Anyone live with an Amazon?

No, no, not her.  I'm thinking of replacing the 914 with something sedan-ish.  The 914 is really good at what it was meant to do, but have you ever driven one 3 hours or so?

I love cars of the 40s & 50s, but Trish would have to drive it and most of those don't have power steering (it's a big car).  Volvo Amazons are sedans that I like; good size, can do highway speeds, easy on the eyes, lots of hot -roddy stuff out there.  I have a 911 Targa in my garage that I don't own, one day hope to but even then I may just flip it.  Too needy, too conspicuous, I dunno why.

Any thoughts on these Volvos?  Hazards, pitfalls or warnings?

Thanks, Dan

Following, I'd like to learn more as well.  I saw someone loading a mountain bike onto the roof at my local trailhead. It was a 2 door and weathered in a good way.  Everything about it looked right...except it was Florida and it probably didn't have AC.

I have really enjoyed every Amazon I have driven.

Surprisingly sporty for the era, Bank vault like door closing, quiet inside on the freeway, nice looking on the outside. What is not to like? 

A 122 is on the short list of cars to hoard when I have the space for such foolishness.

The 122 is a bolt-in proposition for the later 2.0 engines.  They are rugged and if you can find the rarer wagon version, also have great utility.

For those with more vintage tastes, the previous 544 model offers similar virtues.

I have driven literally dozens of them, and parted out two. They are the most modern car of their era. Great handling and enough power stock and stick shift. Aftermarket A/C is common, as is automatic trans. Both are negatives with stock power. Less common but super desirable are overdrive and LSD. Four doors are getting rare, two doors seem to have survived in greater numbers. Power upgrades to the original engine are easy and quite large without sacrificing driveability. Our own "volvoclearinghouse" has lots of used spares too. The only negative issues are the need for lots of zinc in the engine oil, and lead additive or hardened valve seat modification. The camshafts are soft, the zinc is not an option. Seats are superb from '64 on, the early ones are not.

Can't add much to TurnerX19's expertise, but to note that there's no factory power steering option. I've got a GM electric PS waiting to go into mine, not essential but should make for easier around-town driving.

My friend has an Amazon that he daily drove for 20 years. Still takes care of it and drives it here and there. I still get in it and think that it's the most modern feeling car I've been in from before 1970.

I've spent many hours in a 544(same engine/trans) including doing the Tail of the Dragon and 8+ hours on i40. Surprisingly happy going freeway speeds for hours.

In reply to wspohn :

Love 544s but rust is the enemy.  Saw a nice one with a 3.0 Ranger V-6 five speed, got a chubby.  I can't imagine an engine swap without major surgery.

When I figure out how to cut & paste with the new laptop I will do a link or pics.

I have a theory that 122's haven't really jumped in price because they were so well built and so many have remained in use. They are solid cars, were the first to come with 3-point seatbelts and the engines are known for their long lives. I've got aftermarket AC in one of mine and I will concur with TurnerX19 that both an auto and AC are power killers. There have been a few recently on BaT so check there for market valuations of nicer examples.

IPD in Seattle, one of the many US parts suppliers, has a good classified section (now forum)  HERE.

Edit: Here is one and a parts car for sale in NY

FBM ad for 4door

FBM ad for project 122 in NY

122s are great and as everyone has said there are lots of upgrades. Add a B20 motor, overdrive, LSD and enjoy. 

Well here is some rarity then

122 manual wagon with AC

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/d/shingle-springs-1965-volvo-amazon-wagon/7397400708.html

One other pricey wagon and two 544s on sfbay Craigslist 

Yeah, it was crazy. 6-foot in flats, six-four in heels. She was really nice.

Joke?

If the stock powerplant is anemic, apparently an LS1 fits pretty well. Also, these look sweet with hot rod louvers in the houd.

Paging volvoclearinghouse!

In reply to NickD :

I assure you that they do NOT like engine swaps. Of any kind other than the later Volvo engine/transmission.  

This is actually the one caveat that I put out to any gearhead that is considering one of these. 

Wazhisname put 3 million miles on his P1800 and that this is just an Amazon after a trip to Victoria's Secret.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3043886692551992/

In reply to NOHOME :

Redblock + 16V + boost seems to work for the folks in Scandinavia, although I'm not 100% sure the boost implement fits an Amazon well.

In reply to BoxheadTim :

Have you followed some of those scandahoovian builds? The space shuttle AND space station would be a quick build for those guys.  So, no, anything those guys do does not count.

I wanna move there cause the wumans are all hot, and with the guys out building E36 M3 in the shed all winter, they gotta be bored no?

Modern Volvo T6 swap

BMW E30 in 122

Modern Volvo I5 engine

Nissan SR20DET in 122

Sorry, got carried away - something about using one of these sturdy platforms for more power resonates with me.  There are a bunch of LS V8 swaps I left out too

In reply to NOHOME :

I don't think it's only the guys building stuff out there, but yeah, I've seen some builds from out there. Like the ones that make Project Binky look quickly thrown together...

914Driver said:

Joke?

Oh definitely a joke. And I approve of it. But "some" around here never will. 

In reply to wspohn :

And the local diesel enthusiast also wants to add

In reply to wspohn :

That e30 swap is as much of an e30 swap as can be - everything below the bodywork, front to rear.

Many of the others seem be tube front ends? That'd be super helpful...