Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000
Glenn,
For as long as we've lived in our present house, we've watched the town's annual 4th of July parade go by and admired the classic cars that have an open invitation to drive in the parade. One day my brother happened to say "It would be fun to have a 'parade car,'" meaning a classic to drive in the parade. I had not done much with cars for a while, especially because I didn't have a garage. That changed after we bought the house, so my brother's comment rekindled my interest in getting a classic car. My kids also got all excited about the idea of riding in the parade and going to the weeknight classic car meets that take place during the summer. So that fall I acquired a rust-free 122S that otherwise needed to be entirely repainted. I have managed to disassemble major sections of the car, though the engine is still in it. That was probably 4-5 years ago (how time flies!). Also during that time we had another baby (the 4th), put an addition on the house, and I had major surgery that required almost a year to fully recover from (I'm fine now, by the way), and I started taking grad courses in the evening.
Bottom line is that at the rate I've been going, the car probably still won't be done 5 years from now, or I will have to take too much time from my kids, and it was supposed to be something I could enjoy with them. After much thought I decided that I would either have to dump the idea altogether, or get a car we can drive and enjoy *while* I improve it. I decided on the latter, partly because I *will* enjoy it, and also because I've let my kids think, year after year, that we would *maybe-next-year* have a car to drive in the parade, and I don't want to let them down.
Which leads me to the whole reason for my email to you. I have found a promising unrestored '71 P1800 and decided to pursue purchase of it. It is being sold on consignment at a Volvo repair and restoration shop in inland California. A friend recommended them to me as competent, trustworthy and professional, and my experience with them so far is consistent with that. The plan, if all goes well, is for my son (11) and I to fly out there and drive the car back. I once told him that someday, if we could swing it, we would fly out to California and return with a nice classic Volvo. He's very excited about the idea, and I think it would be a great father-son adventure, but I digress...
Why the email to you? I guess I want someone to reassure me that P1800s really are fun cars and that I won't regret having a 3000 mi drive ahead of me when we finally hit the road for home. I know nobody can promise this particular car won't have any problems, but will I discover that P1800s are nice for short drives and murder for long ones? I keep thinking of Irv Gordon and all the miles he's racked up in an 1800, but for all of his fame, perhaps he's a borderline nut case who's so in love with either his car or his reputation that he doesn't mind all the suffering. (These are the thoughts that have been keeping me up lately, I just hope they're pointless.) I'm sure that after all is done, there's a very good chance I will look back on the whole experience as very worthwhile and will be pleased to have such a nice classic car. I guess I want to hear a little from others who may have done the same.
By the way, your web site has been very helpful to me. I certainly get the idea that most, if not all, those who post there are very pleased with their cars.
Thanks,
Ed Preston
Ed - Ironically, the P1800 would probably do better on a long trek than in a July 4th parade. You're right - I can't predict the reliability of a car unless I can look at it and drive it myself. However, if it's running well when you test-drive it, there's a good chance it will make the 3,000-mile journey. P1800s are louder inside than modern cars, so conversation may be limited at speeds higher than 50 mph. The seats in the '71 were designed for comfort and safety, so even on a long trip you should do o.k. Unfortunately, the internal elements of the seats tend to wear out and may not be renewed as regularly as the upholstery. But even if the internals are neglected, the seats will probably serve you well enough.
You didn't say what part of the country you reside in, but if the outside temperature is over 80 degrees Fahrenheit on July 4th, the P1800 engine will overheat at speeds less than 25 mph. This might be o.k. for a short parade, but for more than 20 minutes, you might risk ruining the engine.
Obviously, Irv Gordon is unusually fond of driving, and, who knows, may have slowly evolved into the perfect form to fit in the seat of a '66 P1800. The car means different things to different owners, but whether they drive thousands of miles or just a few on Sunday afternoon, most agree that there is no better classic sports car than the P1800. -Glenn.
Glenn,
Thanks so much for the quick reply. By the way, I live in Massachusetts. I understand what you mean about handling a long trip better than a slow parade in the summer. And last year it was also very hot -- high 90's as I recall. (About as hot as it gets around here.) We brought a big cooler filled with ice and drinks and made sure everyone had a hat, and it was still about as hot as most could stand (especially those not in the shade). Some people riding on various vehicles in the parade took it as an excuse to spray spectators with squirtguns at will. Not everyone agreed. But the parade's a lot of fun, and without question the biggest even in the town. By the way, would an electric fan mounted on the radiator do any good in a slow traffic situation?
I read on your web site about the P1800 cooling issues. (important stuff!) Have you tried varying the proportions of coolant? I've heard that 15/85 antifreeze/water is more efficient than 50/50 in hot weather. Also, have you tried Red Line Water Wetter? It's an additive designed to enhance coolant effectiveness, and some people I know say it's made a difference for them.
What is your recommendation on keeping the seats comfortable? Do the IPD web kits make much difference? One might also surmise that Irv Gordon would never have never spent so much time driving an uncomfortable car. I can't picture him trying the same thing in a Citroen 2CV or MG Midget.
And thanks for the reassurance that the P1800 is indeed a car worth having. Of course I agree, but when you're at the point of actually buying your own -- especially from 3,000 miles away and plan to drive it home -- you want all the encouragement you can get.
Regards,
Ed
Ed - I haven't tried adjusting the concentration of antifreeze in the coolant, because I don't believe it would have anywhere near the effect of recoring the radiator or adding an electric fan, both of which I have done (and they did help). Same with the Water Wetter. I've about concluded that the Volvo B-18 and B-20 engines are inherently warm-running. Shouldn't be as much of a problem in Massachusetts as it is here in Texas.
I'm especially attuned to seat construction right now, because I'm in the middle of fixing up my seats, which I pulled out of a '71 P1800 some years ago. I reupholstered them about ten years ago, and now it's time to do it again. Last time, I used seat belt material to replace the bottom webbing. It has held up fine, and I don't need to replace it again. I'm glad I didn't go with the original rubber material, because I'm sure I would have to replace it now if I had.
The internal seat parts I mentioned are what I am having to replace now. There is a long vertical strap in the seatback that winds up and down four times, and a pair of straps that go across the seat in the lower back area to form an adjustable lumbar support. All three were originally made of the same rubber material as the bottom webbing, and I have replaced them with nylon straps similar to seat belt material. I'm waiting now for the pre-sewn upholstery kits I ordered to arrive, and then I'll put them back together.
Anyway, to answer your question about keeping the seats comfortable, I'd recommend inspecting and, if necessary, replacing the straps in the seat backs. I noticed that they needed replacement when I reupholstered my seats last time, but I opted not to do it then. Ever since, I've thought the seats were much less comfortable than they should be. Maybe this time they'll live up to the rave reviews they received from automotive writers when they were new. -Glenn.