A 1973 Volvo P1800ES Sport Wagon has sold for a record $92,400 by Bonhams Auctioneers at the Greenwich Concours d´Elegance in Connecticut.
The classic Volvo was kept in pristine condition by three owners, all located in Keene, New Hampshire. The first owner is said to have kept the car for 37 years.
The red paintwork is completely original, along with the black leather upholstery and other factory equipment.
Auctioneers had set a pre-sale estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. A bidding war between Volvo dealers was eventually outdone by an unnamed overseas bidder who paid more than double the top estimate.
“The car was nicely presented, well preserved and totally original,” said Bonhams Auctioneers Motor Cars specialist Eric Minoff.” It was key for a high price like this, a restorer would struggle to match the build quality of the factory in Gothenburg.”
While the 1973 model set an auction record due to its lack of use, a slightly older 1966 Volvo P1800 was in the news last year for hitting three million miles on the odometer.