I've seen two '72 1800 ES station wagons for sale in my locale.

I loved the look of the coupe 1800 and as I'm a station wagon kind of person (with an 8 yr. old boy and Lab dog) I wonder if such an exotic car would be a good investment.

But since I am having trouble even getting my water pump (a relatively easy proceedure on my relatively easy to work on 240) maybe I am walking into a quagmire with such an old Volvo.

One of the 1800s was for 3K and the other for 4800. I think the cheaper one's gone and the other's been on the market for half a year. They both run at least but since they're rare and old I expect the price to go up with age if in running order.

Any opinions out there???

I wasn't too interested to purchase at the moment as I don't have that much expendable cash right now but I am intrigued about getting one of these beauties. (probably fix and repair daily admittedly,,,Hm???)

> I loved the look of the coupe 1800 and as I'm a station wagon kind of

> person (with an 8 yr. old boy and Lab dog) I wonder if such an exotic

> car would be a good investment.

This car is not a wagon. Oh, it may look like a wagon to you, but it does not look like a wagon to either a Labrador or an 8-year-old. The rear seat is to small for an 8-year-old, and the cargo area (such as it is) is too small for a Lab.

> I wasn't too interested to purchase at the moment as I don't have

> that much expendable cash right now but I am intrigued about getting

> one of these beauties. (probably fix and repair daily

> admittedly,,,Hm???)

They run just fine. They have a lot in common with 122s, 142s, and other Volvos of the era. But 28 year old cars always need something.

It's a "sports car" and the guy on the phone admittedly said an adult could only fit in the back seat sideways stretched across the seat. He did say there was loads of room with rearseats down. Front has leather seats and that racing car type of dash. I wonder if that expansive piece of hatch glass would ever brake ... that that would be the kiss of death for that sort of vehicle. He said only about 1800 -1800 station wagons were ever built...

He had lowered it 2 inches and admitted his door handles were busted. Two not very appealing factors to me. And that it needed new injectors.

Reality is that 3000 bucks can get a pretty good used truck or really good older 'brick'. Mine was only 500 bucks but admittedly if I had to count my time for body work (fixing rusted floor and rear hatch...) and new brakes I might be pushing 2000 bucks at the moment and it still would be only worth 500 to a thousand in the resale market. funny her 9000 brick and my 500 have the same interior seats .. and her heated seats don't work either!! I thought the fake leather went out in the 80s. Or is it really leather I have??? It looks like Naugahyde. I like it actually. My Lab hasn't destroyed it yet, but destroyed part of my 'ex's' Subaru's interior (a 14000 car)... it's a co custodial dog btw.

I am borrowing a '93 245 and got to admit her 9000 investment looks pretty good after a couple of years compared to my 500 dollar '86. Same car but a bit more pep and I may be finally converted over to Auto as my Manual is a lot of work and her Auto and extra trimmings or a nice joy to have. Mine's got 161K miles, her's 106K miles.

I am also intrigued with the Masserati in the paper for only 4800 dollars!!! It said Excellant Condition... but it's been in the paper for weeks. I think it's an '85.

A friend joked it probably needs some 4000 dollar part only to be had somewhere in Europe. And About 7 miles to the gallon to if you can get into 3rd gear.

The 1800 you're talking about is a 1800ES, it has the same basic mechanics as a 140. Sounds like you have car fever. I bought a 1800 once, sold it back awhile later (too much hidden rust) the bodies/structure on these things are harder to fix then a regular volvo. They are also overpriced, you could get a very good conditon 145 for the money you were talking. 1800 are always overpriced 'cause they look like sportscars, but they aren't, just the same old volvo stuff in a different wrapper.

thanks Patrick,

I do have car fever. There are some good deals on Volvo 'bricks' out there.

The electrical gremlins though are one feature I am getting wary of. Maybe a newer Toyota or Subaru in my future. My current Volvo though is alright, if I get this waterpump in (I am on my third try and it's getting cold outside).

I am just south of you near Burlington, Vermont, If YOu are interested in either the 1800ES or the Masserati they're in the Burlington Free Press. Hope to visit Montreal again soon.

btw, the girl who had the 'buttercup' yellow 1800 coupe back in the '79, a car that she and I loved, in Salt Lake City, she also loved hockey players, (too many to count), and moved briefly to Montreal to find the real thing, but left after some disappointment. (I don't think she spoke French and maybe didn't fit into Montreal and she wasn't my type, being just my next door neighbor... loved the look of her car though... so I guess Volvos really don't make 'sports cars' do they???)

Let us know of any good deals up there in Canada. c'st bon!