At $34,000, Is This 1971 Volvo P1800 A One-Of-A-Kind Bargain?

The builder of today’s Nice Price or No Dice Volvo has traded its 2-litre engine for a DOHC Marine 2.5. That’s just one major change the car has seen. Let’s see how much pocket change it should reasonably require to buy.

A Small and Overpriced (for Volvo’s Target Audience) EV is Coming

Well, I have to say that I was a little surprised at the outcome of yesterday’s 1990 Chevy Corvette ZR1. Even in its non-running state, it seemed to me that the $7,500 asking was reasonable. After all, even if it needed a full rebuild of its extremely rare 32-valve V8, that would only cost… checks the Internet… Um, gosh, maybe you were right. It was close for a while, but in the end, the ZR1 fell in a 57 percent No Dice loss.

Speaking of the Internet — you know, that thing we’re all looking at RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE? Anyway, I hear it’s very influential, serving up all kinds of information and misinformation to people all around the globe.

According to the builder of today’s 1971 Volvo P1800 ‘Concept,’ the extensive modifications and updates it embodies are the direct result of ‘ideas on the internet, of “What Volvo Should Have Done”.’

As the Internet is a big place that’s full of such ideation, this P1800 has seen a whole lot of changes. The most noticeable of those, even from 10 feet, is the smoothed-over and de-finned bodywork. That trades the car’s formerly Ferrari-esque front end for something a bit smoother, featuring laid-back lamp units from a modern Mini. Split bumperettes lacking the traditional P1800 evil villain mustache kicks bracket a mesh grille below those. In the back, the car’s iconic fins and bright metal trim have been eliminated, as have the cabin vents on the sides. The roofline has been left pretty much alone, but the factory wheels have been replaced by aftermarket units.

It’s under the hood, though, where things really get crazy, though. Originally powered by a 1998cc B20E with fuel injection and 130 horsepower, this car now sports a twin-cam Penta, AQ171 with 2500cc displacement and a pair of Dellorto side-draught carbs. This was originally a boat engine but is now tasked with land-lubber duty. According to the seller, the 171 in the engine’s name stands for the output, 171 horsepower. They posit that, with the Dellortos and a custom stainless steel header, the number is probably closer to 200.

Behind the boat motor is a Borg Warner T5 five-speed stick driving the stock live rear axle. The whole shebang rides on coil-overs, which drop the car for a more sporting stance, and this being a ’71, the brakes are discs all around.

Things are not as crazy in the cabin, although both the seats and the steering wheel have been updated. It all looks like it fits and is as clean as you could want. There’s no A/C in the car, but the heater still seems to be plumbed in, so it’s not a complete philistine.

The builder defends their work in the ad, boasting that all of the bodywork was done in steel and not in fiberglass. The ad is on Facebook Marketplace, which, unlike the car, is pretty half-assed when it comes to the details. Because of that, we don’t get a title status or any information as to whether registration is current. Also, it’s listed under commercial vehicles which might be making it hard to find.

The pictures show the car wearing Oregon plates with 2022 tags, but those images could just be that old. The ad does note the car’s 78,000-mile odo reading, although that’s also a bit of a question since we’re not told how many of those were racked up before the big switcheroo and how many were after the fact. What we definitely are told is the price, which the seller has set at $34,000 adding that trades will not be entertained. Put away your magic beans, people.