The brainchild of designer Pelle Petterson, this timeless coupé marks a breakthrough in Volvo’s history, combining rare elegance with innovative technology and safety.
The Volvo P1800 is a car like no other. It was immortalised by the world record for kilometres driven: more than 5.2 million kilometres achieved by Irv Gordon, owner of a 1966 P1800 S, entered in the Guinness Book of Records.
An ambitious project welcomed at the Atelier CVDC
At the Atelier CVDC, we had the honour of breathing new life into this emblematic model from the Swedish brand.
The project came to us in a delicate state, to say the least. The car had already been through another workshop, but the work that had been carried out was incomplete, sometimes non-compliant, and above all, corrosion had caused extensive damage to the structure.
Here’s a look back at a complete, exciting and particularly demanding restoration project.
Diagnosis and stripping: revealing the true state of the bodywork
A precise inventory
The first stage involved making an inventory of each part to determine what could be preserved, restored or replaced. This meticulous work is essential to preserve the authenticity of the model.
Stripping by airbrushing
We then proceeded to strip the entire bodywork by airbrushing, a gentle and precise technique. It removes rust, residue and foam without damaging the sheet metal, revealing the true state of the structure.
Reconstruction of the vehicle structure
The bodywork required extensive sheet metal work. Several operations were carried out:
- Unpointing, cutting and removal of the most damaged structural elements.
- Manufacture of new parts to guarantee authenticity, particularly when the original components could not be retained.
- Welding the front and rear wings, adjusting the bodywork and rebuilding the front and rear end.
Each line of the bodywork was adjusted to the millimetre to restore the original silhouette. This time-consuming and demanding precision work was essential to restore the car’s original elegance.
Painting by the book
Once the structure was perfectly reconstituted, it was time to move on to the next stage: painting. The application of the paint followed a strict protocol, designed to ensure that the finish was aesthetically pleasing, protective and durable:
- Application of an epoxy primer, a two-component paint based on resin and hardener, renowned for its exceptional durability. It offers excellent abrasion, scratch, scuff and impact resistance.
- Installation of sealing joints in sheet metal linings.
- Application of a filling primer, set by hand for a perfect finish.
- Application of a metallic base in the original colour, followed by 4 coats of varnish for great depth.
- Final polishing to enhance the shine of the bodywork.
Each stage has been carried out to the highest standards, with the attention to detail that is the hallmark of the Atelier CVDC.
A new lease of life for this classic car
Then comes the reassembly phase, a symbolic stage when the car comes back to life:
- Completely reassembled powertrain
- Carefully restored and refitted original upholstery
- Precisely refitted bodywork accessories, chrome and glass
We entrust mechanical and upholstery work to trusted partners who are recognised specialists in their field. Our workshop concentrates exclusively on bodywork, sheet metal work, painting and airbrushing, where we guarantee a high level of expertise and exacting standards.
A Volvo P1800 S true to its DNA
The restored P1800 S reflects the commitment of our teams: it has regained its racy elegance, original silhouette and top-of-the-range finish.
To the naked eye, the quality of the adjustments, the accuracy of the lines and the overall coherence are immediately apparent. This exceptional vehicle retains all its character and roadholding, true to the reputation of the Volvo P1800 S when it first came out.
Atelier CVDC: a passion for authenticity
At Atelier CVDC, every restoration is a commitment. We don’t just restore a car: we bring its history back to life, with the utmost respect for its technical and aesthetic characteristics.
Do you own a Volvo P1800 or another classic car in need of restoration?
