First and foremost is the extensive service history that comes with this car, spanning most of the major work done for each of its three owners since new. Those records start with the original bill of sale and document the mechanical work done as well as the down-to-bare-metal refinishing the car received in 2007.

This 1800E was refinished to its original factory red color, that involved stripping away the previous body finish down to bare metal, welding in new metal to repair most areas of rust, repainting the car, and installing new rubber seals/gaskets. The paint, although not show quality, is very nice. The chrome is mostly original and while it is shiny and bright, it is showing its age. The new owner will probably wish to replace the aluminum trim around the windshield which, while perfectly functional, is scratched and dented, detracting from the overall appearance of the newly-painted car.

The interior has been redone, with new leather seat upholstery, new door side and kick panels, and arm rest covers. At the same time, new trunk liner panels and the upper dash cap were replaced. New carpeting completed the interior restoration so that the car now looks as fresh on the inside as it does on the outside.

This car is powered by Volvo’s fuel-injected B20E 4 cylinder engine that starts right up and runs great. The transmission is the factory 4-speed enhanced by factory overdrive. That overdrive unit was replaced in 2006 and it and the transmission function as they should, smoothly shifting up and down through the gears with synchromesh on all 4 gears. Stopping is via power-assisted disk brakes on both the front and rear wheels that feature Volvo’s dual emergency braking system.

All of the gauges and safety equipment (wipers, lights, turn signals, horn) work properly, with the exception of the clock. The car has a working ‘70s-era Blaupunkt AM/FM stereo cassette/radio, together with new rear speakers. And, last but certainly not least, the air conditioning blows ice cold making this coupe a pleasure to drive year around.

These Volvo 1800Es are great touring cars, being comfortable to drive with an unusual amount of storage space. The 4-speed enhances the driving experience and the safety features give the driver a sense of security. This is a car that will attract a lot of admiring looks as you cruise to the mountains, to the golf course or to a restaurant for a Saturday evening dinner.