NÄKAR: The Story Of The 1963 Holman Moody Volvo 1800

"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo) 08/05/2013 at 13:55 • Filed to: None

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Holman-Moody was a racing team from the '60s/'70s that engineered & built many of the Ford factory sponsored race cars for NASCAR and LeMans series. They also created various competition cars for privateers throughout the years and one of them is this 1963 Volvo 1800 currently for sale.

The car has a long and documented history, has been a privateer track car since new, and was thoroughly re-engineered and rebuilt by famed NASCAR racing team Holman Moody in the early 1980s. It would be a great vintage racer and a solid investment given the history and unique setup. It is being offered by current owner Mitch Duncan, who has owned it since 1996 and is a retired Volvo Cars North America executive. It is available for $30,000 in the Moosehead Lake region of central Maine. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! if you are interested, and we will put you in touch with Mitch.

The DTO (Daily Turismo Omologato) is a rare or interesting example of a DT-friendly classic or performance vehicle, but priced somewhere above the self imposed DT cap of $20k. We see these cars as weekend fun machines that you probably wouldn't want to drive to work every day, unlike a regular Daily Turismo.

This car not only sends off vibes of being the baddest 1800 on the block, it has the engineering, history and performance to back up the racing stripes and blacked-out lights. The genuine magnesium Minilites are a rare and cool treat; most aftermarket wheels are aluminum alloy but these true "mags" will both lighten up the unsprung mass significantly, and light up your night if you get them too hot. This is a fully caged, fiberglass skinned, dry-sumped, stripped out race car with a fuel cell, fire suppression system, and massive brakes. This is not Irv Gordon's 3 million mile cruiser - it's the black sheep of the family. If this car could talk it would quote Ricky Bobby in saying "I wanna go fast."

The Holman Moody 1800 is chassis #3835, and though it has been through many changes and iterations over the years it is currently painted in its original race livery and wears historic number 55. Seller Mitch has written up a nice summary of the car's history. He says:

The 1800 was originally purchased new by a Frank Dumproff on Long Island, N.Y. He raced the car in relativity stock form at Bridge Hampton. He was in the textile business and subsequently relocated to Lincolnton, N.C. He campaigned the car still in relatively stock form at various Southern road courses where he took 1st place at Road Atlanta.

He sold the 1800 to a local gas station owner, Bob Ramseur. Ramseur and his friend Bobby Ford raced the car for a short period with a 3rd place finish at Road Atlanta Regional in F Production. Bobby Ford acquired the car and began racing in 1972 with moderate success throughout the Southeast. Ford went into a 6 year hiatus to attend to his car business in Hickory, N.C. and raise a family.

In early ’80 he commissioned Holman-Moody to completely re-engineer and rebuild the car to its current specifications, including two complete engines developed by Holman-Moody, along with three unique cam profiles to optimize different track requirements. He campaigned the highly modified 1800 with many first place and top 5 finishes through 1982 and then retired.

Ted Lebsack of Colorado, acquired it in 1984, painted it red and renumbered it to #78. He raced several vintage racing events in the Midwest.

Mitch Duncan then bought it in April 1996 while living in Southern California and subsequently brought it back to New Jersey where he had Bob Alspach go through it and prepare it for returning to the track. He raced it extensively in 1998 and 1999 in the Volvo Historic Series but after moving to Northern Maine ran a couple races a year until 2005 when he decided to repaint it in its original livery.

Mitch has the SCCA log books and can provide additional details on the history.

Mitch has maintained the car in running condition, and is currently in the process of freshening up the engine bay and reinstalling the fuel injected B20 2.0L engine which will make it up to snuff for vintage racing with all pertinent sanctioning bodies. He says it will be ready and legal for the following organizations (barring specific tire rules): Vintage Driving Club of America, Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association, Historic Sport Car Racing, Sportcar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), Sports Car Club Of America (SCCA), and Vintage Auto Racing Association of Canada.

Below is the spec sheet in its entirety.

