The Volvo P1800 – It Began with a Swedish “Corvette” The Volvo P1800 began in the early 1950s with the idea that in order to really succeed in the The Volvo P1800 established itself as an icon of automotive design and brought Volvo up from just being a manufacturer of solid utilitarian cars to being a name respected as the creator of stylish cars with a combination of engineered in safety, and practical sporting performance.