2019-06-01 Classic Cars

(Jacob Rumans) #1

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f you’relooking fora seriouslytoughclassicthat
cantake prettymuchanythinginitsstride,from
familymotoringtohistoric rallying,fewcarsfit
thebillliketheVolvo 120 Series‘Amazon’.Roomy,
eminently capable of keeping upwith modern
traffic, safe and affordable to buy, the Volvo
Amazonisalsoeasyto workon,partsavailability
isexcellentandrunningcostsare low.Anddespite
a reputationforbeingponderoustheAmazonis
actuallyprettydecent todrivetoo.Andbecause
theAmazonwassowellbuilt,survivalratesare good–
sonotonlyarethere plentyto choosefrom,buta lotof
thosesurvivorsare inreallygoodcondition.
This buying guide combines the knowledge of
EmmaHenchozofAmazonCars(amazoncars.co.uk),
bodyworkexpertMarkHull(classiccustomsrestorations.
co.uk) andKevinPriceoftheVolvoEnthusiasts’Club
(volvoenthusiastsclub.co.uk).

Whichonetochoose?
121 (B16A, 195 7-1961): the first production model,
with 60bhp, 1582cc, single-carburettor engine, four
doorsandthree-speedmanualgearbox.

122S(B16B, 1958-1961):exportmodel,with 85bhp,
twin-carb,1582ccengineandfour-speedgearbox.
121 (B18A, 1961 -1968):onecarb,newcylinderhead,
1778cc,75bhp(85bhpfrom1966).Two-orfour-door
saloons;thelatteruntil 1967.
122S (B18D, 1961 -1968): twin-carb 121. Two-door
option fr om 196 3; last four-door built 1967. 90bhp
(1961-65),95bhp(1966),100bhp(1967), 115bhp(1968).
221/ 222 (1962-1969): Amazon estate with 17 78cc
engine.Alsoknownasthe 121 or 221 Combiorestate.
123GT (1966-1968): two-door, 115bhp version of
1778ccP1800engine.
121 (B20A, 1968-1970):two-doorwithB20A1998cc
engineofthe140-series.90bhpgave100mph.
122S(B20B,1968-1970):themostpowerfulAmazon,
with118bhp, 1998cc,140-seriesengine.Two-dooronly.

BodyworkandstructureCorrosionwasn’ttraditionally
a problem because of factory-applied rust-proofing;
later two-door cars got some galvanised panels –
seeminglyat random– althoughthiscanleadtopoor
paintadhesion.Newpanelavailabilityisexcellent,with
manystillavailablefromtheoriginaltooling.

Volvo Amazon

Withpricesonthemove,now’sthetimeto buythesestylishandtoughSwedes
WordsRICHARDDREDGEPhotographyJOHNCOLLEY

Pr ojectscanbeas
cheapas£500, but
ro ad-readyAmazons
costat least£3kfor
a four-doorsaloon.
Two-doorcarsare at
leastanextra£1000.
A goodfour-door
12 2Sis worth£4k; an
equivalenttwo-door
is£7kbutthebest
12 2Swillfetch£10k.
A nice123GTstarts
at£15k, superb
examplesare£20k+.
Estatesare very
collectible. Road-
worthycarsstartat
£8k, nice ones£15k,
thebest£20k.
LateB18sare
fa vouredforhistoric
rallying; post-1967
B20Amazonsare put
into thelaterpost-
historiccategory.

[Whattopay]

Sixsteps
tobuyinga
Free download pdf