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The Volvo P1800, Part 2: Whatever Happened to the Reboot?

By Rain Noe - May 25, 2011

in Object Culture

It's ironic that manufacturers in America, a country with just 200-something years of history, have already started to mine their industrial design past while auto manufacturers in a country like Sweden, which has been around since the Middle Ages and has way more history, look only forward. A case in point: Ford's Mustang, Dodge's Challenger and Chevy's Camaro are all re-makes, but you won't see Volvo bringing back the P1800.

For a while, though, it looked like the P1800 would return, just not from Volvo. AutoExpress first reported that Swedish designers Bo Zolland and Mattias Vocks were collaborating on a reboot of Volvo's iconic coupe.

A host of sexy photos of the updated car made the blog rounds, and Vocks announced the project on his website. The scuttlebutt was that the car would go into limited production.

Alas, that was back in 2009, and since then there's been no new mention of the P1800 project on either Zolland's employer Vizualtech's website or Vocks'. Perhaps they've run into production woes mirroring the original P1800s or just plumb run out of project funding.

Still, as you'll see in the upcoming Part 3, the P1800 is a tough car to kill. Stay tuned.

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mrfva

11 years ago

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Did you really look through Vizualtech's website? I saw several pictures of the P1800 reboot in their portfolio.
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Mark

11 years ago

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Not completely True. The rear of the C30 is designed after an older Volvo 5 door from the 60's.
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christopher

11 years ago

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Jeez Louise. Does everything need a "reboot"? They often wind up looking pretty played out after a year or two, almost detracting from the iconic legacy of the original. Besides - doesn't anybody else see the 1800 wagon's design genes in the c30? Anyone? (1800 - http://www.carcovers.com/photos/P1010001.JPG) ( c30 - http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2007/07/30/15/31/2008_volvo_c30-pic-47565.jpeg)
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michael delano

11 years ago

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I love my 1972 P1800 ES. It just looks so cool. I know that the car industry folded globally in 2008. Most fun projects got iced until the economy improved. Retro from a style standpoint is still very sellable to a select audience, but it is still a luxury that may be unsafe to bring out in this environment. They did bring out the staid Volvo C30 with a wink at the p1800, but that is still kind of a sporty V60. The p1800 was actually just the same as the 122 sedan but with overdrive, disk brakes in the back and wolf clothing. Those concept shots look awesome though. Too bad I dont make that kind of money to buy me one.
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M4RK

11 years ago

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It doesn't really look retro - it just looks old. Not to mention the fact they gave no consideration to modern car safety laws: There is a reason why new cars don't have that style of bumper anymore...
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Phil Stickland

11 years ago

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Hmmm....Disagree with a couple of things here - the auto industry has not been around any longer in Europe than in the US....And, I think Europe kicked off the whole retro thing with the new Beetle, followed by the new Mini and, a couple of years ago came the Fiat 500......Still waiting for a re-vamped Ford Anglia, though.
Really, I love your blog - keep it up!!

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