Guess what car this is?

That was the image portrayed by actor Roger Moore, who played the role of Simon Templar in the 1960s TV series The Saint. And Martin Hamilton-Smith has something in common with Moore — a white Volvo P1800 S, which is arguably the best-shaped car Volvo has built.

“I remember the car as a kid, watching the (TV) program,” Hamilton-Smith says. “I was captivated by the style of the car. I searched for this model for almost two years and I wanted a cream example. I searched the nation but I opened the paper one day and there it was.”

The Saint made the Volvo P1800 famous, giving it a sales boost as Jaguar rued its decision not to supply an E-Type for the program. From the early 1960s, the P1800 body was made in Scotland and the car assembled by Jensen in England.

But then production switched to Volvo's home in Sweden, with the P1800 S model.

Hamilton-Smith bought his 1965 model about four years ago.

“I drive it once or twice a week,” he says, adding that the Volvo was a good entry point into the classic car scene — despite being pricey when new, the model is not highly priced now.

“I paid about $19,000 for it. They were an extremely sporty car before Volvo went down the road of being a safe family car.”

Hamilton-Smith says some people remember the car from the TV series and others are attracted by the shape of the two-door coupe and are surprised to discover it's a Volvo.

The P1800 has a four-cylinder engine and had fair performance in its day. Volvo's involvement in The Saint extended to updating Templar's cars as the series continued — and Moore also getting one for his private use. Simon Templar's on-screen Volvo had the number plate ST1, uncannily a link to the STi version of a Subaru WRX which is Hamilton-Smith's everyday car.

Since buying the Volvo, he's also bought a 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL silver sports car in close to original condition.

Then there are two motorbikes, a 1997 Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport and a Honda VFR 800, the latter of which he races at club meetings.

“The WRX STi is good on dirt roads because it's all-wheel drive, so I have all the bases (driving and riding) covered,” Hamilton-Smith says.

However, he says the beaut little Volvo P1800 S remains the pride and joy of his collection.