Did you know…
…that Volvo had metallic colors as early as 1961 !!
Most Volvo “know-it-allers” will probably say that Volvo started to experiment with metallic colors in 1967, specifically on the 123GT. That is indeed true, they offered steel blue metallic and also teal green metallic on a very limited number of GT cars. These cars are of course very sought after and very collectible.
But…in the early days of the P1800, Volvo seemed to be open to different colors on the new exciting sports model. They were probably looking for inspiration from the British sports car market and maybe USA with their new “poly” metallic colors.
The factory offering in 1961 was officially three colors: code 69 cream white with code 301 red interior, 70 signal red with code 306 black interior and a grey metallic. Note: Volvo did not officially use code 306 for black interior until 1963.
The red and the white were actually British Leyland colors and the signal red was actually available on Jaguars.
In late 1961. Volvo decided to be cool…if that is possible…and test some metallic colors.
Between chassis # 2367and 2373 they painted the cars silver metallic, light blue metallic and 81-3 blue metallic.
Take a look at chassis number 2371, painted in dark blue metallic.
All I can say is…WOW!! HIGH WANT FACTOR!!! Yes, it has later model wheels but who cares??
Picture courtesy of Volvo1800pictures.com managed by Karl-Eric Målberg in Sweden This is the largest and most complete register in the world. If your 1800 car is not listed here, make sure to contact Karl-Eric and add yours. Make sure to include good pictures of your car, it’s serial number and a good photo of the data plate.
The above dark blue metallic car is now fully restored and calls Denmark it’s current home. Another noteworthy detail: It did NOT have perforated material in the headliner and c-pillar headliner.
Also, some very early cars had soft carpet on the transmission tunnel but black rubber mats. Soo Swedish to be practical! More nerd info: The earliest cars did not come with overdrive.
Some 1962 car were supposedly delivered to USA with leather in the bottom sear cushion. The Swedes thinks it was make the cars more exclusive, I think it was because of the heat in some states.
All this was probably business as usual for any car manufacturer with new products but for us Volvo nerds, it’s exciting information.
By Rolf Åström