90's sleeper cars appreciating

"My dream would be a P1800ES"

I would like one too!

I have a project 544, so, by the time that is finished, I won't have the time or real need to go looking for a P1800.

mavuser said:

new Volvos made in China! yikes!!

now seriously, I don't have any major issue with anything made in China unless it is complete junk, and i'm not saying the new Volvos are bad (or good)...my point is just, a Swedish car...made in China?? somehow even Mercedes or Audi that would not shock me, but Sweden?? man u are smart to maintain the old ones. u could do that full time, and flip them. i agree total sleepers!

Click to expand...

If I'm not mistaken, the only Volvo for the U.S. market that will be made in China is a new EV minivan. All of their gas vehicles for the U.S. are still made in Sweden, Belgium, and a somewhat recent plant in Austin, TX.

I'd love a P1800ES also, or I wouldn't mind a mid-60s, 200 series Amazon estate wagon either. However, I do think that the latest V90 and V60 estates are gorgeous.

mavuser said:

new Volvos made in China! yikes!!

now seriously, I don't have any major issue with anything made in China unless it is complete junk, and i'm not saying the new Volvos are bad (or good)...my point is just, a Swedish car...made in China?? somehow even Mercedes or Audi that would not shock me, but Sweden?? man u are smart to maintain the old ones. u could do that full time, and flip them. i agree total sleepers!

Click to expand...

My newest was a Ford era with a Yamaha designed and built 300hp V8... some quirky electronics, but in the end, the trans gave out beyond my willingness to source & replace and/or pay to have it done.

Westerly Wood said:

the only issue with volvos is electrical system. they are finnicky and expensive to fix.
older toyotas on the other hand, always had great consistency from that brand.

Click to expand...

In the 80s, the wiring harness coverings were made to be biodegradable... so they caused MANY weird issues by the time they hit 10 years old. Mine is a 92 and had some grounding issues do to a few years of neglect (previous owner bought it because Volvos are tanks... but didn't read the part where you need to perform regular maintenance to keep everything running smooth).

That said I had a Corolla that I forget the year... but it had some goofy hybrid carb/injection setup that was nothing but headaches until I straight up replaced it with a WAY over priced new one.

JohnW63 said:

"My dream would be a P1800ES"

I would like one too!

I have a project 544, so, by the time that is finished, I won't have the time or real need to go looking for a P1800.

Click to expand...

the 544 is an interesting vehicle... not something seen often in my parts.


My first car was a 67 P1800... black with red interior. It had been my Grandfather's neighbor's car from new... from the time I was able to wander outside, I was obsessed with the car... I would even knock on their door to get permission to play in it. When the old man was thinning his herd (he drove a VW Dasher, the P1800, a Scout II, and a Wagoneer), he sold the Volvo to my Grandfather for me (I was 15 at the time... driving age in NJ was/is 17).

"the 544 is an interesting vehicle... not something seen often in my parts."

For some reason they were popular in Califonia. My Dad bought his in 1963.



Where I spend 1 day a week.

I had a 1969 Pontiac Firebird, bought it used in 1979…awesome car, should have kept it

Oooo, A high school classmate had one of those Firebirds. What engine was in yours? I think his said 400 on the hood.

JohnW63 said:

"the 544 is an interesting vehicle... not something seen often in my parts."

For some reason they were popular in Califonia. My Dad bought his in 1963.



Where I spend 1 day a week.

Click to expand...

Nice! I cannot place the middle one, it looks like my father's old Fiat Spider but the grill/bumper is different/ What is it? I almost bought a set of those rims for my 245. Also, my second car was a 1967 Mustang coupe

JohnW63 said:

Oooo, A high school classmate had one of those Firebirds. What engine was in yours? I think his said 400 on the hood.

Click to expand...

350 V8…sold it for a 78 280Z, another great car…

jp said:

If I'm not mistaken, the only Volvo for the U.S. market that will be made in China is a new EV minivan. All of their gas vehicles for the U.S. are still made in Sweden, Belgium, and a somewhat recent plant in Austin, TX.

