I was walking to the movies one rainy day, and came across this solid but well used Volvo 122S, known as the Amazon outside America. It proudly carries the Finnish flag colors, blue with white stripes. also sometimes used on American racing cars. Doesn’t it seem like it’s been driven in some sort of competition?
The 122S was our 1960’s Volvo, the ones that really made an impression on American drivers, before the boxes with their “barn door” grilles came along. Can anyone pin down the year?
Most likely the 1.8 liter B18 engine sits behind that radiator. Dual carburetors delivered 85 hp. Was this an amateur rally car?
Extra gauges added indicate some serious intent. I test drove a used 122S in the early seventies, and couldn’t believe how long that four-speed shifter felt. The famous original three-point belts have a strange-looking buckle.
What’s up with the side mirror mounted up high? Is this original paint with forty years wear, or an amateur repaint?
Paul wrote a proper Curbside Classic on the Amazon here.
Except for the stupid gauges underneath the dash, I think the interior looks perfect.
If I can’t have a PV544 or a P1800, I’ll take one of these. Thank you!
It is pretty obvious that the original color was white, and the ‘Finnish” blue is the amateurish repaint. As for the year, I can’t pin it down but I will guess a range. 1963 is when the US began requiring amber front signal lamps, and 1968 is when they required side marker lamps or reflectors. So, my guess is ’63 to ’67.
These were reasonably popular in my younger days in Alaska, although I only recall experiencing one during my years in the used car business. I’m sure the owner loyalty was there back then as well.
That’s a clean looking last generation Eldorado in the background of two of the photos, and it appears to be for sale. Nice, but too much bling for my taste.
If the grille is correct for the year,it´s a -67.1967 was also the last year of the 4 door.
I ended up buying the car, unfortunately I ran into a lot of rust. The car had a huge book of recipts proving the motor had been bored/built in the 1993, all poly bushings, rebuilt m40, rebuilt steering box, etc… the car was swiss cheese I kept everything from it. The motor is now being put in my wagon, the paint looked like a roll on paint job.