What does SuperFly Magazine look for when searching for custom metal to feature? It’s pretty straightforward, really. We rely on a gut feeling—a sense that ignites all our emotions and tells us, "Yes, this is a standout ride, and we have to find the owner for a feature." We just know what belongs in the spotlight, whether it’s rat rods, Lowriders, slammed Trucks, or retro cars you may have never seen or even heard of before.

Like this epic retro Volvo 1800ES.

From a questionable car obsession to retro Volvo perfection.

The car’s simplicity was striking—the gold paintwork and that perfect stance. Did it have air ride suspension? It had to. We reposted the image on our Instagram and put out a call to find the owner for a feature. A few hours later, our good friend Chris from Laser Cut London got in touch, letting us know the car belonged to his mate, Nick, who runs 3D Print UK. A few weeks later, we headed just outside of London to photograph the Volvo against the iconic London skyline.

This is Nick's story...

So, how did we discover Nick’s 'Mustard Mouse', as he calls it? Surprisingly, not at a local show. Thanks to Instagram, we can keep tabs on car shows globally and get a feel for which cars truly stand out. That’s how we found Nick’s ride—it was at a show in the UK that we missed last year called Retro Gathering.

The moment I saw a photo of the Volvo, it hit me.

Nick Allen's Story:

"My name’s Nick Allen, I’m 31 and I live in London. I have a history of badly modified cars, but this Volvo is the first good one. The others? They required a sense of humour and a 'no-f*cks-given' attitude. But the 'Mouse' is different. I run a 3D printing business, mainly making high-end prototypes and custom models for events and films. It’s a career that complements my love for cars, though I don’t use it as much as I could!

The car’s design meant it didn’t need much to stand out. Like many in the scene these days, I went with air ride suspension and some new wheels.  I know it sounds like a cop-out, but I’m no master mechanic.  When it comes to classics, I’m either a purist or, on occasion, someone who will totally destroy a car with modifications.  But I couldn’t bring myself to ruin the Mouse. 

I've built some horrendous monsters in the past, but this one was not joining that club.

When installing the air ride, the goal was to keep it fully reversible.  Jonathan at Air Lift did the custom job—well beyond my experience with bolt-on coilovers!  He did a fantastic job, with only one small hole drilled for the entire kit. 

Later, we had to modify the front subframe slightly to stop the bag from rubbing, but the part’s replaceable, so it can easily go back to stock.

I’m still hunting for the perfect wheels, but for now, the 18" Japan Racing JR10s look pretty good.  I know they’re not genuine splits or the trendiest choice, but I don’t care—they suit the car. I did order a set of 18" wire wheels from the US, which took eight months to arrive.  They fit the front perfectly, but there was no way they'd work on the rear.  I could’ve shortened the rear axle or cut the body, but that was too far off the 'do-not-molest' path, so I swallowed the £1,500 disappointment.

One of my favourite touches on the car is the gear stick. I proposed during a private screening of Jurassic Park for my 30th, and since it’s the best film ever, I decided John Hammond’s walking stick would make the perfect gear knob.  A friend cast a dead crane fly in amber resin, and another designed the stick in CAD, which I 3D printed and painted.  It looks incredible, and shifting gears feels like running your own dinosaur park.

What I love most is how the car appeals to everyone.  Whether you pull up to a stately home or a Tesco car park, it turns heads.

It’s even won awards at every show it's attended.  At Retro Rides, I was only there for 20 minutes, didn’t have a build thread on the forum, and only spoke to my brother, yet the Volvo still won Car of the Year!  There were far more complex builds there, so I didn’t think it deserved it, but I was absolutely chuffed!

Since then, I’ve been to several shows with the Retro Rides stand, and it always looks great parked between Dean and Freddy’s iconic Lotus cars. I can’t wait for this season.

In a nutshell, the car takes all the credit, not me.  I've done what most first-time car enthusiasts do to their Lupos.  There’s no complex build story here—just a lot of beauty and a bit of restraint.

Tech Specs for Nick’s Volvo 1800ES:

• Model: Volvo 1800ES (1972 Shooting Brake)

• Colour: Gold (original paint)

• Suspension: Air ride suspension

  • Installer: Jonathan at Air Lift

  • Custom modifications: Minimal drilling (one small hole), slight front subframe modification to prevent bag rubbing

• Wheels:

  • Current setup: 18" Japan Racing JR10

  • PCD: 5x108

  • Previous wheels: Custom 18" wire wheels (USA-made, but did not fit rear axle)

• Gear Stick: Custom-made John Hammond (Jurassic Park) walking stick replica

  • Materials: Amber resin with crane fly, 3D-printed shaft (designed in CAD)

I’ve wanted this car for as long as I can remember. About 10 years ago, I saw one on the road and thought, What is that?! and How do I get one? They're pretty rare now—only 15 are still on the road in the UK, and I’m lucky enough to own one.

The car itself is a Volvo 1800ES, often mistaken for a P1800ES. It’s a 1972 shooting brake, pretty cool in its day, but for some unknown reason, they faded away. They're still relatively affordable compared to other cars of their calibre—probably because they’re Volvos and not flashy German sports cars.

It’s gold. Not many cars can pull off gold—most just end up looking tacky—but for some reason, this one works. I considered respraying or wrapping it, but after countless hours searching for the right colour, nothing felt as good. So I left it.

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