Special Limited Edition Matchbox 1969 Volvo 1800S

A Special Limited Edition Matchbox 1969 Volvo 1800S has been produced by Color Comp for Matchbox USA as a special limited promotion for the 1960's TV show "The Saint". It includes a specially made custom production box.  Only 50 made. Thanks Michelle to let us know.

this model comes after several variations of special editions based on the model by matchbox

What does driving a P1800 tell the World about you?

Interesting subject isn't it, for most passionate P1800 drivers like myself, this article on cision-wire wakes-up a core value of our P1800 Passion ! some extracts that speak by themselves:

They say that people tend to resemble their dogs in both appearance and personality. Could the same be true, personality-wise, of people and the cars they drive? Unfortunately, most of us are restricted in the choice of car that we’d really like to own because of financial, family or other constraints. In the world of fictional TV series, however, there are no such constraints and producers often very cleverly provide the perfect match of car and character. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

The Saint

At first the choice of a Volvo as the wheels for the suave, handsome, devil-may-care Simon Templar seems a bit odd. After all, Volvos are staid, reliable transport used by antique dealers and middle class families, aren’t they? So might the thoughts of the sixties TV watching public have run when the Saint first hit their screens. However, the newly launched Volvo P1800 of the time was unlike any Volvo that had gone before.

Being Volvo’s first sports car, the company wanted their new model to have a real impact on the buying public and they turned to Italy for the car’s exterior design. The stunning, curvaceous lines that the Italian (*)designers came up with were a perfect match for the debonair flair and good looks of the Saint, played by Roger Moore. Although not a supercar, the P1800 was no slouch, its 100bhp engine giving it sufficient performance for those occasions when the Saint had to outrun the bad guys.

The P1800 was beautiful but it was also practical; it had a decent-sized boot and could comfortably accommodate four adults in its coupe styled body. Roger Moore was so impressed with the car that he chose to drive one himself.
 
...

There are many more similar examples of enlightened matching of driver with car that brighten our TV screens but these will have to await another article. I hope that at least one of your favourites has been included among the selections above. All that remains is for you to start asking yourself, “What does my choice of car tell the world about me?”

(read full article here)

(*) Pelle Petterson will forgive the author about the common mistake "The stunning, curvaceous lines that the Italian designers came up with", this long lasting mistery of the designer of the Car was revealed and officially published by Volvo Cars Heritage only recently after 50years of being hidden, you most probably know all the story, if not read it on Pelle Petterson's and P1800 wikipedia pages that I contribute to keep as accurate as possible for years (see also my humble page about Pelle here)

Herpa Volvo P1800 1800S Coupé 1:87 scale

Herpa just reassorted today the gone stock of the recently produced 1800S in 1:87 scale in blue metalic ref 34906 (my favorite color despite the fact my 1800S is "only" ice blue), dont be fooled by the original difference of the herpa pictures with the missing door handles in the 2011 Herpa pictures, the doors have always been present (thank you Michele for this investigation with our German model friends), see more on Herpa site here
This is also a very good opportunity to remind everyone the best in class website regarding miniatures P1800 (in fact best in class for all Volvo miniatures) the revered work of Michelle, please check www.minivolvo.lu

 

 

Irv & his 1800S featured in Project Re:Brief app P1800 or The Countdown to 3 million miles!

Whaoouu!
Irv,
as discussed while you spent all this time with the google team, this was obviously worth it (easy to say for me considering the huge burden on you :-) ) but the next video really explains what this app is about, or how to surf in 50 years of 1800 Passion ! thanks for the time given for this Irv.

I urge everyone to watch the video of Project Re: Brief and get ready to download and enjoy the app!
you will be able to follow Irv on his miles toward 3 million ! Just incredible!

• Few snapshots first

(c) Google Project Re:Brief

(c) Google Project Re:Brief

• The Concept (c) Google Project Re:Brief 

“This year, Internet advertising turns 18-years-old. And yet despite almost two decades of innovation online, digital ads are still being used to simply inform more than they’re being used to connect, engage and entertain. So we designed this experiment to re-imagine what advertising can be and push the boundaries of how creative ideas and our technology can work hand in hand.” 

•  Irv's ad concept

New York resident Irv Gordon is an ordinary Volvo driver with an extraordinary car. He has driven his 1966 Volvo P1800s a world-record 2.9 million miles. Not only can we tell Irv’s story through a series of films, with Google+ and Google Maps we can allow the viewer to become a part of his unique journey in real-time as he counts down to the 3-million-mile mark.

• How the Ad works

(c) Google Project Re:Brief

• The video presentation of the Ad

• The Making of 

See how Amil Gargano, original Art Director of Volvo's "Drive it like you hate it" came out of retirement to once again re-imagine his iconic ad in a film presented by Google and directed by Doug Pray. 

• Enjoy a glimpse of the app by clicking on the "New Ads" icon on the left of this link you will have the choice of experiencing the app/ad depending on your profile select one at the lower right section ( Outdoorsy, Travelers, Fashionistas, Foodies)

• Finally do not forget to subscribe to get the link to the app :https://services.google.com/fb/forms/projectrebriefapp/ 

I really send a warm Thank You! in the name of the P1800 Enthusiast community to Irv, Amil Gargano & the creative teams of VCNA & Google for reinstating the missing link between cars generation and as Linda says in the video "loaded with humanity" !

The Artistified P1800 Drive

Given the News, I couldn't resist playing with this Artistifier tool (or how to make an "Artist" movie from your favorite video) my target was inevitably one of my favorite P1800 Drive on the very same road Irv Gordon made me the honor of driving my 1800S coupé.
I am driving my 1800S on the Vaux de Cernay Abbey road , Chevreuse protected regional parc - France.(Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay - Parc naturel régional de la Haute Vallée de Chevreuse)

The Artistified P1800 Drive

 follow this link >> for The Artistified P1800 Drive

New Volvo at Geneva motor show 2012 reveals P1800 landmark

The new Volvo V40 revealed at the Geneva motor show 2012 reveals P1800 touch!

There’s a nod to the past, with a scoop at the top of the rear doors that references Volvo’s P1800 models of the 1960s and 70s.

read more here

There is also to mention the new Citroën released earlier this year that goes even further in duplicating this particular P1800 design detail!

See Pelle, as recently discussed your touch will be forever in the Automobile Design landscape
 

I have always thought it would be interesting to travel as one did in the mid-century time period, when the automobile was not just a transport device, but a work of art and a comfort zone

I just found a minute ago a new fellow that shares fully my view of jumping in the 60's and a famous one, Painter Andrew King,  as he states : "I have always thought it would be interesting to travel as one did in the mid-century time period, (1955-1965) when the automobile was not just a transport device, but a work of art and a comfort zone..."  If you are around take a tour of his new exhibition opening tomorrow , because you will have the pleasure to admire a great P1800 mood painting :

'Chance Encounter,' by Andrew King (48 by 12 in, acrylic on panel) at Wall Space Gallery. (Photo courtesy the gallery)

Read more also here on his website about the spirit that prevailed in this “AFTER 8” ARTIST PROJECT adventure behind the exhibition ...
While reading all his website explanation you should know what is not said about the exact car he was driving with his girlfriend and fellow artist Alison Fowler on the backroads of New york area .... it was for sure an essential choice of the author and very naturally . . . a P1800.
Thank you Andrew and also Alison for this "Chance Encounter" !