvo 1800ES – Type ‘Y’

Production Years – August 1972 – July 1973 – 5008 Units Produced

This would be the last 1800 to be produced. New features included an improved dash with rocker switches for the heater, wipers, and washers, instead of the pull switches common to all previous models. For the American market to comply with legislation, new mounting for the bumpers had to be introduced. These were not fitted to cars for Europe but their fitment meant that larger holes had to be made in the front and rear panel. Keeping standard Bumper Iron’s for non-USA markets meant that larger rubber Grommets (about 3” square) had to be used. The last 1800ES rolled off the production line on the 27 th July 1973.