I'd love a P1800ES also, or I wouldn't mind a mid-60s, 200 series Amazon estate wagon either. However, I do think that the latest V90 and V60 estates are gorgeous.

Click to expand...

Volvo makes multiple models in China, for global markets

Volvo shifted the S90 production to China shortly after Geely bought Volvo from Ford.

My 2018 S90 is assembled in China. The 2017 S90 was the last one built in Sweden, but it was a short wheelbase model. The Chinese have a penchant for long wb cars.

The V90 is still made in Sweden...lovely car, would buy one in a heartbeat if they weren't so murderously expensive for a used car.

I almost bought an old 240 wagon a few weeks ago...wife poo pooed it.

James Hart said:

Nice! I cannot place the middle one, it looks like my father's old Fiat Spider but the grill/bumper is different/ What is it? I almost bought a set of those rims for my 245. Also, my second car was a 1967 Mustang coupe

Click to expand...

James, I think that's an MG.

I thought we were talking about these!

jp said:

1999 Subaru Impreza L-wagon AWD, which was a wonderfully zippy and fun little racer that would have made a great rally car.

Click to expand...

They did rally the 1990's Imprezas to some huge wins, so this will always be a bucket list car for me.



Earlier bodied versions were doing just as well.

chazmo said:

James, I think that's an MG.

Click to expand...

Midget with Minilite wheels.

JohnW63 said:

"the 544 is an interesting vehicle... not something seen often in my parts."

For some reason they were popular in Califonia. My Dad bought his in 1963.



Where I spend 1 day a week.

Click to expand...

Why the "Welcome Rodeo Fans" banner? Just curious since husband used to ride bulls. He tried bareback broncs a time or two but went back to bulls. We were in our 20's then.

I used to want to try riding a bull, at least once, but got over that as years passed. My mom was glad. She said she spent too much money on my teeth for me to get them knocked out. (I had braces.) What she said specifically was, "Your bones will heal. Your teeth won't!"

The Guilds of Grot said:

I thought we were talking about these!

Click to expand...

So did I and I continue to do so. The temptation to "fix" the title is strong.

Honestly, has anyone ever seen or heard of a discussion of 1990's vintage train sleeper cars?

chazmo said:

James, I think that's an MG.

Click to expand...

The middle car? I think it's a Triumph Spitfire, a near relative, and just as unreliable as an MG.



I never owned a British sports car, but my bestie and his big brother had a MG Midget, and a Series 1 Jaguar E-Type. The e-Type could be forgiven for its foibles because it was such an incredible car. The Midget? It was the most unreliable car I've ever seen, and despite my Scottish ancestry, it effectively dissuaded from every buying anything made by British Leyland.

JohnW63 said:

For some reason they were popular in Califonia. My Dad bought his in 1963.



Where I spend 1 day a week.

Click to expand...

Yes, the 544 was very popular in Southern CA back in the day. I'm not really sure why. I loved their "retro" look!! They fascinated me for some reason.

Also, the 1969 Firebirds were awesome!! My brother bought one right before he shipped off to Vietnam, so he brought it home and I got to drive it. It had a Hurst shifter and the in-line six cylinder, which was surprisingly powerful. That was a great car. The clutch was like a Mr. Olympia workout for your left leg!!

Guildedagain said:

Honestly, has anyone ever seen or heard of a discussion of 1990's vintage train sleeper cars?

Click to expand...

Could have been the 1880's!

fronobulax said:

So did I and I continue to do so. The temptation to "fix" the title is strong.

Click to expand...

Original title read something like "90's sleeper cars gaining finally appreciable value" actually all chosen words to reflect something I feel about the progression of the automobile as I know it, longtime observer immersed in car culture.

Current title looks like something written by a bot, at the very least not by me, but representing my writing to write a thread title anyone on the net could read.

The Vegas thread title was similarly mangled.

Whatever it takes to stay within the rules I'll adhere to, but neutered thread titles that are "liked" by members when mentioned is weird.