That is a car you don´t see every day, even in Sweden. These old Volvos make me proud to be Swedish and to have grown up in a town where they built gearboxes and rear axles for Volvo.
I walked past one everyday on my way to the buss up here in Umeå, its a beauty. I don't live in that area anymore but I'm sure it's still out there. Ganska imponerande att SAAB och Volvo ens blev en grejj.
Theodore Dowman .........without ever owning one how would you know? what do you drive?....audi? bmw? ford? ive owned approx 12 volvos so far......currently D4 V40..........the slogan "VOLVO FOR LIFE" is real........once youve driven one nothing else will feel right.........they are also safest cars on the road if you become caught up in a RTA.
geoffdundee yup... My first Volvo was a 1998 S70 T5. Since then, I've had a couple 850s, a 740 wagon, a 940 wagon (current work car) an S60 (current daily driver) an 850 T5-R (toy/project) and an XC70 (wife's car) They have a way of converting people. Of course, everyone thinks of the 240 when they think of Volvo, but they're more than that. And no one is making nicer looking cars than they are these days. The V90? Beautiful car.
The P1800 my not have been the first 2+2 touring coup but I've always believed it was the one that influenced Ford's decision to build the Mustang. Unfortunately, Ford was somewhat limited pertaining to just how much they could glorify a Falcon.
I used to live near Roger Moore, as a child I remember seeing this actual car driving past my school in Stanmore, North West London. As kids we noticed the car more than the driver!
True story - I could have ended up calling Roger Moore Uncle if things had turned out differently, He once dated one of my aunties a bit before he got big in acting - He used to be a model for a local suit tailor and spend a lot of time up here in Bradford, W Yorks believe it or not - I've heard many people talk about him and without a bad word to say.A true English Gent- RIP Sir Roger.
Great story dude . I lived in Hackney in 1985 . 2 local plasterers owned a rather run down Rolls Royce Silver Ghost . I occasionally saw them firing down Mare St early in the morning obviously en route to a job . Boot open bags of plaster piled in , dust all over the show . Rather have seen Roger Moore personally for a car wry memory !!!!!
Bill Krzastek was my math teacher for 3 years at Waynesboro High School! He teaches Algebra, Pre-calculus, Calculus, and Probability and Statistics. And in almost every class, he would talk about his cars. Loves, loves, LOVES his cars
Bill was a schoolteacher, and Irv Gordon (the 3.2 million mile World Record holder) both had Volvo P1800s. Maybe we should call the 1800S the "Teacher's Hotrod" like we call the Imperial and 300s the "Banker's Hotrod."
Hello Folks. Thank you for all of your comments regarding "ST1". I've tried to answer most people's questions but I thought I would try to answer the most popular questions in a new post as well. With this post, I'll try to answer the questions that pertain to Mr. Leno's Garage and the filming. 1) Why is the turn signal on? I asked Mr. Leno this as we were driving. As he drives the cars on public roads and is being followed by a crew filming the moving vehicle, he uses the turn signal to tell the camera crew where he is going next so they know the right lane to be in before the turn. 2) How long is the drive? I was told if Mr. Leno does not like a car, he is back in four minutes. The average is 20-22 minutes. We were gone for 40 minutes! Mr. Leno really enjoyed driving the car and just kept going: local streets, country roads, Interstate, all over. 3) How long is the shoot? The intial interview in the garage takes about 25 minutes. The driving portion varies. In my case, it lasted 40 minutes. Only 20 minutes of the 65 minutes filmed were used in the edited product. 4) Why am I not looking at Mr. Leno? The directions I received from the film crew was to look in one direction, answer the questions, keep it short. Well, I did what they told me! While driving, as the car is RHD, I had to lean back as much as possible so the film crew who were driving alongside could try to capture Mr. Leno. After all, he is the star! By the way, there are no retakes. Bill
Thanx Bill... BTW, why are you not calling Jay 'Jay' ?!? That, to me, seems really creepy and if Jay is the man I think he is, it weirded him out as well... (?)
Hi Bill - I was just wondering what is the difference between your car and the car mentioned in this article: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2429701/1962-Volvo-driven-Roger-Moore-The-Saint-rotting-away-22-years-ago-road.html
My '69 1800S went 800,000 miles. I think of that car most every day. Most balanced car and handled corners better than anything Ive ever driven. Best car ever made.
I owned one for 15 years, until it got totalled. One of the saddest days of my life. This car was so easy to love. Lots of fun to drive, and great looking, too. When it was tunred, the exhaust note was beautiful. I wish I could hit the lottery to go out and buy a restored one. Just a wonderful car!
P1800's, Datsun 240Z's, Datsun 510's, Triumph TR6 - were all pretty common when I was a teen but I couldn't afford them. Now I've got a bit more money, they're all getting rare and collectible and I still can't afford one.
I had a 510 2 door and what i remember most about it at speeds above 55mph is thinking where the hell is 5th gear ? Not a car for the interstate, oh yes it will do 85mph + handily . I also had the early and late model 260z , both left me wanting 5th gear and both cars had a shimmy in the steering wheel at about 55 to 65 mph no matter what period damnit ! cheers
My dad still has his 260Z. The shimmy was a problem that was difficult to fix but I don't remember how we did it. Recently we replaced the steering rack bushings and they was barely anything left of them after over 40 years.
I had one of these back in the UK in the late 60’s when I worked on Concorde down at BAC Weybridge. As Jay says it was a very relaxing grand tourer, but one problem was that it was a heavy car and looked much faster than it actually was, so driving back at weekends on the M1 I would be do something like 85/90mph in the fast lane and you could see drivers thinking of moving from the middle lane, but then holding back when they saw me and waiting, and waiting, for me to go past. (I drove a friend’s E-type, also on the M1, and did +120mph in that, so I could understand why they were waiting!) But it redeemed itself whenever I parked because when I returned there would always be people looking at the number plate to see if it was ST1. It was a very enjoyable car and I’m happy to see that the original ST1 is in such good hands.
I’d die to own a car as beautiful as this. Something about it just resonates with me. I was at a gas station, and a guy driving a maroon P1800 pulled up right behind me for a refill. I got the chance to ask him about it and he told me a bit about how he got it and the history of his specific car. That was a great day, to say the least.
