1962
Volvo P1800
Swedish character with international connections
Colours used
in this example.
Deep red with a cream roof sets the tone for this page. Keep the long side trim clean where red bodywork meets the cream roof.
Suggested pencil shades, not exact factory paint matches. Test colours on your paper before building richer layers.
Keep the long side trim clean where red bodywork meets the cream roof.
Build deeper shadows below the window line while leaving the visible seat tops lighter.
Reserve white for metal highlights. Keep rubber softer and less reflective.
Keep the existing setting quieter than the car and let the glass remain translucent.
Look a little closer.
Explore the details from different angles.
Reference 01
Volvo P1800 1962. Comparison photograph: The blue racing car has competition modifications. White display cars and red road cars are colour comparisons, not evidence for the two-tone pencil scheme. Uncropped web derivative resized and converted to WebP; no colour changes.
Photo: Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0Reference 02
1962 Volvo P1800. Comparison photograph: The blue racing car has competition modifications. White display cars and red road cars are colour comparisons, not evidence for the two-tone pencil scheme. Uncropped web derivative resized and converted to WebP; no colour changes.
Photo: Nathan Bittinger from Reston, VA · Source · CC BY 2.0Reference 03
1962 Volvo P1800 1.8 Rear. Comparison photograph: The blue racing car has competition modifications. White display cars and red road cars are colour comparisons, not evidence for the two-tone pencil scheme. Uncropped web derivative resized and converted to WebP; no colour changes.
Photo: Vauxford · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0Reference 04
1962 Volvo P1800 in Red (Greenwich), front right. Comparison photograph: The blue racing car has competition modifications. White display cars and red road cars are colour comparisons, not evidence for the two-tone pencil scheme. Uncropped web derivative resized and converted to WebP; no colour changes.
Photo: Mr.choppers · Source · CC BY-SA 3.0Reference 05
1962 Volvo P1800 1.8 Front. Comparison photograph: The blue racing car has competition modifications. White display cars and red road cars are colour comparisons, not evidence for the two-tone pencil scheme. Uncropped web derivative resized and converted to WebP; no colour changes.
Photo: Vauxford · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0Historical finishes and details
The Volvo 1800 Register lists White 69, Red 70 and Metallic Grey 71 for 1961-1963 P1800s. Our red body with a cream roof is a creative two-tone treatment, not a claim about an original 1962 factory scheme.
In the photographs
The photographs show white, blue and red. The blue racing car has competition modifications. White display cars and red road cars are colour comparisons, not evidence for the two-tone pencil scheme. Restored paint and later changes are possible.
In the coloured example
The pencil example uses deep red with a cream roof bodywork with cream cabin tones. It is a creative colouring guide, not a factory paint match or a recreation of one gallery car.
Make the details count.
Keep the long side trim clean where red bodywork meets the cream roof.
Use small highlights to give the stacked rear lamps their rounded surfaces.
Follow your curiosity.
Model history and further reading.