The eternal question faced by many classic car enthusiasts is whether to treat their pride and joy to a restoration or should it be retained as a survivor. That will be the dilemma facing the person who buys this 1967 Volvo 122S Kombi Estate. It is a tremendous old station wagon that can be enjoyed as it stands. However, a cosmetic restoration would make this a striking vehicle that would be sure to turn heads wherever it goes. If you have no doubts which path you would follow and would like to let this sweet Swede into your life, you will find it located in Denver, Colorado, and listed for sale here on eBay. The buyer has set the BIN at $13,000, and there are already 139 people watching the listing.

It seems that the Dark Green Volvo was treated to a repaint by a previous owner at some point, and it looks like it might be due for a repeat performance. An unrestored photo like this can have some great value because, in this case, it allows us to see one of the few rust issues that this car has ever suffered. You can see a repair around the rear wheel arch, where the owner had some rust cut out and professionally repaired. Otherwise, the few small spots where the bumper brackets attach to the car are all that is left for the buyer to tackle. The panels are straight, while the trim and chrome are in excellent order for their age. There are no visible problems with the glass, and the roof bars would be perfect for any budding surfers out there.

When we scratch below the surface, we discover that the owner has spent up big on this classic in the past five years. That engine presents beautifully, and while it isn’t numbers-matching, it is a 1,778cc B18 4-cylinder engine with a genuine 50,000 miles under its belt. The owner had this unit installed, along with a 4-speed manual transmission with the optional overdrive unit. That’s merely the tip of the iceberg because the list of other parts that he has replaced is as long as your arm, and my arm, and the arms of several other people into the bargain! The list includes ignition components, the water pump, suspension and brake components, and the list goes on. If that isn’t enough, the owner also has other new and used original parts that he includes in the sale. This hard work has paid dividends because the owner says that the Volvo runs and drives well. He has just undertaken a journey of 200 miles, and the wagon barely raised a sweat.

If this Kombi wagon is considered a driver-grade vehicle, its interior would seem to need nothing. Some of the upholstered surfaces, like the seat covers, might require attention in the future, but a high-quality set of slipcovers could hide their problems for many years. The original rubber floor mat is in good condition, and there are no real problems with the dash, pad, or headliner. One highlight for me is the map pockets in the door trims. These have a nasty habit of sagging badly over time, but these look nice and tight. The factory AM radio is intact, but an aftermarket FM converter mounted under the dash broadens the buyer’s listening options. The owner made one pretty wise move, and that was the decision to install aftermarket air conditioning. This blows ice cold and would make long journeys in hot weather a more enjoyable experience.

Classic station wagons are a must-have in today’s market, and most of the examples that we tend to see here at Barn Finds are domestic products with a V8 under the hood. That makes this 1967 Volvo 122S Kombi Estate a breath of fresh air. It is a practical vehicle that should be essentially bulletproof, and bringing its presentation to the next level should not be that difficult. When I look at this vehicle, I see a fantastic family restoration project that the whole clan can enjoy when the work is completed. Alternatively, a buyer could continue to drive it as it stands, and they would receive just as much attention without spending a dime on the restoration work. Which option would you choose if you found this wagon sitting in your workshop?