A beautiful part of Swedish monarchy's extensive automotive history will be sold at Bilweb Auctions’ 2024 premiere auction. The Crown Prince and Duke of Jämtland's first Volvo 1800S, a proud representative of fine Swedish car design, will be auctioned off on January 11th.
On April 22, 1966, His Royal Highness the Duke of Jämtland Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus Bernadotte passed his student exams at Sigtuna Humanistiska Läroverk, and on April 30th, he turned 20 years old. Whether it was a graduation or a 20th birthday present, he could surely enjoy his brand new 1800S, presumably on the fine early summer roads.
The Crown Prince exchanged his car after two years for a new one of the same model, and his first Volvo sports car went through various owners over the years, who were likely aware of the car's provenance, though that term was probably not commonly used for its history at the time. Sometime in the late seventies or early eighties, it was repainted, "but after 1989, no major work is believed to have been done on the car," according to the current owner. It stood in the same garage in Jönköping where he had his car, and they had a long and yearning visual contact over the years. In 2009, he finally bought the Crown Prince's old 1800 after pestering the then-owner for ten years. She, in turn, received the car as a 50th birthday present in 1991 and didn't drive it much each year.
The current owner did extensive research on the car and fixed what he could, but his use ambitions decreased a bit lower than he had thought, as life with family and job took its toll on time, as it usually does. However, in the summer of 2023, there was a bit more activity around the car.
Ahead of the Royal Rally on Öland in August that year, it was announced that the king's first Volvo 1800S would participate, but the car in question was actually his second, the Mediterranean Blue that he switched to in 1968. The owner of the auction car contacted the organizer and explained that the car he had was actually the first one. The organizing team was, of course, grateful for the correction and the offer to use the car, and plans began to take shape. The owner inspected his car, corrected a couple of issues, and then took the car to the Volvo Museum workshop in Gothenburg for service and review.
When the royal couple landed at Kalmar airport for further transportation to Öland, the owner was there with his family and the old 1800S that the king received as a graduation gift in 1966. With the king at the wheel, the owner beside him, and Queen Silvia with the owner's family and Säpo in tow, the king drove his old car over the bridge towards Borgholm with his usual skill and without hesitation. Upon arriving at the rally start, there was naturally a lot of excitement with interviews, pictures, films, and stuff. The king and queen drove, smiled, and waved. A successful and fun day for all involved. When it was all over, Anders, the owner of the auction car, thought that this was a fitting end to his ownership career of the king's first Volvo 1800S. And on the hat shelf, Silvia's dried bouquet still remains.
Our premiere auction with 20 enthusiast cars, including this one, concludes on January 11, 2024.