Nice episode, but I think at some point they should have mentioned the guy who actually designed ithe P1800, Mr Pelle Pettersson. He was just a student and an apprentice at the time, but would go on to become a famous sailor and yacht designer. Over the years he has designed many other things too, always with the same elegant but yet clean stile.
+Christer Albäck I had no idea! Searching my memory, I remembered this yatch (which I have been on), also designed by him, which was very popular in Sweden: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxi_77 And this one, which we owned when I was a child: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monark_540
Mr Pettersson did not get any recognition of his P1800 design until many years later. translate.google.com/translate?sl=sv&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=sv&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.svd.se%2Fsportvolvons-hemliga-skapare&edit-text=
Just wanna take the time to say George Swift is one God of a mechanic... Extremely talented and always humble, deserve's some credit for getting all these pieces of history running like new!
I purchased new a 1970 Volvo P 1800 E. It was very similar to what is shown here, but with fuel injection. I loved that car and seriously regret ever selling it. I was moving to Hawaii at the time and there were no Volvo dealers there and would have had a problem getting it serviced. It was a real hoot to drive and as Jay says in the video that was where I learned I really wanted a grand touring vehicle rather than a "boy racer" hot rod sports car. Timeless design and really comfortable and fun to drive.
I owned a 1964 122 wagon in college.I drove that car every where cost to coast so many times. I met a girl & well I needed a bigger car soon enough. The Volvo had almost 600,000 miles on it & the engine still ran like a Swiss watch.but the body was toast,New England winters,salty roads.At idle the engine was so smooth you couldn't even hear it nor feel any vibration. Plus she never lost a drop of oil. Amazing engine ! When I decided to junk it a good friend took the drive train recycled the sheet metal.He raced Volvos then & apparently still does.When I last talked to him he reported that untouched he dropped my old drive train into a rally racer & drove it for many year w/out any major issues until his son seriously wracked the racing Volvo around a tree! Bullet proof engines not however oak proof. Cheers!!.......
I like that guy. He's quirky but something about him I like...also, I love cars like these and he's awesome for having/restoring it,and showing it to Jay and us. Always love these cars and their stories. Great job as usual Jay.
Thank you for your kind comments. There was about 40 minutes more but was edited out. We really talked a lot in the car as Mr. Leno drove it for 40 minutes. I was told that if he hates a car, he's back in 4 minutes, the average is about 20-22. So..you can tell he really liked the 1800!
I owned a '68 1800S for several yrs, dark British green (orig. color) with tan leather interior. Bought it dirt cheap -$300 - spent another $3,500 on minor floorboard rust repair, valve/head job, gas tank reline, carbs, paint, rubber moldings for doors windows & trunk, OEM metal badges, new brakes & overdrive solenoid, new stereo. Basically it was all there and i drove it for 3 1/2 yrs. Very comfortable, amazing front leg room. Cruises nicely at 70 mph on highway. Problem is as a daily driver they are indeed reliable but like any newly refreshed vintage car driven daily requires very conscientious maintenance which I did and it was fairly easy being that I am no mechanic. I loved it. Sold it for what I had in it & bought a new car and thus moved my 1800 onto a new loving owner. Should have kept it.
it is gorgeous, timeless even! seen one recently that was done up with modern wheels and suspension. gave it a more commonly seen stance of later cars. they shaved some of the chrome and tucked the bumpers, it looked better then any of the newer cars. last one i seen in person was 4 years ago an origional owner was driving it to the port to ship to sweeden to a collector.
MrLaughingatya Though the prototype of the P1800 was done as early as 1957, while the first production car was ready by 1961, predating that particular Ferrari's prototype by a full year.
man thats wild! i had no idea they went that far back but it makes sense the booming 50's came out with amazing designs timeless beauty i love this car and hearing your updated information
Truly iconic all the way around. It's sad that we'll never see any new tv shows made like the Saint. What they've been offering on tv lately is pure mindless crap.
Wow, Roger Moore's actual P1800, fully restored, still one of my favourite shows, they used to repeat this show all the time, still do sometimes shown on ITV4 here in the UK.
My Dad bought a P1800S brand new back in 1967, I remember riding in the back seat and even as a little kid I had to sit on the back seat sideways as there wasn't much leg room back there. I can remember playing with my matchbox cars on the parcel shelf behind the back seat. He offered to sell it to me back in 95 when I needed a car, should have bought it.
Timeless beauty! When I was a young teen in the early 60s we had family from CT that would spend summers at my grandfather’s and they had the station wagon version of the car. Beautiful and exotic to a kid from New Hampshire.
The three point seat belt was a Volvo invention. The State owned power company "Vattenfall" asked Volvo if they could reduce the risk for Vattenfall workers to be injured in car accidents. In the beginning the 3-point belt was referred to as "Vattenfallsbälten" (-belts). Two circuit brakes was also Volvo, after a request by Swedish Police. The Police also got an extra mirror added to their cars, just above the right side door window, so the passenger could keep a look at the person in the backseat. Sweden being like it was in the 50s-80s there was a cooperation between private companies and the government, some kind of a gentlemens agreement over the board. One example of easy solutions was when the military was buying trucks. There were naturally just two companies of interest, Scania and Volvo. Who won the deal, both of course. One year the military bought Volvo, the next Scania and so on. It was a win win for everyone. Also since everyone was so entangled in each other, much of the technical development was requests by the government, and naturally financed with tax money. Nowadays EU has demolished that "small town" attitude.
Sweden made a deal with the devil when they joined the EU. I like that the one demand they made before they joined was that the EU could never ban snus or tax it within Sweden.
I owned a 1965 P1800. I drove it in the SCCA Rally circuit in 1969. Finished 10th Nation wide and won $600 from Volvo for my participation. It was a bit under powered, although was an absolute pleasure to drive. I've owned 8 sports cars over the years and this one truly stand out.
My mechanic had one of these in his shop yesterday when I picked up my 1990 535i. It was a one-owner, left hand drive car in mint condition! He gave me a great tour of the car. The lines and overall design is impressive! A truly beautiful car!
I'm a younger guy and my very first job was a mechanics shop boy doing oil changes cleaning the cars get them ready for the customers pick up. One of our customers had one of these and I got to drive it a few times and it is a cool little car and to this day I really like it and that is one clean Volvo. Thanks jay. ONE LOVE.
