One of History’s Most Distinctive Fastbacks Is Getting the Refresh We Never Saw Coming

Volvo’s P1800 is probably one of the least likely candidates for a restomod treatment, but this company just proved otherwise.

Black vintage station wagon with chrome trim and roof rack carrying IKEA boxes against a yellow background.

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By Chris Chin

Published February 13, 2026

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Updated March 5, 2026

With many firms restomodding idols like old Porsches, Mercedes-Benzes and Land Rovers, Volvos often seem like the last to get that sort of treatment. Autoforma feels otherwise, as the outfit just worked some gorgeous magic on one of Sweden’s most historically distinguished cars.

The Dutch firm recently revealed its plans to freshen up the P1800ES, a car that put Volvo in the international spotlight. And it looks epic.

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Why the P1800ES?

White classic Volvo P1800 coupe parked on a dock with a couple dancing near a boat named "FALK" at sunset. — The Volvo P1800 is the arguably the automaker’s most iconic car.

For those unfamiliar, Volvo produced the P1800 as a grand tourer and fastback made between 1961 and 1973. But more specifically, the ES variant was the last version of the standard P1800, which Volvo morphed into a long-roof hatch, or “shooting brake.”

Aside from being one of the prettiest cars ever made, with sheetmetal penned by Pelle Petterson from Carrozzeria Ghia — one of the most revered automotive design firms of all time — it’s the car that catapulted the Swedish automaker into global relevance.

The P1800 is most widely known as the star car in the old British mystery television series, The Saint, driven by none of other than the one and only, late Roger Moore. The famous show kickstarted Moore’s acting career, eventually leading to his role as 007 following Sean Connery’s departure.

Cream-colored vintage Volvo P1800 coupe with chrome grille and bumpers, woman standing by open driver's door. — The P1800’s boasts major historical significance, but is also one of the most underrated collector cars.

But in addition to being a famous television icon, the P1800 later gained notoriety for its impeccable reliability and durability. It was a rare example in automotive history, proving that beautiful European sheetmetal didn’t have to be exclusive to high-dollar and high-strung luxury or sports cars.

The P1800 is so known for its reliability, it still holds the record for the highest mileage vehicle ever recorded in history on a single car, at over 3 million miles.

Modernized vintage Swedish long-roof excellence

Cream-colored vintage car with black grille and wheels driving on a forest road. — Autoforma’s take on the P1800ES retains all of the car’s original charm.

Traditionalists strongly believe the P1800 is one of those cars that should be best left alone and in its original form. But while Autoforma might’ve done the unthinkable, the result still retains the P1800ES’s original charm.

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It all appears to add a bit of a modern twist. With widened carbon fiber wheel arches, updated exterior lighting and custom bumper work both fore and aft. The company also adds reworked exhaust tips, larger multi-spoke rally wheels and other upgraded trim bits.

Dark green vintage car with roof cargo box and headlights on, parked outside a modern house at dusk. — Who new the restomod treatment would look so damn good on the P1800ES.

But none of it looks overdone or overcooked. Which is probably what makes Autoforma’s take so compelling.

And those custom exhaust tips? They’re to supplement a new exhaust system, which will help the car’s custom-swapped modern turbocharged five-cylinder breathe easy. The team claims it’ll transplant the engine from a newer Volvo, to “keep it within the family.”

Orange vintage-style station wagon with white wheels and a surfboard mounted on the roof. — This is what modernized classic car dreams are made of.

Autoforma says it’ll modernize the steering and suspension. Modifications will also include revisions to the overall geometry for more modern and sportier handling. And a more modern transmission and upgraded braking system will complete the package.

Black vintage station wagon with roof rack carrying IKEA boxes and additional boxes stacked beside the front wheel. — Of course, no Swedish icon is complete without a reference to IKEA.

The project is still in the conceptual stage, with the above photos being digital renderings of the proposed final product. However, Autoforma has every intention to produce the car.

The cost? Not cheap. Just five examples are set to reach production, and Autoforma projects a starting price of around €298,915 (roughly $354,770).

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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