07THESAINT

"THE SAINT" VISITS
THE CHATTERBOX

THE 1967 VOLVO 1800

WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF A SPECIAL VISIT ON JUNE 16TH FROM A FORMER SUSSEX COUNTY RESIDENT BY THE NAME OF BILL KRZASTEK. BILL NOW LIVES IN VIRGINIA. HE WAS IN THE NEARBY AREA PICKING UP HIS SPECIAL AUTOMOBILE, AND HONORED US WITH A VISIT AND A LOOK AT THIS VERY SPECIAL CAR.

THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY ONE OF THE VOLVO'S USED IN THE 60'S SHOW "THE SAINT" WHICH STARRED ROGER MOORE AS THE DASHING SIMON TEMPLAR. ROGER MOORE DROVE THIS CAR IN THAT SERIES. THE CAR IS RIGHT HAND DRIVE. IT WAS USED FROM 1967 UNTIL THE SERIES ENDED. IT HAD AUXILIARY LAMPS IN FRONT, MINILITE ALLOY WHEELS, AND TWO SPOKE WOOD-RIMMED STEERING WHEEL. A SMALL FAN WAS INSTALLED IN BACK TO HELP KEEP THINGS COOLER INSIDE WHEN THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH STAGE LIGHTS. OTHERWISE, THE RIGHT-HAND DRIVE 648E WAS FACTORY STOCK, INCLUDING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH OVERDRIVE. THAT FAMOUS "ST I" LICENSE PATE? IT WAS MADE-FOR-TV PROP-THE INITIALS STANDING FOR SIMON TEMPLAR.

THE CAR REMAINED IN ENGLAND AFTER IT'S LIFE ON THE SET AND HAD A SERIES OF OWNERS FROM 1969 TO 1994. IT WAS THEN ACQUIRED BY PETER NELSON'S CARS OF THE STARS MUSEUM IN THE U.K. BILL KNEW OF IT'S WHEREABOUTS, BUT HAD NO IDEA THE CAR WOULD EVER BE AVAILABLE. THE MUSEUM WAS CLOSING IT'S FACILITY IN SCOTLAND, AND SOME OF THE CARS WENT UP FOR SALE, INCLUDING THIS ONE.

BILL PURCHASED THE CAR. IT WAS REFURBISHED IN ENGLAND BY VOLVO ENTHUSIAST/RESTORER TONY DAVEY. UPON COMPLETION, THE CAR WAS SHIPPED HERE. BILL WAS KIND ENOUGH TO BRING IT TO THE CHATTERBOX SO THAT WE COULD ALL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THANKS BILL! IT WAS GREAT TO MEET YOU AND TO SEE THIS FANTASTIC SPECIAL INTEREST CAR. NOW CHECK OUT THE PICTURES BELOW.

BILL KRZSTEK STANDS NEXT TO HIS PRIDE AND JOY AS IT MAKES IT'S DEBUT APPEARANCE HERE AT THE CHATTERBOX. ADMIRING FANS CHECK IT OUT FROM BEHIND. BILL DROVE THIS CAR BACK TO VIRGINIA THE FOLLOWING DAY.

FOR THE COMPLETE STORY ON THIS CAR CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IN MOTOR TREND MAGAZINE BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW.

THE WANDERERS CAR CLUB WOULD LIKE TO THANK BILL FOR BRINGING THIS RARE CAR TO THE CHATTERBOX TO SHARE WITH ALL OF US. IT WAS A THRILL TO SEE THIS CAR, AND TO BE TAKEN BACK TO SOME FOND MEMORIES OF A GREAT SHOW THAT WE ALL ENJOYED VERY MUCH.