As a boy brought up in the UK I watched the Saint religiously and never missed it. I am sad that the car has gone to the States but love the fact that it has beed overhauled and looks as good as i remember it way back in the 60's when I was a boy. Such nostalgia !!!!
The car in the TV series did wonders for the image and sales for Volvo. Before the TV series Volvo cars were bland but reliable ...and expensive. The only Volvo to sell in real numbers in the UK in the 1960s was the 144 which was built to compete with the Austin Cambridge. Before that few people bought them.
I'm watching an episode of "The Saint" on television right now as I write this and the interior color of Simon Templer Volvo is completely RED with red seats.. not black. Makes me wonder if there were more than just one Volvo used on the set, not just Rodger Moore's personal car.
Marilyn Cole got one as Playmate of the Year, in 'playmate pink". I wonder if she still has it. She married that casino Brit that introduced her to Hefner, and has been a lingere mature model in NY for years.
The Saint is one of my favorite shows, and that car just does it. I’m so glad that this conscientious man got his hands on it and treats it with the respect that it deserves. In this video, Bill K. remarks that we need a new Saint. Well, that will never happen because that show has a magic all its own. It would be like trying to go home ... decades later. It can’t be done because so many things change. That time is gone forever. But we have the original episodes ... so that’s okay.
RIP Sir Roger Moore. Used to love The Saint, would watch it religiously. I lusted after a P1800. This is a lucky guy, having Roger's actual car, and doing such a beautiful restoration.
There were Volvos and then there was this Volvo! When someone in my provincial town started riding around in the Saint’s car, I was blown away! First time I assessed a car on the basis of pure visual appeal.
It was enough of a treat seeing an episode devoted to the best looking Volvo ever, but to have a close look at the actual car in the tv series was fantastic.
My father became a Volvo man in the sixties. A cute daughter of the dealer in our town drove a red sport model. One thing that always stood out about this car to me was that the carburetor would adjust automatically to the elevation. That was fantastic for those of us who drove in the mountains. Whenever I hear people talk about this model I never hear about that technological feat in a 60's sports car. Oh, look at the seats! they were comfortable and durable. This car always seemed to be a secret value in a time when most guys had their heads turned by muscle cars like the GTO
My first car was a 61 P1800. Loved it. I learned to change out water pumps, fuel pumps on mine and to rebuild the duel carburetors, change the oil. I could do more on a car than most of my boyfriends. Thanks dad
RIP Sir Roger Moore (who died two days ago as I write this). I loved watching The Saint as a kid in Australia and later got to do some promotional photos for Volvo of an 1800S at the Melbourne Motor Show, so I've always had a soft spot for them. Much later still I owned three Volvos, a lovely series two 164E and two 245's, one of which did 1.3 million kilometres on the original motor, before breaking an oil control ring. Great cars and fond memories.
Great car, great owner, just a wonderful car nerd who has found his pride n joy, knows all about it and will go to great effort to indulge in his passion. What a wonderful wife too, the woman is obviously one of those great ladies who stands by her man and loves him for the guy he is.
I had a awesome '67 Camero red with all the trim but only a 6 cylinder, approximately 198 h.p.,with a three speed on the floor. I just loved it but a guy drove in my favorite drive in & let me know his car,much like the one you have here & the same color,much better then my Camero. I said 'I must agree but this car is paid for & given to me as a gift from my Dad because I went to Vietnam & South Korea. I had the Best Dad not only for this gift but because he took me hunting & fishing as a kid. I miss him so, thank God, he understood me so well. Thx for the Memories Leno & truly love your show. This is a awesome show & what a beautiful car.
I'm fortunated that there's one driving around where I live, and it's getting used too. Every time I see it it just lights up the street, so pretty. Especially with a bit of grime and muck on it.
I had a white 68 P 1800 S bought in 78. The phrase " Volvos tend to rust" can still bring tears. And of course even after a total restoration even the Saint's car doesn't have all the Smith's instruments working which are fine examples of WW2 antibellum tech in a late sixties car. I put in two speedometer cables and two new drives which both broke at about four thousand miles. Always had to calculate speed from tach. Never got both oil temp and pressure at same time. Robust tractor engine sounded great but accelerated like a tractor. Still the best shifter I ever drove but the transmission case cracked in half after mechanic replaced drive shaft out of index and balance. Weird anti theft coil design with armored cable to ignition switch...costs a fortune. Brake master cylinder sourced from 1960s Rambler. Another fortune. Always fun to watch mechanics slamming the aluminum hood over and over because the hood latch is lever and rod actuated from inside car. A beautiful money pit. Never should have watched that show. Bless you and good luck.
Amazing styling considering most Volvos of the day looked looked like rounded bricks. Fast flying bricks. I drove a Volvo 544 to Alaska in 1968. Thousands of miles of sideways on dirt. Still remember that trip.
Awesome looking car! I've always loved the Volvo 122S (Amazon) and P1800 series cars. I'm too young to remember The Saint, but I know who Roger Moore is. :)
I had a 1968 1800 S in dark green finish. Best classic car I've ever had. Never let me down, used almost daily even in London traffic (!) as well as in the countryside. I am so thankful for that experience. If you are looking for a great classic, buy a P1800. You can't go wrong.
Thanks Bill for the great work you put into this icon. Oh and Bill please say what a great wife you have to let you perform this magic on the Saint's car. :)
We swedes knows that it was Pelle Petterson who designed P1800. He is also a designer of sailboats. From swedish Wikipedia, with a picture of Pelle with the car.: sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelle_Petterson
I must admit that I didn't like the P1800 that much before it came in the Estate version, which was much more elegant and with the full glassdoor in its back!
I owned one of these in the late sixties in the UK. It was a 1963 model with a UK bodyshell made by Pressed Steel. It was assembled in the UK by Jenson. The floor pan was starting to rust although everything up top was pristine. I didn't realise the Swedish assembled cars from 1964 (with the 1800 s badge) had floor corrosion issues as well. It was as you say nippy and had good roadholding with comfort. It developed an engine fault at 40k miles. It didn't have a timing chain or belt but gears on the engine. Very easy to change and not expensive. As a stupid 20 year old I drove it through a wall and said goodbye. I'm still driving in 2023 with no accidents since, I Iearnt my lesson!
I see you got a Volvo PV 444 standing in your garage, but you have not made a episode out of it. I would like to see that. Honstly i would like to see more Volvos in general. Greetings from Norway.
