The future for classic Volvos......

[Groundes-Peace]

Well, as time ticks forward from now until 2040 and beyond, what will be the future for our P1800, Amazon and PV cars?
Will we still be able to find fuel for these vehicles?
It would be sad if they become static display items for the historically curious ....

[jamie]

Gavin in Wellington is already down the road of converting to electric, which is not petrol but it is also not static....

[heckflosse]

Remember the hysteria when leaded fuel was withdrawn? Old cars would destroy their engines in a thousand miles etc.
A whole industry grew up supplying magic crystals that miraculously replaced the lead. They were discredited and proper engineering replaced them. Now you can get unleaded valve seats fitted by any half decent engineering shop.

I can see a similar situation with fuel. The technology to make "ersatz" petrol is not beyond the wit of man.
Only stumbling block is the political desire to stop us enjoying that most magical discovery. The Otto Cycle.

If you are replacing something, it has to be better and more thrilling.
An electric motor doesn't do it for me I'm afraid. Then again, Steam power enthusiasts say that about Diesels...

[cassell]

Originally Posted by Groundes-Peace

Well, as time ticks forward from now until 2040 and beyond, what will be the future for our P1800, Amazon and PV cars?
Will we still be able to find fuel for these vehicles?
It would be sad if they become static display items for the historically curious ....

Hmm, interesting thought! However on the basis that in 2040 I will be 87 years old and possibly not still driving, I'm quite prepared to bequeath my beloved 1800ES to some museum to become a static display.

The youngsters from 2040 and beyond can then marvel at the simplicity and fun that previous generations had from these curiously strange vehicles that actually needed someone to sit in the front seat, turn a strange large wheel and push down on odd pedals to actually make the vehicle move about. They'll roll about laughing when also told that a strange, volatile liquid had to be added into a tank to make them go rather than plugging them in overnight!

[arcturus]

I will be over 100 years old and ditto. However, I can't see it happening, the oil industry will put the idea on to the political scrapheap. According to the futurists all cars will be driver-less by then. Humans will eventually set foot on the moon and there will be panic in the cheese industry.

[P1800Ray]

P1800 Specialists are advertising electric drive restorations ...

[volvonic272]

Paul,
Your comments reminded me off the TV advert for Cadbury Smash for mashed potato, if you remember them.

Hope you are doing ok mate.

Dave

[tdz840]

Originally Posted by heckflosse

If you are replacing something, it has to be better and more thrilling.
An electric motor doesn't do it for me I'm afraid. Then again, Steam power enthusiasts say that about Diesels...

How about an electric motor but include a clothes peg and playing card against the wheel.
Worked when i was younger

[P1800Ray]

Cards and peg worked for me too !

There might just be a market for an external floor pan speaker generating a selection of exhaust tones from TVR, Ferrari to VW Camper :-))

[Volvorama]

The 122S I used in Nairobi ran fine on gasohol (ethanol/petrol mix) and vehicles such as speedway bikes run on methanol. Ethanol and methanol can be made as biofuels and should be 'carbon-neutral' so there's one option for the far future.