Volvo P1800 Coupe
Volvo has long had a reputation for cars that are at the apex of safety innovation. For decades though, this safety was wrapped up in a brick. Enough so, that you’d be forgiven for thinking that Volvos could never have been sexy. If there is one car though, that can dispel that myth on its own, it would be the P1800 Coupe of 1961.
The shape could easily be forgiven as a classic Italian GT, and indeed, Swede Pelle Petterson, designer of the P1800 was mentored by Pietro Frua of Ghia.
The P1800 had a relatively long life, production ceasing in 1973. Nearing the end of its production cycle, it received a additional body style, the ES, which was configured as a Shooting-Brake (a 2-door wagon). The variant had its origins in two concepts by Coggiola and Frua, though they were each considered to be too futuristic, and in-house designer Jan Wilsgaard’s proposal, known as the Beach Car was put into production.
Though quirky, the P1800 ES lines would be strongly echoed on both the Volvo 480 of 1986 and the C30 of 2006. The featured glass tailgate being particularly prominent.
Volvo P1800 Coupe
Volvo has long had a reputation for cars that are at the apex of safety innovation. For decades though, this safety was wrapped up in a brick. Enough so, that you’d be forgiven for thinking that Volvos could never have been sexy. If there is one car though, that can dispel that myth on its own, it would be the P1800 Coupe of 1961.
The shape could easily be forgiven as a classic Italian GT, and indeed, Swede Pelle Petterson, designer of the P1800 was mentored by Pietro Frua of Ghia.
The P1800 had a relatively long life, production ceasing in 1973. Nearing the end of its production cycle, it received a additional body style, the ES, which was configured as a Shooting-Brake (a 2-door wagon). The variant had its origins in two concepts by Coggiola and Frua, though they were each considered to be too futuristic, and in-house designer Jan Wilsgaard’s proposal, known as the Beach Car was put into production.
Though quirky, the P1800 ES lines would be strongly echoed on both the Volvo 480 of 1986 and the C30 of 2006. The featured glass tailgate being particularly prominent.