My father had a red 1966 P1800. I LOVED driving that car! Everything about it was perfect except those dam Weber carburetors. They would seize up in extremely cold weather and it was hell getting it started. Tragically, my brother wrecked the car around 1972. He survived unscathed but still says it's the only time he ever saw Dad cry.
I thought Jay would be sporting a halo. ;) The Saint was a very atmospheric TV show and I grew to love the P1800 as well as Simon Templar. I watched some episodes recently and it still works the magic (might be due to rose-tinted specs).
I tried to get them to use the theme song and even contacted the rights holder but nothing came of it. Mr. Leno's producer said it cost too much. Shame, really.
A VERY lucky man! I am so envious, and at the same time so happy that Sir Roger’s Volvo has been saved. As a Teenager, The Saint was my most favourite TV Show, which we would watch with friends. Roger Moore was my favourite Actor in The Saint! Awesome!!
Coupe owners (like me) don't agree off coarse, and even the wagon (1800ES it's called) is mimiced Snowwhite's hearse (?) for fun ;-) www.volvoforums.org.uk/archive/index.php/t-156742.html
Wim vd Brink I agree! I had a ‘72 coupe which was a wonderfully long legged and reliable touring car. I was fortunate that mine lived its life in southern California, so it had no rust. I never hauled golf clubs (nor caskets), so I had no need for the ES.
I was lucky enough to get a guided tour and a presentation at Volvo's factory some years back and I also worked at their development centre as a CAD consultant for a while. And somewhere I picked up that if you knew where to look you could see a slight difference between the left and right side on the P1800. It had to do with wooden mockups being the source for the pressing tools that were used to make the body panels. And one side shrunk more than the other *;-)
That is a car you don´t see every day, even in Sweden. These old Volvos make me proud to be Swedish and to have grown up in a town where they built gearboxes and rear axles for Volvo.
My new project Volvo P1800 please check out my TH-cam channel
I walked past one everyday on my way to the buss up here in Umeå, its a beauty. I don't live in that area anymore but I'm sure it's still out there. Ganska imponerande att SAAB och Volvo ens blev en grejj.
Volvo is still one of the most underappreciated brands on the classic market.
Anon Nymous but it’s picking up now😬 pv, amazon, 164 have gone up way in price🧐
Their cars are boring & are for squares...
Theodore Dowman .........without ever owning one how would you know?
what do you drive?....audi? bmw? ford?
ive owned approx 12 volvos so far......currently D4 V40..........the slogan "VOLVO FOR LIFE" is real........once youve driven one nothing else will feel right.........they are also safest cars on the road if you become caught up in a RTA.
geoffdundee yup... My first Volvo was a 1998 S70 T5. Since then, I've had a couple 850s, a 740 wagon, a 940 wagon (current work car) an S60 (current daily driver) an 850 T5-R (toy/project) and an XC70 (wife's car) They have a way of converting people. Of course, everyone thinks of the 240 when they think of Volvo, but they're more than that. And no one is making nicer looking cars than they are these days. The V90? Beautiful car.
puckcat22679.....brilliant list there......and yes the v90 is absolutely gorgeous both inside and out
one of the most beautiful cars ever
The wagon looks more iconic.
Designer of The car was Pelle Pettersson
Puke
Took the words from my keyboard - was just about to write that :)
The P1800 my not have been the first 2+2 touring coup but I've always believed it was the one that influenced Ford's decision to build the Mustang. Unfortunately, Ford was somewhat limited pertaining to just how much they could glorify a Falcon.
I used to live near Roger Moore, as a child I remember seeing this actual car driving past my school in Stanmore, North West London.
As kids we noticed the car more than the driver!
Same with me he also had 1 or 2 Blue non sport Volvos sometimes parked up he lived in Gordons avenue if I remember rightly.
So you knew him ? He knew you ? :)
True story - I could have ended up calling Roger Moore Uncle if things had turned out differently, He once dated one of my aunties a bit before he got big in acting - He used to be a model for a local suit tailor and spend a lot of time up here in Bradford, W Yorks believe it or not - I've heard many people talk about him and without a bad word to say.A true English Gent- RIP Sir Roger.
Great story dude . I lived in Hackney in 1985 . 2 local plasterers owned a rather run down Rolls Royce Silver Ghost . I occasionally saw them firing down Mare St early in the morning obviously en route to a job . Boot open bags of plaster piled in , dust all over the show . Rather have seen Roger Moore personally for a car wry memory !!!!!
Bill Krzastek was my math teacher for 3 years at Waynesboro High School! He teaches Algebra, Pre-calculus, Calculus, and Probability and Statistics. And in almost every class, he would talk about his cars. Loves, loves, LOVES his cars
Bill was a schoolteacher, and Irv Gordon (the 3.2 million mile World Record holder) both had Volvo P1800s. Maybe we should call the 1800S the "Teacher's Hotrod" like we call the Imperial and 300s the "Banker's Hotrod."
Are you referring to Waynesboro, Ga. ? I can own a 1964 P1800 for about 2000, needs a little restoring . I live close to Augusta, Ga.
@@patroll330 Virginia.
Looks like a stand up person, hope you learned alot from him:)
Old comment but he was my math teacher as well. Class of 2004.
Hello Folks. Thank you for all of your comments regarding "ST1". I've tried to answer most people's questions but I thought I would try to answer the most popular questions in a new post as well.
With this post, I'll try to answer the questions that pertain to Mr. Leno's Garage and the filming.
1) Why is the turn signal on?
I asked Mr. Leno this as we were driving. As he drives the cars on public roads and is being followed by a crew filming the moving vehicle, he uses the turn signal to tell the camera crew where he is going next so they know the right lane to be in before the turn.
2) How long is the drive?
I was told if Mr. Leno does not like a car, he is back in four minutes. The average is 20-22 minutes. We were gone for 40 minutes! Mr. Leno really enjoyed driving the car and just kept going: local streets, country roads, Interstate, all over.
3) How long is the shoot?
The intial interview in the garage takes about 25 minutes. The driving portion varies. In my case, it lasted 40 minutes. Only 20 minutes of the 65 minutes filmed were used in the edited product.
4) Why am I not looking at Mr. Leno?
The directions I received from the film crew was to look in one direction, answer the questions, keep it short.
