It looks like Volvo is testing a new
version of the classic P1800, as a camouflaged prototype was spotted outside
the company’s Hällered Proving Ground near Gothenburg, Sweden. The prototype
was spotted by a Volvo fan who instantly noticed that something weird is going
on with this particular P1800 Coupe – apart from the full-body camouflage that
is.
The test car features wider fenders and a
set of modern tires and wheels package, while the lower body sections also
appear to be different. This, combined with the complete absence of any visible
exhaust pipes, might be a hint that we’re looking at an electric restomod model
built to celebrate the P1800’s 60th anniversary in 2021.
The camouflaged test car is registered as
a red 1964 example of the classic Volvo owned by Mattias Evensson, Cyan
Racing’s head of engine development. Cyan Racing is Volvo’s official racing
division, with Evensson buying the car from Jonas Christian Dahl, Cyan Racing’s
current CEO. It appears that the car has been in the hands of Cyan Racing for
the past few years, which indicates that this is an official creation straight
from the performance division of Volvo/Polestar. Showcasing a modern EV take on
the classic P1800 Coupe would be the perfect gift for the model’s 60th
birthday, as it would celebrate Volvo’s past and future at the same time.
The original P1800 was first launched in
1961 as a 2+2 coupe with the engine up front driving the rear wheels. The curvy
Volvo became widely known as the star vehicle of the TV series ‘The Saint’,
with Roger Moore behind the wheel, which aired during the 1960s. We still don’t
know if the vehicle will debut as a Volvo or as a Polestar, which has become a
standalone brand with the launch of the Polestar 1 and, more recently, the
Polestar 2 EV.