1963 Holman-Moody Volvo 1800
Chassis #3835
Features

Engine

Two recently built B20-based engines (zero races):

2000cc Fuel Injected

Holman-Moody modified head and special camshaft
IPD variable mixture FI computer
Stahl Exhaust Header

2130cc Carburated
Volvo R-Sport Stage 4 head and “S” grind camshaft
Stahl exhaust header

Both engine blocks are prepared as follows by Duane Matejka:
Crankshaft ground and micro polished to .010 under
Wiseco forged pistons
Crower forged rods
Vandervell tri-metal rod and main bearings
R-Sport timing cover and rear main seals
R-Sport steel timing gears
Full dry sump oil system, Weaver 3 stage oil pump, cooler and remote filter;11 qt. capacity

Fuel System
ATL 12 gallon fuel cell in steel can
Bosch high pressure fuel pump and fuel filter, aircraft type braided lines and fittings

Drive Train
Volvo M40 close ratio needle bearing 4 speed gearbox
Tilton twin plate clutch and alloy flywheel
Holman-Moody rear axle, full floating hubs and axle shafts; Volvo carrier with 4.30, 4.56 ratios

Suspension
Front - Reinforced control arms
Modified bump steer, heim jointed steering
Carrera competition shock absorbers
1 1/8” stabilizer bar, adjustable heim joint links

Rear – Holman-Moody 3 link adjustable tubular trailing arms and heim joints
Carrera competition shock absorbers
3/4” stabilizer bar and adjustable heim joint links

Brakes
Dual master cylinders, remote reservoirs, adjustable brake bias
Wilwood 4 piston (front: 1.75, rear: 1.38) calipers
11” rotors and alloy hats

Wheels and Tires
Original 15” x 7” American Racing 5 flat spoke S200 wheels

Goodyear GS-CS 225/50 ZR15 tires
Original 15”x6” Minilite 8 spoke magnesium wheels
Hoosier 205/50 x 15 tires

Chassis-Body
Lightweight fiberglass composite body panels consisting of front clip, fenders, hood, rear quarter panels, deck lid
Full SCCA 8 point roll cage with NASCAR type driver side bars
Simpson platinum 6 point camlock harness
Phoenix 10 lb. fire suppression system
Interior aluminum floor panels

Aluminum dash panel including:
Autometer monster tachometer
Westech quad exhaust gas temp gauge
Original Stewart-Warner water, oil temperature and oil pressure gauges
Holman-Moody switch module
Trans X 260 AMB transponder

Weight Distribution (with 170 lb. Driver)
Left Right Total
Front 599 574 = 1173
Rear 575 537 = 1112

Grand Total = 2285 lbs.

Cross weight = 49.7%

We sincerely hope one of the Daily Turismo faithful is looking for a Volvo to go vintage racing with; this 1800 is another perfect example of the best money spent being the previous owner's as the car is already built and sorted out. Rather than spending years building your own from scratch, you could hop into this cool piece of history and start having fun right away.

Originally written by CFlo and published as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

If you are interested in pilfering your piggybank and purchasing the car, email !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and we will put you in touch with owner Mitch Duncan.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for the album of all full-resolution photos.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 14:05

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Saw this on DT earlier and was fascinated, fantastic write-up here.

Frank Grimes > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 14:07

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Wow I love the 200S on there.

evoCS > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 14:22

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Oh. My. Word.

That is unspeakably cool.

GRIVLET - Proud of Cobalt > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 14:23

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dat tread

JayHova > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 14:26

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550F > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 14:27

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Dear lord. Why am I so poor, while other can afford to buy the cars I want so badly....?

SasquatchElvis > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 14:31

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And I had just talked myself out of buying a P1800...thanks

Gr8Dane > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 14:40

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So.

Much .

WANT.

Gr8Dane > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 14:43

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Damn, if that isn't one of the absolute best- lookin' little production-based racers ever...

( Don't worry , The GT40's and Cobras are still safely nestled right at the top of my list, mingling with Martini Porsches and Ferraris galore...)

Sparf > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 14:58

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Just FYI:  is nowhere to be found on my Nordic layout Swedish keyboard

dogisbadob > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 14:59

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Awesome car!

mgbgt > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 15:04

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Love every iteration of it. Love that it was originally owned by a Long Island guy who raced at Bridgehampton. Brings back memories.

j4066 > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 15:05

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Absolutely beautiful, but I have to pass. There just doesn't seem to be enough passenger legroom for the ladies.