Well, I did what they told me! While driving, as the car is RHD, I had to lean back as much as possible so the film crew who were driving alongside could try to capture Mr. Leno. After all, he is the star!
By the way, there are no retakes.
Bill
Thanx Bill... BTW, why are you not calling Jay 'Jay' ?!?
That, to me, seems really creepy and if Jay is the man I think he is, it weirded him out as well... (?)
Please lighten up there 2many... er I mean Mr/Ms Secrets...
2manysecrets chill out jay Leno is just a millionaire. Not a person in authority.
Hi Bill - I was just wondering what is the difference between your car and the car mentioned in this article:
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2429701/1962-Volvo-driven-Roger-Moore-The-Saint-rotting-away-22-years-ago-road.html
Roger Moore was my role model as a teenager and that car was my dream car.
My '69 1800S went 800,000 miles. I think of that car most every day. Most balanced car and handled corners better than anything Ive ever driven. Best car ever made.
I think the world record of miles driven is from an 1800...1.2 million
@@romcallis Actually a fellow named Irv Gordon clocked over 3 million miles on his ('64?) 1800 before he passed.
I owned one for 15 years, until it got totalled. One of the saddest days of my life. This car was so easy to love. Lots of fun to drive, and great looking, too. When it was tunred, the exhaust note was beautiful. I wish I could hit the lottery to go out and buy a restored one. Just a wonderful car!
RIP Irv Gordon. the man with the three million mile Volvo.
FOUR million, that is!!!
P1800's, Datsun 240Z's, Datsun 510's, Triumph TR6 - were all pretty common when I was a teen but I couldn't afford them. Now I've got a bit more money, they're all getting rare and collectible and I still can't afford one.
I had a 510 2 door and what i remember most about it at speeds above 55mph is thinking where the hell is 5th gear ? Not a car for the interstate, oh yes it will do 85mph + handily . I also had the early and late model 260z , both left me wanting 5th gear and both cars had a shimmy in the steering wheel at about 55 to 65 mph no matter what period damnit ! cheers
My dad still has his 260Z. The shimmy was a problem that was difficult to fix but I don't remember how we did it. Recently we replaced the steering rack bushings and they was barely anything left of them after over 40 years.
I replaced all bushings all joints all tires,wheels and struts. It still had the shimmy . It's why i gave up and sold it both of mine.
and front hubs and bearings too
510's are not that too bad in price.... still....
I had one of these back in the UK in the late 60’s when I worked on Concorde down at BAC Weybridge.
As Jay says it was a very relaxing grand tourer, but one problem was that it was a heavy car and looked much faster than it actually was, so driving back at weekends on the M1 I would be do something like 85/90mph in the fast lane and you could see drivers thinking of moving from the middle lane, but then holding back when they saw me and waiting, and waiting, for me to go past.
(I drove a friend’s E-type, also on the M1, and did +120mph in that, so I could understand why they were waiting!)
But it redeemed itself whenever I parked because when I returned there would always be people looking at the number plate to see if it was ST1.
It was a very enjoyable car and I’m happy to see that the original ST1 is in such good hands.
As a teenager in the 1970's I fell in love with the P1800ES, such a sexy car. Glad to see Volvo channeling the design with the V40
I’d die to own a car as beautiful as this. Something about it just resonates with me. I was at a gas station, and a guy driving a maroon P1800 pulled up right behind me for a refill. I got the chance to ask him about it and he told me a bit about how he got it and the history of his specific car. That was a great day, to say the least.
Nice episode, but I think at some point they should have mentioned the guy who actually designed ithe P1800, Mr Pelle Pettersson. He was just a student and an apprentice at the time, but would go on to become a famous sailor and yacht designer. Over the years he has designed many other things too, always with the same elegant but yet clean stile.
+Christer Albäck I had no idea! Searching my memory, I remembered this yatch (which I have been on), also designed by him, which was very popular in Sweden:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxi_77
And this one, which we owned when I was a child:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monark_540
+Christer Albäck Thank you for the info :-)))
Nice to know about the designer - it definitely has Italian styling cues so for me, maybe Lancia?
+Christer Albäck I did mention him but this was edited out. We filmed for about 90 minutes and it was edited down to 21.
Bill K
Mr Pettersson did not get any recognition of his P1800 design until many years later. translate.google.com/translate?sl=sv&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=sv&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.svd.se%2Fsportvolvons-hemliga-skapare&edit-text=
The best car show I've seen for a long time. Technical stuff, Nostalgia, Affectionate humour. I loved it, thank you so much.
MrAtheHun It’s a great show in so many ways. A wonderful way to take one’s mind off of the troubles of the day, whatever they may be!
The best car show.
Jay and Bill what a brilliant tribute to the Volvo P1800. I really enjoyed this episode. Jay is a very rich guy but he's still down to earth. 👍
Just wanna take the time to say George Swift is one God of a mechanic...
Extremely talented and always humble, deserve's some credit for getting all these pieces of history running like new!
I purchased new a 1970 Volvo P 1800 E. It was very similar to what is shown here, but with fuel injection. I loved that car and seriously regret ever selling it. I was moving to Hawaii at the time and there were no Volvo dealers there and would have had a problem getting it serviced. It was a real hoot to drive and as Jay says in the video that was where I learned I really wanted a grand touring vehicle rather than a "boy racer" hot rod sports car. Timeless design and really comfortable and fun to drive.
I owned a 1964 122 wagon in college.I drove that car every where cost to coast so many times.
I met a girl & well I needed a bigger car soon enough. The Volvo had almost 600,000 miles on it & the engine still ran like a Swiss watch.but the body was toast,New England winters,salty roads.At idle the engine was so smooth you couldn't even hear it nor feel any vibration. Plus she never lost a drop of oil. Amazing engine !
When I decided to junk it a good friend took the drive train recycled the sheet metal.He raced Volvos then & apparently still does.When I last talked to him he reported that untouched he dropped my old drive train into a rally racer & drove it for many year w/out any major issues until his son seriously wracked the racing Volvo around a tree!
Bullet proof engines not however oak proof.
Cheers!!.......
I like that guy. He's quirky but something about him I like...also, I love cars like these and he's awesome for having/restoring it,and showing it to Jay and us. Always love these cars and their stories. Great job as usual Jay.
