Early Volvo P1800 - an urban myth?

[shaun]

We have all probably heard the statement that you can recognise a Jensen assembled Volvo P1800 because they had the "cow horn" front bumper. Well, at the Classic Car Restoration Show at the weekend, Ron Smith and Chris Walton took me over to the Volvo Owners Club stand where they had a large photograph of the assembly line for the P1800 in Gothenburg clearly showing "cow horn" bumpers. In discussion with one of the Volvo guys, he believes that when production moved away from Kelvin Way, the contents of the parts bins went to Sweden. Not an unreasonable supposition.
So, check the makers plate in the engine bay. The Volvo plate on a Jensen assembled vehicle clearly says Jensen Motors on it.

[conx]

I believe it was the first 6000 cars which were produced by Jensen before production was sent to Sweden.

Therefore cars with a chassis number of 6001 and above are Swedish built cars, 0 - 6000 are Jensen built. There are some subtle differences between the early Swedish cars and the original Jensen built cars, such as the wheels being different, but the early Swedish cars did have the cow-horn bumpers for a while.

More detailed info on the differences and how to recognise a Jensen built car can be found here.. http://www.v1800.org/index.php/en/speci ... ation.html

[Mark1Stu]

Worth reading this eBay (now ended) listing.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-P1800- ... true&rt=nc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kees]

I believe the most important differences were in the interior where the Jensen built cars had chromed brass fitings and a much more hand finishend feel than the Swedish built cars which were more "productionised".
Kees Oudesluijs

[ajm541s]

As Stu knows, the workshop working on my P6 is restoring what is claimed to be the first Jensen built P1800. I am going over this morning and will take some pics if possible.

[shaun]

Following on, which is the Kelvin Way car?
Bit easy but the red one has a Jensen interior but Volvo assembled.

[Mark1Stu]

Who cares, look at that nice 240 in the corner.

That's me in trouble

[zacmarshall]

There was also a very nice C70 convertible on their stand on the Saturday. I did mean to get a photo for you but got a beer instead....