1800: - Cowley Pressed Steel P1800S

Peterjohnbull · Oct 14th, 2018, 08:47

Hi

The body of my '65 P1800S was made in the Cowley plant of the Pressed Steel Company (there is a very obvious stamp in the engine bay).

Does that mean that Pressed Steel continue to make the bodies when the cars were assembled in Sweden? I had thought one of the main reasons that Jenson stopped making the P1800 was the quality issues, primarily from the manufacture of the bodies.

Perhaps I am wrong. Anyone know?

Cheers

Pete

cassell · Oct 14th, 2018, 10:03

You are correct, Pressed Steel bodies from the Linwood Plant in Scotland, not Cowley, were still supplied to Volvo for car assembly in Gothenburg up until the agreed contractual total of 6000 shells were exhausted.

As you say, Jensen had the P1800 assembly contract terminated for a variety of reasons before the 6000 car agreement was completed, body fit and finish being one of them. Presumably skilled production people in Sweden were able to correct any poor body and panel alignment etc?

Therefore a number of early 1800S models are around with the Pressed Steel identification plate on the bulkhead, we have a particularly nice example owned by a lady member in our Cheshire section of the VOC.

Paul

Peterjohnbull · Oct 14th, 2018, 11:19

Why would the car have Cowley, Oxford stamped on the plate? Was that the head office?

cassell · Oct 14th, 2018, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peterjohnbull

Why would the car have Cowley, Oxford stamped on the plate? Was that the head office?

I can't answer that one, Pressed Steel had several body plants, I recall one at Castle Vale in Birmingham which produced Austin Healey shells and the one at Linwood produced Hillman Imp shells.

They may indeed have had one at Cowley for other models but everything I've ever read about P1800 body shells has said that they were produced at Linwood?

Peterjohnbull · Oct 14th, 2018, 13:15

They definitely had one in Cowley, it is where Minis are now made (albeit not proper ones). I think Cowley was the first one due to the tie in with William Morris.

So it could be that Cowley was the head office, so the engine bay stamp has that address even though it was not made there. Or, I guess it could have been made in Cowley.

cassell · Oct 14th, 2018, 13:48

This Volvo article makes reference to the first P1800 body shells being produced in Scotland prior to Volvo's own steel pressing plant at Olofstrom.

https://www.media.volvocars.com/glob...eleases/103875

Oct 14th, 2018, 08:47	#1
Peterjohnbull VOC Member Last Online: Apr 3rd, 2021 11:55 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Buckland, Oxfordshire View Photos By: Peterjohnbull	Cowley Pressed Steel P1800S Hi The body of my '65 P1800S was made in the Cowley plant of the Pressed Steel Company (there is a very obvious stamp in the engine bay). Does that mean that Pressed Steel continue to make the bodies when the cars were assembled in Sweden? I had thought one of the main reasons that Jenson stopped making the P1800 was the quality issues, primarily from the manufacture of the bodies. Perhaps I am wrong. Anyone know? Cheers Pete __________________ 1965 P1800S in Lovely Original Light Blue

Oct 14th, 2018, 11:19	#3
Peterjohnbull VOC Member Last Online: Apr 3rd, 2021 11:55 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Buckland, Oxfordshire View Photos By: Peterjohnbull	Why would the car have Cowley, Oxford stamped on the plate? Was that the head office? __________________ 1965 P1800S in Lovely Original Light Blue

Oct 14th, 2018, 13:15	#5
Peterjohnbull VOC Member Last Online: Apr 3rd, 2021 11:55 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Buckland, Oxfordshire View Photos By: Peterjohnbull	They definitely had one in Cowley, it is where Minis are now made (albeit not proper ones). I think Cowley was the first one due to the tie in with William Morris. So it could be that Cowley was the head office, so the engine bay stamp has that address even though it was not made there. Or, I guess it could have been made in Cowley. __________________ 1965 P1800S in Lovely Original Light Blue

Oct 14th, 2018, 13:48	#6
cassell Member since 1988 Last Online: Apr 17th, 2024 20:08 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Middlewich	This Volvo article makes reference to the first P1800 body shells being produced in Scotland prior to Volvo's own steel pressing plant at Olofstrom. https://www.media.volvocars.com/glob...eleases/103875 Last edited by cassell; Oct 14th, 2018 at 14:20.

Oct 14th, 2018, 10:03	#2
cassell Member since 1988 Last Online: Apr 17th, 2024 20:08 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Middlewich	You are correct, Pressed Steel bodies from the Linwood Plant in Scotland, not Cowley, were still supplied to Volvo for car assembly in Gothenburg up until the agreed contractual total of 6000 shells were exhausted. As you say, Jensen had the P1800 assembly contract terminated for a variety of reasons before the 6000 car agreement was completed, body fit and finish being one of them. Presumably skilled production people in Sweden were able to correct any poor body and panel alignment etc? Therefore a number of early 1800S models are around with the Pressed Steel identification plate on the bulkhead, we have a particularly nice example owned by a lady member in our Cheshire section of the VOC. Paul

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