Isn’t it amazing how quickly the 140-series Volvos disappeared from our roads? There are still plenty of 240s used as daily drivers to be sure, but I remember a time in the early 1990s when it was still pretty common to see a 145 station wagon. Actually, the Volvo contingent at the Carlisle Import Nationals has reliably been one of the strongest at this annual event.
While there is always a great turnout of 80s and 90s Volvos, occasionally with V8 power, my annual favorites to see are stock 140 and 240 series cars in great condition such as this example. Let’s take a closer look.
Built from 1966 till 974, the 140 series Volvo initially came with 1.8 liter 4-cylinder engines out of the Volvo Amazon. The 145 station wagon joined the lineup in 1968, and continued as the 140 cars were facelifted. The 140 series, you might recall, was updated twice during its product cycle, in 1971 and 1973.
The example seen at Carlisle 2012 above features the 1973 fascia, which I have to confess is my favorite. Some Volvo fans prefer the earlier 140 cars, because they still had the traditional “extruded” chrome door handles, and that’s perhaps one feature of the second-facelift 140s that I would have liked to keep. As you can probably tell, the topic of Volvo details is not a foreign one to me, and I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time before a 140 or a 240 appears in my garage. Perhaps an early 240 wagon with round headlights, like the one driven by the protagonists in Beetlejuice in the fictional town of Winter River, Connecticut.
While a lot of Volvo fans are in agreement that the 240-series cars look best with the 5-spoke GT wheels, the 140 cars are thought to look best with the chrome wheelcovers (which are not present on this example). No worries, as I recall (perhaps correctly) that the chrome wheelcovers over steelies were available on the earlier 140 series cars. Overall, this was a sharp example that has been kept pretty close to stock condition, discounting a few add-ons.
If you haven’t blown off graduations/birthdays/reunions in favor of attending the Carlisle Import Nationals yet, the 2013 edition of the best furrin’ car gathering on the right coast will take place in Carlisle, Pennsylvania from May 17th through May 19th.
Full gallery from Carlisle 2012 below:
![http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/1967_Volvo_123GT_Canadian_1367232332.jpg"](http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/1967_Volvo_123GT_Canadian_1367232332.jpg"){kind=link}
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