Philbert/Phartnagle > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 15:12

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Dem mags!

Reborn Pyrrhic > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 15:37

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What the hell is NÄKAR?

NemoDesigns > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 15:37

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Just added this to the list of cars I wish to own/ build before I die. #carbucketlist

Daaoak > Reborn Pyrrhic 08/05/2013 at 15:47

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I think it should read "älskar" as in "in love"... ;)

TwoScoopsOfPig > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 15:49

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I want this SO HARD.

LesterTheSmith > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 15:53

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Ooooh Wee! That thang sure is pritteh!

RidgeR5 > JayHova 08/05/2013 at 16:18

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Not even going to try to stop myself.

Birdman > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 16:19

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It's smiling at me.....

DailyTurismo > Reborn Pyrrhic 08/05/2013 at 16:20

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NÄKAR

Norrköping Askersund Shtock Kar Auto Racing

DailyTurismo > Daaoak 08/05/2013 at 16:22

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Ooh that would have been a great lead in!

SgtHop > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 16:56

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So much want.

DailyTurismo > Sparf 08/05/2013 at 17:05

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Send it back to the manufacturer - I'm sure they'll get you one that is correct.

First the S130/Z31 issue and now this...can I do nothing right if Sparf's eyes!!!

Sparf > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 17:09

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Now, now, I've only complained about two posts of yours. Consider how often you post, that's hardly "nothing right"!

Also: I just can't help but bitch about letters whenever Swedish is brought up, since Americans seem incredibly confused by the fact that we only have three additional letters: Å, Ä and Ö.

james-thomas > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 17:11

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what's that big metal box in the passenger's foot well?

DailyTurismo > Sparf 08/05/2013 at 17:29

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Haha - no, not complaining, just giving you a hard time but I sincerely appreciate the constructive comments! I knew vaguely that the  was incorrect, but it just looked so good in big font...so I took some creative license. Daaoak suggested that should have used älskar - as "in love", so the title should have been NÄLSKAR. Next time I find a Swedish classic built up by an American NASCAR championship team I'll have to use that pun.

puppyknuckles > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 18:43

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Holy crap. New favorite livery.

kenhitch > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 18:58

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aaaaaand searching craigslist for a P1800...

Sparf > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 19:40

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Weird, I missed this reply among my notifications.

Good, I was getting worried I'd annoyed someone again, I tend to do that every now and then! To be SUPER PICKY "älskar" means love in the operative sense, as in "jag älskar X" which means "I love X". Excellent pun either way!

Oh and the pronunciation of NASCAR would be written as NÄSKAR (which, incidentally, literally means nose-vat) if it ever became a loanword like mail (often written as "mejl"), for instance. Oh the fun you can have with words!

Moose/elk is "älg", if you want to incorporate that somehow.

greenagain > DailyTurismo 08/05/2013 at 21:20

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That's Hawt.

Pancho > Philbert/Phartnagle 08/05/2013 at 23:35

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Looks fantastic with these wheels, pathetic with the minilites.

MasterBandito > DailyTurismo 08/06/2013 at 04:38

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This is pure Volvo heaven! I would totally use this as my daily drive! I totally need this more than a Sugga!!

Could you gringos lend me some cash for this?

Pretty please?

Where have all the lightweights gone? > DailyTurismo 08/06/2013 at 07:00

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Thanks for posting this! I know the original owner's son, and he has been looking for this car. I sent him the link, and he got goosebumps seeing it all over again.

DailyTurismo > Where have all the lightweights gone? 08/06/2013 at 12:44

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Thank you for making the connection, the original owner's son sent us an email and we put him in contact with the current owner. The best cars have the best stories.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > DailyTurismo 08/06/2013 at 14:12

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He told me yesterday it gave him goosebumps seeing it again and had been looking for it for some time. Thanks again for a great write-up on a fantastic car!

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > james-thomas 08/10/2013 at 19:22

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Housing for the DOS-based ECU.