Basic information and history

The Volvo 1800ES was introduced in 1971 as a sporty estate, or shooting brake, based on the classic P1800 coupé. The body was extended with a straight roof and a fully glazed tailgate, which gave the car its distinctive profile and nicknames such as Snow White's Coffin in the USA and the fish car in Sweden. Under the bonnet sat the four-cylinder B20F engine of 2.0 litres with electronic fuel injection of the Bosch D-Jetronic type, and it could be ordered with a manual gearbox with overdrive or with an automatic transmission. The model was only produced for three model years, with 1973 being the last, as tightened American safety requirements for 1974 would have required extensive modifications. In total, just over 8,000 examples of the 1800ES were built, with the USA being the most important market.

This 1973 Volvo 1800ES is imported from the USA and is therefore not originally sold in Sweden. The seller guarantees the odometer reading. The car has had a total of three owners. According to the seller, it is preserved in original condition and has had underbody protection applied in earlier years. The car is sold by a private individual; there is no deductible VAT and no loans encumber the vehicle.

Ownership history

The car has an unusually well-documented history with strong connections to Volvo. It was bought new in the USA in the mid-1970s by Lars Mattson, who at the time was resident in the USA and responsible for marketing and regional operations for Volvo North America. In October 1979 the car was sold to Urban Olgerman, who from 1978–1981 was head of Volvo's quality and technology centre in the USA. Olgerman had previously, from 1969–73, been design manager for Volvo's B20 engine with D-Jetronic, i.e. precisely the engine fitted in this car.

In 1981 Urban Olgerman privately imported the car to Sweden. He owned, drove, cared for and serviced the car for 35 years before it was sold in 2013 to Kjell Boberg, former service manager at Volvo Personvagnar. A history description prepared by Kjell Boberg in June 2013 accompanies the car.

Work carried out according to the documentation

• Engine overhaul: new piston rings, crankshaft and main bearings, camshaft and Teflon-treated tappets, timing gear, as well as valves and valve guides. The cylinder head machined flat (approximately 1.0 mm)
• All parts in the D-Jetronic system, i.e. the entire fuel injection system, replaced with new original parts
• The gearbox replaced with an exchange unit, propeller shaft universal joint replaced
• New alternator
• New fuel pump as well as new fuel tank sender/fuel gauge
• Stainless steel exhaust system
• Ball joints, track rod ends and control arm bushings replaced
• New Pirelli P8 tyres (the original tyre for the P1800)
• All beams and cavities oil-filled, plugged and drained for optimal rust protection, with panels and carpets removed in connection with the rust protection treatment
• The chrome has been protected with gun grease
• Two radios: one Volvo original and one US-fitted
• Dual seatbelts in the rear seat despite the car being registered as a two-seater, a consequence of the private import

Equipment and options

• B20F, 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection
• Automatic transmission
• Fully glazed tailgate
• Folding rear seat
• Climate control
• Sound system

A complete equipment list will be supplemented by the seller via supporting documentation. The car is stated to be in original condition and no modifications have been made, apart from the underbody treatment carried out in earlier years.

Condition

Body and exterior: The seller assesses the body to be in good condition. The paint, however, has some remarks: there are small paint chips around the car, and in some places the paint has become matte. The bonnet and roof are the areas with the most paint damage. The windows are in good condition.

Interior: The interior is described as being in good condition, as are the instrument panel and headliner. All seatbelts work, the trip meter works and the instrument panel is free of warning lights. The climate control and sound system work, according to the seller.

Tyres and wheels: Tyres and wheels are stated to be in good condition.

Mechanics and function: The engine is described as being in good condition and starts and runs flawlessly. The gearbox functions as it should and shifting occurs without issue. The brakes are, according to the seller, in good condition. All electronics and all exterior lighting work. The car is drivable as it stands, has passed inspection, and was last inspected on 20 July 2026. The seller emphasises that the car has been very well looked after mechanically.

Service history

According to the seller, the car does not have a full service history, but there are receipts and documentation confirming the service history. The seller emphasises that the car has been carefully maintained mechanically and that underbody treatment was carried out in earlier years.

Summary

This 1973 Volvo 1800ES is an example from the model's final production year, imported from the USA and preserved in original condition. With a seller-guaranteed odometer reading, three owners and documented service history, this sporty estate is offered here in what the seller describes as good mechanical condition and drivable as it stands. The paint has minor damage and matte patches, mainly on the bonnet and roof, giving the buyer the choice of preserving the patina or having it repainted. The car has passed inspection and is ready for a new owner.