2019-06-01 Classic Cars

103

Start by checking the front and rear wings and
wheelarches, plus the front panel. Floorpans and
chassis rails survive well, but rust can crop up in
the rails at the top of the inner wings. Repairs cost
around £1000 per side. The wings themselves can
rot, especially around the headlamps. Repairs aren’t
usually cost-effective but new wings are available at
£600 apiece. The front crossmember (behind the front
panel) can also corrode, which is a £400 fix.
Other weak spots are the rear quarter panels and
rear wheelarches, which harbour mud and rot from
the inside out; allow £1200 per side for repairs. The
wheelarch lip is double-skinned and some repairers
don’t recreate the seam by the corner of the rear door;
proper repairs cost up to £1000 per side.
A leaking front or rear screen can wreck an Amazon,
so check these carefully. Old-fashioned mastic must
be used to ensure the apertures stay watertight. If the
screens have been leaking, the corners of the bulkhead
rot – check this from the engine bay; £400 per side fixes
things. Also vulnerable are the walls of the footwells,
visible from behind the cardboard trim panels; budget
on £400 per side to put things right. A sodden driver’s

footwell can also be the result of a failed heater valve;

new ones are £180 and replacement is easy.

The spare wheel well can rot when the drain hole

gets blocked; repairs cost £500-£600 and new wells are

available. Other possible rot spots include the lower

edges of the doors (£600 per side to fix) and the rear

section of each sill (£700 per side).

Amazon estates don’t suffer from rotten spare wheel

wells, but the split tailgate can rot, so inspect both

halves carefully. Repairing the bottom section isn’t

difficult, but the top is full of curves so you’re almost

always better off replacing than repairing. However,

used panels are scarce so you’ll pay at least £1000

for both halves in good condition. Also on the estate,

condensation can form under the rear side window

seals, leading to the metal corroding out of sight and a

bill of £600 per side to put things right.

Engine Three engines sizes were available, the most

common being the 1780cc B18 unit, then the 1990cc

B20 unit fitted from 1968. The earlier 1582cc B16

engine is rare and it’s the only three-bearing unit; the

other two have five main bearings. Rebuilding a B18 or

‘The Amazon is roomy, capable,

safe and affordable to buy, with

excellent parts availability’

As well as being more

robust than the 140

that replaced it, the

Amazon is also a lot

more stylish. It’s also

simple to maintain

with plenty of

upgrades available

Volvo Amazon [Buying Guide]