Drawn illustrations in the Volvo P 1800 owner's manual
03/09/2011
In the days before Illustrator, Photoshop and computer programs, there were typically only two ways to illustrate vehicle manuals- with photos or with drawn/painted pictures.
Volvo opted for hand-drawn illustrations for the P 1800. The Volvo P 1800 was famously Volvo's first sports car, impressing with its Ferrari-inspired design (front) and robustness. It was built from 1961 to 1973. Its successor, the C70, came much later.
The owner's manual comprises 52 pages and also includes maintenance instructions, a lubrication schedule and cleaning recommendations for various stains (chewing gum, chocolate, blood, ice cream, etc.). Safety has always been a major issue for Volvo, which is why it explains exactly how to fasten the seat belts.
But cold and warm starting is also explained in detail (pulling the choke, disengaging the clutch, turning the ignition key) and was worth a whole page to the authors.
In the small booklet, kept in two shades of green, the owner even receives instructions on how to clean the fuel filter or replace the air filter, things that are neither expected of the driver in modern cars these days, nor are they even documented in the 500+ page manuals.