Thank you for your kind comments. There was about 40 minutes more but was edited out. We really talked a lot in the car as Mr. Leno drove it for 40 minutes. I was told that if he hates a car, he's back in 4 minutes, the average is about 20-22. So..you can tell he really liked the 1800!
The polite gentleman is a nice guy and a Traditionalist ........definitely not a Uriah Heeplike thieving 💴👎🏻pseudosyncophant
The cut to the wife shaking her head in resignation was priceless.
Of course it was too difficult for you to say where that happened.
@@dreamdiction 8:36
Yeah, and to think she let him re-fi the house to buy that car! What a woman!
No a bad actress!
I'll bet a view of the Mecum Bullitt Mustang auction will cure that
I owned a '68 1800S for several yrs, dark British green (orig. color) with tan leather interior. Bought it dirt cheap -$300 - spent another $3,500 on minor floorboard rust repair, valve/head job, gas tank reline, carbs, paint, rubber moldings for doors windows & trunk, OEM metal badges, new brakes & overdrive solenoid, new stereo. Basically it was all there and i drove it for 3 1/2 yrs. Very comfortable, amazing front leg room. Cruises nicely at 70 mph on highway. Problem is as a daily driver they are indeed reliable but like any newly refreshed vintage car driven daily requires very conscientious maintenance which I did and it was fairly easy being that I am no mechanic. I loved it. Sold it for what I had in it & bought a new car and thus moved my 1800 onto a new loving owner. Should have kept it.
I forgot to add: original shoulder harnesses that were pretty comfortable and front disc brakes which lend very solid feeling & braking.
I always loved this body style and wanted one. Years later I bought a 1971 Volvo 164, and I loved it.
guys, seriously...watching the 2 of you in full blown denim gear has something hypnotic to it :) This is so cool.
This car has such nice curves
it is gorgeous, timeless even! seen one recently that was done up with modern wheels and suspension. gave it a more commonly seen stance of later cars. they shaved some of the chrome and tucked the bumpers, it looked better then any of the newer cars. last one i seen in person was 4 years ago an origional owner was driving it to the port to ship to sweeden to a collector.
MrLaughingatya Check out the front of the Ferrari Berlinetta Lusso. Very similar.
very true......ripping off Ferrari is nothing new lol
MrLaughingatya
Though the prototype of the P1800 was done as early as 1957, while the first production car was ready by 1961, predating that particular Ferrari's prototype by a full year.
man thats wild! i had no idea they went that far back but it makes sense the booming 50's came out with amazing designs timeless beauty i love this car and hearing your updated information
I've owned 3 544 Volvos, 1 P1800 and 1 850T. Every one was a great car and miss them all. The P1800 was the only one that had rust issues.
Truly iconic all the way around. It's sad that we'll never see any new tv shows made like the Saint. What they've been offering on tv lately is pure mindless crap.
Good stuff is not spoonfed to you anymore. There a lot of much better stuff that saint now. You just have to find it yourself.
The WGA is populated with democractivists ... same with every other entertainment union .... nothing but talentless hubristic hacks.
That was really sweet. Boy, this is a great show. And it just gets better over time. Hats off to "Mr Leno".
The owner of the car, Bill, is such a fantastic guy! Great interview!!!
Thank you!
My high school dream car, the '67 P1800, such a sweet ride, leather seats, dual carbs, pretty good performance for a kind of heavy car.
My neighbor had the station wagon version when I was a kid, and I always thought (and still do) it was the coolest car in the world
SabreLilly Swede ride.
My favourite actress, Jenny Agutter, owned one of those when she lived in Hollywood.
@@nicfewer8393 Now you've gone and done it>>>Jenny AND a Sportwagon...class times two. Thanks!
My junior high health teacher had one, it was the coolest car in the teachers parking lot. It had over 200,000 miles on it in 1973.
Yes the Stationcar was really a beauty and after my opinion the very best looking version.
I still watch the Saint on Sunday nights here in Minnesota. Great car, great show!
Thanks Jay for giving us some insight to Bill's fine restoration.
didn't know that, I'm gonna check that out
I love this car! It's so great to see Jay looking great, happy, and obviously in his element.
Wow, Roger Moore's actual P1800, fully restored, still one of my favourite shows, they used to repeat this show all the time, still do sometimes shown on ITV4 here in the UK.
Nice!
yes indeed
Hundred years of Maserati… You can hear some great motors noises there.
www.maserati100.com
Here's the page, click the sound tab. *Fabulous!!*
www.configurator.maserati.com/configurator/v2/?modelName=QPV8_530¤tCountry=1&lang=us
Thank you, Carl, for the nice comment.
Best Regards, Bill
My Dad bought a P1800S brand new back in 1967, I remember riding in the back seat and even as a little kid I had to sit on the back seat sideways as there wasn't much leg room back there. I can remember playing with my matchbox cars on the parcel shelf behind the back seat. He offered to sell it to me back in 95 when I needed a car, should have bought it.
Timeless beauty! When I was a young teen in the early 60s we had family from CT that would spend summers at my grandfather’s and they had the station wagon version of the car. Beautiful and exotic to a kid from New Hampshire.
The three point seat belt was a Volvo invention. The State owned power company "Vattenfall" asked Volvo if they could reduce the risk for Vattenfall workers to be injured in car accidents. In the beginning the 3-point belt was referred to as "Vattenfallsbälten" (-belts).
Two circuit brakes was also Volvo, after a request by Swedish Police. The Police also got an extra mirror added to their cars, just above the right side door window, so the passenger could keep a look at the person in the backseat. Sweden being like it was in the 50s-80s there was a cooperation between private companies and the government, some kind of a gentlemens agreement over the board. One example of easy solutions was when the military was buying trucks. There were naturally just two companies of interest, Scania and Volvo. Who won the deal, both of course. One year the military bought Volvo, the next Scania and so on. It was a win win for everyone. Also since everyone was so entangled in each other, much of the technical development was requests by the government, and naturally financed with tax money. Nowadays EU has demolished that "small town" attitude.
Sweden made a deal with the devil when they joined the EU. I like that the one demand they made before they joined was that the EU could never ban snus or tax it within Sweden.
I owned a 1965 P1800. I drove it in the SCCA Rally circuit in 1969. Finished 10th Nation wide and won $600 from Volvo for my participation. It was a bit under powered, although was an absolute pleasure to drive. I've owned 8 sports cars over the years and this one truly stand out.
