Rick Quality

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:59 pm

Anthony, the Volvo P1800 is the only real sports car that Volvo ever made. Its more of a GT car than a true sports car however. Do a search on google for Volvo p1800 and you'll see what they look like. There is actually a much bigger desire for them in the UK than in the US as they are more rare over there and since the bodies were made by Pressed Steel in Scotland up until '69, and the whole car was made by Jensen up until '65, I guess many people over there consider them a quasi-british car. I don't have any pics of mine on the computer yet, and since its in pieces awaiting paint, you wouldn't want to see it right now anyway!

Paul, I don't mean that it looks so close to a Ferrari that people mistake it for one! That would be impossible, especially with the fins! If you know the history of the car, then you know that when it was designed in the late 50's, it was patterned after the Ferrari 250 series and some Maseratis among others and they attempted to get a similar look to the front end. Other than the front end and the fact it is a small coupe, it doesn't look much like the Ferrari once you get close to it. And it most certainly doesn't perform like one either. With some tasteful mods, it can perform well and look good too however. The Ferraris looked great and perform just fine as is and have the price to match too! I always wanted to be a car designer but I suck at drawing and would have to move out of the Northwest too.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 10:42 pm

My 94 Cutlass looks like an Oldsmobile.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 3:05 am

The P1800 is what "The Saint" (Roger Moore) drove.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 4:14 am

And you know what's funny? They caught the car in that photo in exactly the same angle I was talking about, albeit with a 50 instead of a 28mm lens...

...and it does resemble a Ferrari 250 TdF a bit. And, I have to admit, the car looked exotic when it first came out, then suffered a bit vis á vis other offerings through the '70s and '80s (with the exception of the P1800ES (sport wagon) variant--one of my personal faves--and now is looking better than ever to my eyes. Anyhow, Greg, we're just gently ribbing you.

Until recently, I owned a Citroen SM. Now THERE'S a car that got people's love/hate juices flowing!

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:12 am

Looks more like that photo was taken with an 80mm lens (square format, perhaps a Rolleiflex or Hasselbalad). Sorry, but that does not look like a TdF!

"Citroen SM. Now THERE'S a car that got people's love/hate juices flowing!"

Another one is the Enzo. (Whoops, I mentioned a late model Ferrari!)

Maybe there should be a Rickenbacker and Cars Forum!

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:12 am

Maybe there should be a Rickenbacker and Cars Forum!

Did I hear you say Rickenbacker cars?

Here's a 1926 Super Sport Sedan.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:18 am

Jeff: I stand corrected on the camera issue. You're right--a 50mm would have distorted the foreground/background proportions a good deal more. The Rolleis and Hasselblads were the standard for medium format cameras back then (are they still?)

Sorry I shot off my mouth about the TdF. What I meant to say was "GT Boano", like this one:

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:24 am

All of this talk about Ferraris & sports cars reminds me....I must go & wash my Vauxhall Combo van!

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:27 pm

That looks more like it! If I recall, the tail end on the P1800 may be similar tho the 340 Mexico.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:33 pm

Tail has small chrome-topped fins with small racetrack-oval-shaped taillights. They're about 3" X 6". Understated.

The interior in the Volvo was superior to any Ferrari of that time.

Except for the steering wheel and shift gate.

And the instruments.

Oh, hell, the seats were better, anyway.

Weren't they?

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 3:41 am

You all make me laugh. The seats in the Volvo are some of the nicest I've ever sat in. The headrests are in the perfect spot. The only problem is that you sit so low. That and the car is too small to put my amps and guitars in unless I don't have a case. That Ferrari is one of the ones I was thinking of that the Volvo looks similar to. Mine is the last year with the ugly chrome and blue Smiths gauges, so the instruments, if they work don't really add a thing to the car. I like the later gauges better and may switch to them.

Maybe we can convince RIC to make a guitar with a gauge or two on it. Have a "cool o' meter" that pegs when you hit a good note.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 6:45 am

Wait--yours was one of those with the black grille and those little rectangular black thingies on the rear quarters?

You'll just have to sell it and get a nice '61 with the chrome "hockey sticks" on the sides...

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:52 pm

Paul, mine is a 1969 model, made in late august of '68, so it had plastic reflectors on the fenders, but no lights in them. It also was the last year with the chrome grille, and the last year with carburation, and the last year with drum brakes in the rear. It was the first year with the 2 liter engine, and dual circuit brakes however. So I've switched to a posi differential with discs for the back and it fits right in. I also took off the useless reflectors as some '69's didn't have them, and the next year they were blinkers with lights anyway.

The one you're thinking of is the 1970 model. That was the first year with the blacked out grille. (it is actually the same grille as mine, but is painted black.) '70 also had fuel injection and those black thingies for the flow thru ventilation.

I HATE the look of those early ones with the cow-horn bumpers. Just look up ugly in the dictionary, and there is a pic of those! But having said that, they are worth the most if you keep the car original.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 1:24 pm

Oh, I misinterpreted your "last year" comment to mean "last year made", not "last year with", etc....

I like the late '60s best )like yours) but it's the cow horn ones, the earlier the better, that seem to be worth the most.

Ah, hell, what do collectors know?