Europe's first fibreglass car

By Graeme Fletcher

In the late '40s, American GIs returning home from the Second World War brought with them an appreciation for imported sports cars. As a result, the United States became a hotbed for performance automobiles. Assar Gabrielsson, Volvo's co-founder and managing director, looking to expand Volvo's market, headed to America to assess the opportunity. During that visit he recognized the potential for a sporting Volvo. But, to be successful, it would have to be high profile, and ready for Volvo's planned entry to the North American market in 1955.

   Early progress on the Volvo Sport, later known as the P1900, was encouraging. The car had a 2,400 mm wheelbase, tubular steel chassis with rugged crossmembers, outriggers, criss-cross reinforcement and puncture-proof tires. The latter were demonstrated by driving over a spiked mat. In many respects the fibreglass body and rakish good looks mimicked the ultimate American icon - the Chevrolet Corvette. But, as Volvo had no experience in crafting fibreglass, they engaged the services of a California boat builder, Glasspar, to manufacture the prototypes. Most of the mechanical elements were lifted from the PV444, although the B14A engine was equipped with twin SU carburetors and beefed up to 70 hp at 5500 rpm to ensure the new roadster would top out at 100 mph (160 km/h). It was only a matter of months before the first car was ready for public display. 

   In 1955, the P1900 made its debut at the New York Auto Show. At first, Volvo's "image" car was an unqualified success, but there were problems. The P1900 was only offered with a removable hard top. Consequently, the top had to be left in place, even on a bright sunny day, or left at home, putting the car at risk on rainy days - hardly the best move given the climate. In addition, the 3-speed manual gearbox was a clunky affair that detracted from the driving pleasure. However, the biggest failing was Volvo's inexperience with fiberglass - the doors drooped and the body rattled over the slightest road imperfection. 

   In 1956, Gunnar Engellau took over as managing director. Sensing a potential marketing disaster, Engellau took the P1900 for an extended drive one weekend - he hated the car, saying "I thought the doors would fall off!" His disillusionment with the P1900 was enough for him to order the project scrapped. In all, only a handful of prototypes and only 68 P1900 production models were built. Forty-four cars were built in 1956 and a further 23 were produced in 1957. Now, if you noted that the numbers don't add up, you're correct. The final twist in the P1900 story is that two of the vehicles were built with the same chassis numbers! The last car was finished on 21 May, 1957. Of these cars, 21 made it to North America, seven of which still survive today.

   The P1900 project, however, was not a total loss, as it gave rise to the P1800. This sporty number went into production in May 1961. It enjoyed a successful run for more than a dozen years. Indeed, Simon Templar, better known as the Saint, drove the P1800 to fame, and thus linked past to present.

Volvo C70 convertible

The C70 coupe, which debuted as the Saint's new wheels a couple of years ago in the film remake starring Val Kilmer, and convertible are significant cars, as they marked the beginning of Volvo's shapely phase. The fluid shape and sweeping lines moved the marque away from its boring and boxy image towards svelte and sophisticated.

   A pair of engines is offered in the drop top. The low-pressure 2.4 litre inline 5-cylinder produces 190 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. Bolting on the turbo brings peak torque production down to just 1600 rpm - which is exactly where you need it, regardless of whether you are lead-footing it or not. The up-level convertible comes with a smaller 2.3 litre motor. However the high-pressure turbo bumps the power to 236 hp and a welcome 243 lb-ft of torque.

   Perhaps the best part is the cacophony that accompanies the surge of power. First you have the distinctive growl (one that many find less than complimentary) of the straight five. As the engine begins to breathe properly, a discreet whistle begins to build, signalling the onslaught of power. Tromping the gas pedal while the engine is mid-whistle elicits a tremendous turn of speed, one that underscores its sporting potential.

   The other area the C70 convertible excels in is keeping the wheels glued to the ground. The roofless structure is stiff and free from much of the usual body flex, which allows the strut front and delta-link rear suspension to do its thing effectively. The ride is compliant and controlled, and yet body roll is kept to a minimum. Even at breakneck speeds, the body maintains a flat attitude, allowing the car to track a good line through fast sweepers. This trait also helps when you drop the anchor as there is much less tendency for the front bumper to kiss the tarmac under heavy braking.

   The top operation is a simple matter, requiring just the push of a button to transform the car. However, for those cool, damp or frosty mornings, a heated glass rear window improves the view to the rear. Naturally, as a Volvo, the C70 comes with a long list of standard safety equipment, including front and side airbags, roll-over protection (ROPS), whiplash protection (WHIPS) and side-impact protection (SIPS), as well as anti-lock brakes and optional traction control. Inside, the design is as contemporary as the exterior form, right up to an audio system that brings 10 speakers, which keeps the music clean and clear, even at speed - top up or down.

   Unlike the P1900, the C70 has been a tremendous success for Volvo. Its dashing style, turn of speed and all but hands-free top operation epitomize the sensations you associate with open-air motoring.

Our resident P1900 expert, Dave Hunt, made the following points after reviewing this article:

· I own P1900 #18 in the USA. I have done extensive research on the P1900
· Glasspar built 4 prototypes and the first 10 production bodies
· Two 1956 models (#18 & #25) were shipped to the USA
· Twenty-two 1957 models (#45 thru #67 except #49) were shipped to the USA for a total of twenty-four
· There are eight P1900's know to exist in the USA as of today.
· I have personally talked with each of the eight owners and have seen four of the eight P1900's
· I am researching the given 1955 debut date, it may have been 1956