I used to watch The Saint and always thought that his Volvo was a cool car. It was a few years before I saw one in person. Very nice car!
My mechanic had one of these in his shop yesterday when I picked up my 1990 535i.
It was a one-owner, left hand drive car in mint condition!
He gave me a great tour of the car. The lines and overall design is impressive!
A truly beautiful car!
Beautiful car that really defies time, and with a history that worth by itself.
I'm a younger guy and my very first job was a mechanics shop boy doing oil changes cleaning the cars get them ready for the customers pick up. One of our customers had one of these and I got to drive it a few times and it is a cool little car and to this day I really like it and that is one clean Volvo. Thanks jay. ONE LOVE.
I love the P1800, such beautiful lines.
2:34 It was also a Swedish version. They drove on the left too until Dagen H (H Day).
As a boy brought up in the UK I watched the Saint religiously and never missed it. I am sad that the car has gone to the States but love the fact that it has beed overhauled and looks as good as i remember it way back in the 60's when I was a boy. Such nostalgia !!!!
Hi Barry. I've been trying to get Volvo Sweden to buy it so it will at least be closer to you! Best Regards, Bill
The car in the TV series did wonders for the image and sales for Volvo. Before the TV series Volvo cars were bland but reliable ...and expensive. The only Volvo to sell in real numbers in the UK in the 1960s was the 144 which was built to compete with the Austin Cambridge. Before that few people bought them.
I'm watching an episode of "The Saint" on television right now as I write this and the interior color of Simon Templer Volvo is completely RED with red seats.. not black. Makes me wonder if there were more than just one Volvo used on the set, not just Rodger Moore's personal car.
I'm glad someone took the time, effort, and money to resurrect this famous gem...it looks beautiful...thanks for the video
One of the best looking cars ever made.
My friend's brother in law owned this car too! He loved it like a little baby...
Owned a 72 E 1800. Loved it! Best sports car I ever owned.
Marilyn Cole got one as Playmate of the Year, in 'playmate pink". I wonder if she still has it. She married that casino Brit that introduced her to Hefner, and has been a lingere mature model in NY for years.
The Saint is one of my favorite shows, and that car just does it.
I’m so glad that this conscientious man got his hands on it and
treats it with the respect that it deserves.
In this video, Bill K. remarks that we need a new Saint.
Well, that will never happen because that show has a magic all its own.
It would be like trying to go home ... decades later.
It can’t be done because so many things change. That time is gone forever.
But we have the original episodes ... so that’s okay.
Sexiest car ever! In my hometown here in Sweden we have a guy who collects old volvo cars. And he also has a P1900. A very..very rare car!!
Stunning design indeed. Love it. Congrats to the owner for bringing it back to life...👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤
I really enjoyed that and the incredible detail they went into.Jay Leno is very easy going and always willing to learn and share what he knows.
RIP Sir Roger Moore.
Used to love The Saint, would watch it religiously. I lusted after a P1800.
This is a lucky guy, having Roger's actual car, and doing such a beautiful restoration.
This guy's by far the most entertaining guest he's had on here
He seems to annoy Jay
Thank you for your kind complement!
There were Volvos and then there was this Volvo! When someone in my provincial town started riding around in the Saint’s car, I was blown away! First time I assessed a car on the basis of pure visual appeal.
i love how the one guy know so much about the car that he can talk withouth once using a filler word once
He said he is a teacher so maybe that's why.
He stands in stark contrast to Jay, who is clearly a doofus - and had to make a smart alec remark about the word "languishing".
@@jasonmccool4342
Clearly you have no joy in life
It was enough of a treat seeing an episode devoted to the best looking Volvo ever, but to have a close look at the actual car in the tv series was fantastic.
My father became a Volvo man in the sixties. A cute daughter of the dealer in our town drove a red sport model. One thing that always stood out about this car to me was that the carburetor would adjust automatically to the elevation. That was fantastic for those of us who drove in the mountains. Whenever I hear people talk about this model I never hear about that technological feat in a 60's sports car. Oh, look at the seats! they were comfortable and durable. This car always seemed to be a secret value in a time when most guys had their heads turned by muscle cars like the GTO
How does the automatic adjustment work?
My first car was a 61 P1800. Loved it. I learned to change out water pumps, fuel pumps on mine and to rebuild the duel carburetors, change the oil. I could do more on a car than most of my boyfriends. Thanks dad
I had a 1965 P1800s in college at Santa Barbara. Wonderful car. Mine had the overdrive as a toggle on the dash. Chick magnet!
RIP Sir Roger Moore (who died two days ago as I write this). I loved watching The Saint as a kid in Australia and later got to do some promotional photos for Volvo of an 1800S at the Melbourne Motor Show, so I've always had a soft spot for them. Much later still I owned three Volvos, a lovely series two 164E and two 245's, one of which did 1.3 million kilometres on the original motor, before breaking an oil control ring. Great cars and fond memories.
R.I.P Roger Moore
Did Roger Moore get ill because of the heavy smoking?
One of the best looking cars ever made, my primary school music teacher had one of these back in the early 80's (South Australia).
"they're dependable aren't they"
well they've got to be since theres one with 3 million miles on it holding the record
T999
Utiifdey oakiu hi
6 years later and it's up over 4 million miles now.
What a very nice car: the owner Bill a very pleasant chap, who has given the Volvo a lorra TLC ! As always, thanks Jay.
Easily one of the most lovely chassis ever made.
Great car, great owner, just a wonderful car nerd who has found his pride n joy, knows all about it and will go to great effort to indulge in his passion. What a wonderful wife too, the woman is obviously one of those great ladies who stands by her man and loves him for the guy he is.
That's my Pre-Calc teacher!!!
Hell yeah, Krzastek! Most famous man in Waynesboro!
@@nelalaconi94 Well, Waynesboro is a small town...
I had a awesome '67 Camero red with all the trim but only a 6 cylinder, approximately 198 h.p.,with a three speed on the floor. I just loved it but a guy drove in my favorite drive in & let me know his car,much like the one you have here & the same color,much better then my Camero. I said 'I must agree but this car is paid for & given to me as a gift from my Dad because I went to Vietnam & South Korea. I had the Best Dad not only for this gift but because he took me hunting & fishing as a kid. I miss him so, thank God, he understood me so well.
