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The Saint's Volvo P1800 Gets Driven by Jay Leno

Ever since Leno pulled the plug on The Tonight Show, the American comedian and television host started to do put more effort into his online video series about new and vintage cars. In the latest installment of Leno's Garage, Jay talks us through one of the most underrated vehicles in pop culture: The Saint's P1800.
The Saint's Volvo P1800 on Jay Leno's Garage 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
Aired between 1962 and 1969, The Saint is, to this day, one of the most revered spy thriller television series. Simon Templar, the main character, is one curious guy with modern Robin Hood credentials and a passion to play the role of amateur detective and occasional police agent. Played by the one and only Roger Moore, Simon Templar's crime-fighting ride of choice is an angelic white Volvo P1800 notch coupe.

Most people don't know this, but Jaguar was first offered the opportunity to provide an E-Type for the television series, but declined that offer. When the producers knocked on Volvo's door, the Swedes were happy with the proposition and provided the ST1 registered P1800 right away. It was a pretty inspired choice, frankly. Not only the popularity of the model soared because of the series, but Roger Moore himself bought a P1800 for personal use.

Another fun fact about the Volvo P1800 is that it's the most "multicultural" passenger vehicle of that era. Planned in Sweden, designed in Italy and built between '61 an '62 by Jensen Motors in the United Kingdom, the most responsive market for the P1800 was the United States. After The Saint television series concluded, the ST1 registered P1800 had changed hands multiple times until Bill Krzastek bought it in England in a pretty sorry-looking state. Thankfully, Bill carefully restored it to its former glory.

Head below to watch this Swedish piece of TV history in action and to find out everything about it.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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