Needs Nothing: 1965 Volvo 122S
One thing I have learned about Volvo’s 122S, such as this 1965 example, is that they have devoted followers – back then and still today. Today’s discovery, courtesy of T.J., is considered to be an older restoration but it still looks great. This 76K mile example is located in Arroyo Grande, California and is available, here on craigslist for $6,500.
Offered in two and four-door sedan body styles as well as a station wagon, estimates are that more than 650K copies of what is also known as a Volvo “Amazon” were assembled between 1956 and 1970. Most, but not all, originated from Sweden, and a bit more than half were destined for export markets.
When I review the images of this Volvo’s exterior, I really can’t find a nit to pick. The seller offers, “Has been sitting for quite some time. You don’t see these in this condition“. Well, I agree, many of these that I find aren’t in this clean a condition, and wherever this one has been sitting, it must have liked its digs. Deep solid paint, shiny chrome, intact trim, and argent finished wheels are this car’s hallmarks.
Power is provided by a 1.8 liter, in-line, four-cylinder engine that is connected to a three-speed automatic transmission. The seller says that it “runs and drives” but it should get extra points for looks – it’s a very tidy engine compartment. The air cleaner appears to be non-original, not sure about the carburetor or the chrome-plated valve cover.
Considering this car’s age, the interior is in remarkable condition. The burgundy-hued vinyl upholstery shows no sign of wear and the carpet looks like new (maybe it is). The steel painted dash and instrument panel still show well as does the dash pad, for the most part, though it is revealing some wear along the bottom edge. The horizontal speedometer and column mounted gear selector are certainly typical for American cars from the mid-sixties – not what I expected, or remembered with this vintage Volvo. Note the AM radio, I believe the dial reads, “VOLVO by Bendix“.
The Volvo 122 and its variations is one of those designs that you immediately recognize the moment that you spy one – it’s that classic a look. As I stated earlier, this is supposedly a 76K mile example and I have no reason to doubt that mileage recording – it seems believeable based on this Volvo’s exterior and interior condition. As for the price, that seems reasonable too, wouldn’t you agree?
Auctions Ending Soon
2002 Subaru Impreza WRXBid Now2 days$333
1975 Chevrolet Corvette ConvertibleBid Now2 days$4,000
1964 Ford F-100 Camper CustomBid Now2 days$2,000
2006 Jeep Wrangler SportBid Now4 days$10,500
1974 Datsun 260ZBid Now6 days$460
Comments
Lovely example, a perfectly proper automobile!
Several years back, Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead recommissioned one of these on Wheeler Dealers….very good episode.
All the best to the new owner!
👍🤓
Salvage Hunters Classic Cars did a 1961 Amazon a few years back. Its mechanicals were perfect; their restoration was entirely cosmetic.
Needs nothing? Not so. 1st, and foremost, that gas line dangerously close to the fan, and that’s a Weber carb, not the worst swap, but the B-18 originally had 2 SUs, and I swear by them. I believe one could get a single Solex too, but SUs worked for me. Nice cars, even though dated by the 60s, with it’s 50s styling, but if I had somewhere to go, THIS is what I’d be driving. Great find.
I left the Volvo world about 15 years ago, and even then there were only a handful of places in North America that could properly rebuild an SU carb. I’m not sure who’s left, as most of the folks I knew who could do it right were semi-retired 15 years ago.
I’m no fan of the Weber conversion, either, but at this point it’s a lot easier and probably cheaper than a proper rebuild of a pair of SUs.
Replacement SUs, parts, and folks who rebuild them are all over the place. British parts sales companies like Moss Motors have every piece needed for a rebuild and the many British rebuild and restoration companies scattered around the country could handle anything you needed done. The units themselves are very simple and don’t require a degree in aeronautics to rebuild them.
Spot on, BobHess. They’re perhaps the easiest carb to rebuild. If the throttle shaft shows wear, White Post Restorations can resleeve brass bushings. As far as I’m concerned, a no-brainer that even a nubie can do easily. Someone probably didn’t want to sync carbs or thought a Weber (and new intake manifold) was a cool way to go.
Looks nice and price seems reasonable. The weber carb is a fairly common modification for people who didn’t want to refurbish the SU. I believe the interior is re-upholstered, but not too far away from the original appearance.
My dad got a very similar one (but 4-speed 121) when I was 5, and with all the positive opinions on these cars it’s always been amusing to me that it was the only car he owned that he hated. He called it “the ox” and thought that it was heavy and uncomfortable to drive. He traded it for a 1970 Opel Rekord Hardtop Coupe and never got another Volvo for as long as he still drove. (He just sold a Ford Fiesta that was his last car – at 94 he and mom decided that “we’ve always said that we should stop driving before something bad happens, and now that’s the time to do that!”)
$9500 now
Volvos must have a lot of hidden attributes. But park this next to anything else in 1965 and it would look dated, like something out of the 1950s.
That’s the cool thing about them!
SU carbs are both simple and complicated. They are simple to tune, and seldom need adjustment, once dialed-in. They are complicated when they have enough miles that the throttle shafts wear into the carb bodies, and air leaks make the car run inconsistently. At that point, no amount of rebuild parts will make any difference, and they need to go to someone like Bob Johnson (Claremore, OK) or Joe Curto (NY) for new bushings, throttle shafts, butterflies, etc. Few people have reamers long enough to do both sides of the carb body at once, to keep things in line – probably the most critical step in a successful rebuild.
Tom Lange
Hey Jim ODONNELL is the price on this find $6500.00 or $9500.00? You say 650 the craig’s list says 9500. Am I missing something
The seller must have raised the price once it started to get attention from our write-up.
Yes, I double-checked that one because it seemed so reasonable – the seller probably realized it was worth considerably more (I’ve done that too with cars that I have sold).
Thx,
JO
6500 not 650 brain freeze!
Thanks Jesse!
I think VP Autoparts sells new SU’s. I have a pair on my 67 that have are about to need to be line bored for the shaft bushings which isn’t bad after 200K miles. I have a weber conversion on my 64 because it came with one (with a Volvo competition manifold) when I got it in the 70’s. The SU’s flow better on the top end, I like the throttle response off idle of the Weber. They all work well. I love the single side draft DeLorto conversions but you don’t see many of them. The twin DCOE conversions are just too much carburetor without a lot of other work.
finally! a properly priced car. nice example.
Well, it was…
Underpriced car
I’d be shocked if this 122 hasn’t already sold. It wouldn’t last a day at this price on the east coast.
Too bad it’s a slushbox.
At least it’s a coupe!
I haven’t been without an Amazon or 2 in close to 50 years. I couldn’t live with that Borg Warner. It really stifles the performance.