Thx for the Memories Leno & truly love your show. This is a awesome show & what a beautiful car.
I really liked the owner. Such a cool down to earth guy.
16:13 Man, there is actually a brand new Volvo P 1800 coming over theses days ! Jay, you really rule !!!!
I'm fortunated that there's one driving around where I live, and it's getting used too. Every time I see it it just lights up the street, so pretty. Especially with a bit of grime and muck on it.
I had a white 68 P 1800 S bought in 78. The phrase " Volvos tend to rust" can still bring tears. And of course even after a total restoration even the Saint's car doesn't have all the Smith's instruments working which are fine examples of WW2 antibellum tech in a late sixties car. I put in two speedometer cables and two new drives which both broke at about four thousand miles. Always had to calculate speed from tach. Never got both oil temp and pressure at same time.
Robust tractor engine sounded great but accelerated like a tractor. Still the best shifter I ever drove but the transmission case cracked in half after mechanic replaced drive shaft out of index and balance. Weird anti theft coil design with armored cable to ignition switch...costs a fortune. Brake master cylinder sourced from 1960s Rambler. Another fortune.
Always fun to watch mechanics slamming the aluminum hood over and over because the hood latch is lever and rod actuated from inside car.
A beautiful money pit. Never should have watched that show. Bless you and good luck.
Amazing styling considering most Volvos of the day looked looked like rounded bricks. Fast flying bricks.
I drove a Volvo 544 to Alaska in 1968. Thousands of miles of sideways on dirt. Still remember that trip.
Just caught this one, what a great guest/owner, fantastic passion for the car!
Awesome looking car! I've always loved the Volvo 122S (Amazon) and P1800 series cars. I'm too young to remember The Saint, but I know who Roger Moore is. :)
I had a 1968 1800 S in dark green finish. Best classic car I've ever had. Never let me down, used almost daily even in London traffic (!) as well as in the countryside. I am so thankful for that experience. If you are looking for a great classic, buy a P1800. You can't go wrong.
Great car, great owner and great video
My dad worked for Volvo car Co. Through the 60's & early 70's. The best years....love those old Volvo's !
Thanks Bill for the great work you put into this icon. Oh and Bill please say what a great wife you have to let you perform this magic on the Saint's car. :)
That really is a cool Volvo. Also Roger Moore is fantastic!
We swedes knows that it was Pelle Petterson who designed P1800. He is also a designer of sailboats. From swedish Wikipedia, with a picture of Pelle with the car.: sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelle_Petterson
The English Wikipedia page en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelle_Petterson
I must admit that I didn't like the P1800 that much before it came in the Estate version, which was much more elegant and with the full glassdoor in its back!
Bra! Pelle Pettersson fick knapot kredd för detta i Sverige. Jag läste en biografi om honom nyss. Imponerande allt han gjort.
Great episode. Great car. I'm surprised it didn't get crushed at some point.Thankfully Bill found this treasure restored it to its former glory.
finally jay features a Volvo!!
About time Jay featured this car. I'm 31 and it's a legend to me also, not just the old timers
Haha- the owner of the car is a funny man.
Thanks! You should see what they cut out! You can't be funnier than the host!
I owned one of these in the late sixties in the UK. It was a 1963 model with a UK bodyshell made by Pressed Steel. It was assembled in the UK by Jenson. The floor pan was starting to rust although everything up top was pristine. I didn't realise the Swedish assembled cars from 1964 (with the 1800 s badge) had floor corrosion issues as well. It was as you say nippy and had good roadholding with comfort. It developed an engine fault at 40k miles. It didn't have a timing chain or belt but gears on the engine. Very easy to change and not expensive. As a stupid 20 year old I drove it through a wall and said goodbye. I'm still driving in 2023 with no accidents since, I Iearnt my lesson!
I see you got a Volvo PV 444 standing in your garage, but you have not made a episode out of it. I would like to see that. Honstly i would like to see more Volvos in general. Greetings from Norway.
My father had a red 1966 P1800. I LOVED driving that car! Everything about it was perfect except those dam Weber carburetors. They would seize up in extremely cold weather and it was hell getting it started. Tragically, my brother wrecked the car around 1972. He survived unscathed but still says it's the only time he ever saw Dad cry.
I thought Jay would be sporting a halo. ;) The Saint was a very atmospheric TV show and I grew to love the P1800 as well as Simon Templar. I watched some episodes recently and it still works the magic (might be due to rose-tinted specs).
I tried to get them to use the theme song and even contacted the rights holder but nothing came of it. Mr. Leno's producer said it cost too much. Shame, really.
there was also a station wagon version of the P1800... I remember seeing it described in an add as "the playboy's dream"
Now all Jay needs is the Lotus Elan S3 driven by Mrs. Peel. (Yes, I know he already has an Elan, but - Mrs. Peel!!! Diana Rigg!!!)
A VERY lucky man! I am so envious, and at the same time so happy that Sir Roger’s Volvo has been saved.
As a Teenager, The Saint was my most favourite TV Show, which we would watch with friends.
Roger Moore was my favourite Actor in The Saint!
Awesome!!
The wagon version of these looks even better.
Coupe owners (like me) don't agree off coarse, and even the wagon (1800ES it's called) is mimiced Snowwhite's hearse (?) for fun ;-) www.volvoforums.org.uk/archive/index.php/t-156742.html
Wim vd Brink I agree! I had a ‘72 coupe which was a wonderfully long legged and reliable touring car. I was fortunate that mine lived its life in southern California, so it had no rust. I never hauled golf clubs (nor caskets), so I had no need for the ES.
... what a beautiful car... so well proportioned!... loved 'The Saint'... in B&W! (RIP Roger Moore)
"It's basically a tractor engine." Hahahahaha!!! He don't know how right he is.
I was lucky enough to get a guided tour and a presentation at Volvo's factory some years back and I also worked at their development centre as a CAD consultant for a while. And somewhere I picked up that if you knew where to look you could see a slight difference between the left and right side on the P1800. It had to do with wooden mockups being the source for the pressing tools that were used to make the body panels. And one side shrunk more than the other *;-)
Best Volvo ever.
Nice. I’ve watched some of the old shows they’re fairly entertaining in the sense of international intrigue and locales. This car just fit right in.