The Classic Motor Show held each November at the NEC Birmingham is without doubt the premier UK Classic transport event. Each year the show gets bigger and better and this show without exception was one of the best.
Our stand this year featured the following Members vehicles:
Volvo P1800 (Jensen England Built) - 1962
First Registered in July 1962 and purchased from its original owner in 1985. This is a very rare Jensen of West Bromwich, England built P1800. 6000 P1800’s were built between 1961 and 1963. Only around 15 of these cars are believed to be still on the road in UK today. This car has been used daily for most of its life, having only had two owners from new.
179 HAB has covered over ½ Million Miles from new on its original engine. All other major mechanical components are also original. It has been featured in several publications and also with Quentin Wilson on BBC TV Top Gear and his book ‘The Ultimate Classic Car’. It also in 1992 driven non-stop, except for fuel stops, from John O’Groats to Lands End in 16hrs 42min to celebrate the 30th Birthday of the P1800. It has also done a number of other long distance events.
The most famous Volvo P1800 was driven by Roger Moore (alias ‘Simon Templar’) in the TV Series ‘The Saint’. I also own the original TV Saint Car - 71 DXC another 1962 P1800 which currently undergoing a full restoration. Any information on this car would be most welcomed.
Kevin Price, Bewdley, Worcestershire
Volvo 1800E - 1970
I purchased the car in 1989, having just sold my Lotus Espre and was looking for a new project, when one of my friends told me of a car which I may be interested in. The car was hidden in the back of a small garage under a heap of cardboard boxes in Colchester. The garage owner told me that it belonged to a gentleman who lived in Ipswich, who may wish to sell. On closer inspection I found the entire engine apart from the block was in the boot, the rest was scattered around the garage. Looking at the scale of the project I decided to go home and think about what I was taking on. A week later I returned and purchased the car at an agreed price which included the replacement of the engine. Unfortunately after waiting 6 weeks the engine had not been replaced so I decided to take the car home and finish it off myself. I have all the cars MOT’s and the Service Book, with the name and address of the original owner and supplier. DYL 524J was recently featured in Practical Classics.
Colin & Pauline Atkinson, Essex
Volvo 740GL Hearse - 1990
This Hearse is still “in service” in the South and East Midlands and the Home Counties. Originally used in Northern Ireland, it came to England in 2005 where it was sprayed White, having been finished in Masons Black for 15 years.
Why White you may ask? White is the mourning colour for many religions and cultures.
Earlier this year it was used for the funeral of a Volvo fan, whose family had insisted the sign in the back window remained in situ.
It has the 1986 cc B200E engine matched to an automatic gearbox.  The vehicle has an unladen weight of over 2 tonnes which means that it is not very fuel efficient, and averages just 22 mpg. It has covered 96,000 miles.
It is part of our collection of the more unusually Volvo variants which includes two 700 series Limousines, a 740 pick-up, a 740 American style Yellow Taxi and the British Ambassador to Canada 740 saloon   
Unlike our other vehicles, this one does not have a name; it is simple referred to as “The White Hearse”.
Thanks for looking, and enjoy your day.
Colin & Robert Hughes, Northampton
Volvo 1800S Convertible - 1969
Purchased by the present owner in September 2010 this Volvo 1800 Convertible is under restoration/construction.
It was built in the 1990’s by Coventry Based ‘Bodyline’ and has been stored for a number of years.
Several companies in the Sixties converted 1800 Coupe’s into Convertibles. These included ‘Radford’ England, who built only 2, of which only one still survives in a very poor condition awaiting restoration and Volvoville in the USA who were very much more successful.
Several homemade Convertibles have been produced in the UK but many suffer like the Radford from lack of strengthening. The most successful are based on the work produced by Volvoville which includes the one produced by Club Member John Culham in the late 1980’s and previously shown on our club Stands at this and other shows.
Tony & Gillian Whitton, Suffolk
Volvo PV444-08 – 1957
Imported from Sweden in 1985 by the owner of a Devon Volvo Dealership. Was a showroom ornament for 14 years, covering only 1000 miles in all that time.
It is one of only four Volvo PV444-08’s known in Europe and the only example in the UK.
PV444-8’s were produced for the USA Market only but a few did escape onto the home (Swedish) market. These cars can be recognised by being fitted with the sports B16B engine which has twin
SU 1 ¼ Carburettors.
The Reg. No. is Cornish, a cherished transfer, which is only 1 day different from its original Swedish Registration.
349 BAF has had some cosmetic paint work on the outside, other than that, is completely original. On her 3rd set of tyres, she has covered 65,000 miles from new

Colin & May Tatlow, Cornwall

Volvo 131 – 1968
I bought my first Amazon – a 1966 model – in 1972. I had several more over the years, not in the best of condition but they kept going!
This car was purchased in 1985 with 37,000 miles on the clock, probably the second time around. I believe it had four previous owners. The car has a Volvo B18 Engine, 1780cc with a Single Stromberg Carb
Overall the car was in very good condition but a lot of work has been carried out since including a respray & fitting new sills & front wings. I have fitted many extras including overdrive, spring assisted rear shocks, inertia reel seat belts, alternator conversion, stainless steel exhaust & electric cooling fan.
Although the annual mileage is very low these days the car still travels to shows around the country and can return over 35 mpg.
John Kemp, Halesowen, West Midland
Volvo 262C – 1979 (Bertone Italy Built)
First Registered in 1979 this 262C was purchased by the present owner in September 1984.
The “Tre Kroner” or three  crowns was the code name given to what was to be introduced in 1977, Volvo’s 50th year. It was later like other Volvo’s just to become a number the ‘262C’.
The first prototype constructed in 1974 used a second hand 164 but was restyled by the Italian Designer Sergio Coggiola. Coggiola had already produced a number of concept cars based on the 1800 floor pan and mechanical components. The next prototype based on 260 series components, although it still featured the three crowns emblem and in all respects was identical to the first production model.
Lack of production capacity led to Turin based Bertone being chosen to finally assemble the car.
The 262C made its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1977. In all 6,622 cars were built and available in four colours – Silver Met, Gold Met, Blue Met and Black. All but the Black cars had black leather interior, that having beige.
Tony & Gillian Whitton, Suffolk

Our Thanks to all those Members who helped man, build and brought along their cars for the Club display and also all those visited us during the show – Look forward to seeing you all next year.

kevinprice.vec@btinternet.com