Hey y'all, I am thinking about looking for an 1800. I currently have a 1977 Datsun 280Z and a 1968 Datsun Roadster. I have always thought the Volvo 1800 was one of the most beatiful cars ever built. I am a Volvo fan to the core as I have owned 7 240's ,one of which was my baby, and currently have the "flagship" '96 960. I am basically wondering what the cost of restoring an 1800 is compared to say, the Datsuns. Are parts readily available? Are there aftermarket parts companies? I would probably have to let go of the Roadster to get one but it would be worth it as the 1800 has been a dream of mine just as the Z was for a looooong time. Thanks for the input. Paul
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'96 965, longtime 240 owner and 200K mile member

As has been said, rust is the limiting factor. Try to pick up something that has nothing more than minor rust. If you're handy, you can cand, scrape, or cut and then treat most of the rust. This will save some body work. It just depends to the extent you want to take it. To have the body taken off of the car and then blasted, treated for rust and primered and smoothed out with some little bit of bondo to cover pings and smooth out welded patches would be the same no matter what the car.

Body pieces are cheaper for the Datsun series, naturally. But they are also available for the 1800, too.

In the end, you'd be spending more on restoring the Volvo.

I have restored one and am in the process of restoring another with more rust. No big deal. Just a little time and money to do it right.

It comes down to your preference. The Datsuns are nice. The Volvos are as well. To me the Volvos have more class, so I went with them. JMHO.
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'66 1800S

I guess the other thing to consider is the philosophical gains... After all, life is more than just money. If you have already put some time into your Datsuns, you know what I mean - you get to stand back and tell the world that this might be an "old car," but it is MY old car and it has MY blood and sweat on it.
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Kent - too much iron, too little time

While acknowledging what John says, if you can find one with a good, rust-free
body, the rest of it IS straightforward and not too expensive, especially if
you can take your time assembling needed parts and network with multiple
sources. Frankly I would think body work on some of the other cars would be
at least as expensive if not more so than the 1800 because most of them
are made of thinner metal and rust through quicker.
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George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

Just try and find an intact BMW 2002 (model, not year) here in the midwest!

I would agree, though, that if you find one with a straight, rust free body the machanicals are cheap and easy to restore. And in recent years I've seen the interior pieces become available too. Certainly a lot more reasonable than something of similar age from say, Italy.
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I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.

Body work is frightfully expensive. Sad but true, it is cheaper to buy one in immaculate condition than it is to put one in the same condition.
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I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.

..."...an old car."

And then you either leave it in the garage or it reverts back to its natural state. Or someone runs into it. *SIGH*
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I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.