This 1966 Volvo 122S is probably the nicest car I’ve seen this weekend. I shot it in Jyväskylä, central Finland, just casually sitting on a side street not far from the town centre.
It’s wearing the right kind of Minilites, aux lights, mirrors, everything, and the paint is the right shade of brick red.
The Amazon, a 60-year-old design, is unquestionably one of the best looking Volvos. The dimensions are brilliant and the Amazon lends itself to some slight improvements without losing character.
This 122S had a twin carburetor 1800cc engine with 85 horsepower, and it was the sporty version before 1967’s 123GT.
Weekend Edition: 1966 Volvo Amazon 122S
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if i ever give up (give up on?) my V70, one of these or an 1800 is on the short list of replacements. i think the age is offset by the simplicity, durability, and good aftermarket support. or at least, that’s what i’ll tell myself when i’m standing next to one three feet deep in the weeds, getting ready to hand over my money and put it on a trailer.
it’s not actually a short list at all, but these are definitely on it.-
Honestly, my old Volvos were pretty careless machines – the wonderful thing being that they almost always started. Even with a hole in the carb membrane, I could move from A to B, cautiously, under my own power. Only later, with improved knowledge and absorbed experience of other people off The Great Internet did I realize that driving around in the marked’s cheapest 40 year old half deads was taking some chances.
Just yesterday I found this 122S:
http://m.finn.no/car/used/ad.html?finnkode=72847495
https://finncdn.no/dynamic/960w/2016/3/vertical-3/19/5/728/474/95_1688721808.jpg
https://finncdn.no/dynamic/960w/2016/3/vertical-3/19/5/728/474/95_1489848257.jpg
There’s a guy with a weird need to sticker out his car with letters, but I guess it’s removable. Pretty Amazon…yet at that price point, I’d not doubt for a second what I’d rather have.
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That does look wonderful. I really like the fender mounted mirrors and the driving lamps. I’m not sure Minilites are ideal for the car, but they do make it look longer. And I worry a bit about the door fitment. Compared to a similarly sized new car, I’m sure it’s absolutely cavernous inside. Which makes me think of Checker (as one always should).
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Decent interior space, but “cavernous” is being more than slightly generous. Sure as hell not big enough for jump seats in the rear like the Checker cabs had.
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The big advantage though is the electronics-free footwell. Everything seems big coming from plastic-clad modern-o-vehicles.
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Minilites are always great, even those 20″ lookalikes I saw on a Touareg yesterday. Also, you are out of snow already!
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I always see quite a lot of Rover P5 in the styling of these, or probably vice versa as the Amazon hit the market two years earlier.
I expect it’s pure coincidence.
http://www.simoncars.co.uk/rover/slides/Rover%2035-litre%20rear.jpg-
Imperial, you are my father!
http://m0.i.pbase.com/u26/xl1ken/upload/19276640.027lo.jpg
…in spirit.
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Love, love, love the Amazons. Even in 4-door form, they are beautiful.
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