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$3,500 Swede: 1971 Volvo 145S Wagon

Here’s a 1971 Volvo 145S Wagon; pretty Swede, eh? This sweet Swede is posted on Craigslist with an asking price of $3,500. I’m guessing that they’d be open to offers since they say that they’re “Looking to get $3,500…” The seller says that the paint has seen better days, but there’s no mention of rust at all, and I don’t see any rust in any of the photos. It’s located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The first photo is the only exterior photo showing the actual body panels, so you’ll have to get in touch with the seller to get more. All of the other photos show the car with the doors open and a very nice-looking interior beyond those open doors. This rear compartment should hold more than enough for the average family. One thing that we’re probably all used to now with our modern vehicles is the anti-theft pull-cover that goes over your valuables in the back. Which always seemed a little odd to me, once you pull it closed you’re telling thieves that you do in fact have valuables back there even if they can’t see them until they smash your window.

As you can see, the dash has melted into somewhat of a horseshoe shape so you’ll have to source another one.. no, wait, that’s just a wide-angle photo; never mind. The interior really does look nice on this car, especially given it’s early-70s vintage. Volvos are known for being as tough as nails. This odometer shows 68,013 miles. The driver’s seat shows a tear but that’s the only problem with this interior that they mention, or that I can see.

The seller says that this car runs good and is extremely reliable. It has a fresh inspection and oil change and the tires are a month old. This is Volvo’s 20B, a 2.0L inline-four with around 100 hp. This one is priced right between Hagerty’s #4 “fair” and #3 “good” range, or just below NADA’s “low retail” value. This Volvo wagon seems like a decent car and a square deal to me, what do you think?

Comments

  1. HoA Howard A Member

    You know, I should probably abandon the hope of finding a decent 122 wagon for cheap, and set my sights on one of these, before the market catches up, like it did with the 122. These were great cars, many became lifelong Volvo owners thanks to these cars, and many probably still have theirs. I’d only hope parts has gotten better with the internet, used to be a pain. Can’t go wrong here.

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  2. Avatar RayT

    The 145 is a neat little ride, though I don’t know anything about the examples with automatics (like this one). My ex’s 144 had been pretty well-used by the time we got it, but performed well until we traded it.

    Yes, Volvo devotees have driven the prices up, but so many cars from this era seem to command crazy money now. I would never have thought Pintos — to name only one — would command more than three-digit prices again!

    Absent the slushbox, this could make a nice DD. But I’d still rather have a Duett!

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  3. Avatar motoring mo

    Pburgh? Beware of rust on this yinzer…

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  4. Avatar redwagon

    rust never sleeps in pennsylvania, still of it looks as good in person as it does in pictures then the price is a winner, winner, chicken dinner all day long the auto would bum me out but the color combo is still relevant

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  5. Avatar Eric Lund

    I bought this car a few days ago and I believe the Craigslist ad has since been pulled down by the seller. I’m also a Volvo collector in Virginia (currently own a 1959 Duett, 1960 544, 1967 122 wagon, 1967 122 sedan) and have been searching for a 145 for several years. In my experience, the 145’s seem much harder to find than any other Volvo wagon… and while my preference would also have been for a manual, the sluggish automatic borg warner transmissions in these cars are rather robust. I plan to have this particular 145 resprayed in the dark green (94 code) color. I believe the 68,000 miles are true after getting a history on the car from the seller and judging by the rather remarkable condition of the original interior.

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    • Avatar KennyGrant

      Eric was there any rust ?

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    • Avatar Jamie Staff

      Congratulations, Eric!

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    • Avatar Neal

      Congratulations and good luck with your new-old Volvo!

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    • Avatar Scotty Staff

      Congrats, Eric! I hope that it works out and please let us know!

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  6. Avatar Eric Lund

    a few areas of minor surface rust from what I could see in additional photos that I was able to get… I’m still awaiting delivery of the car and have yet to see it in person.

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  7. Avatar Dolphin Member

    I owned two of these as family cars and at various times drove them across the continent fully loaded and they were amazing haulers. But mine had the 4-speed + OD, and I don’t think this one with the auto trans would be as good.

    They rode fairly high on their suspension but I suppose that made them better haulers. They were used bargains and went the full distance as family wagons, but both eventually went the way of most cars that lived their lives in the rust belt, unfortunately.

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  8. Avatar chad

    my wagon had a rear main seal go that the dealer said they couldn’t fix (what?).
    was a champ beside that (owned 20 yrs). Bought a newer 1 (850) that wasn’t 1/2 the car (but way ‘sportier’- turbo, etc).

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  9. Avatar Dave W

    I helped a girlfriend buy a ’70 145s in 1991 for $800. It was mustard yellow, and did several repairs on it over the next few months to keep it on the road. When she moved back to Austria, she gave it to me. I promptly drove it to the junkyard and sold it for $60. What can I say– I was young and foolish then.

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  10. Avatar Andrew

    It seems to have 1 orange light too much at the front.

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  11. Avatar jesus bortoni

    My wife and I bought a142 off the showroom floor in 1972 for $3500.00 About the same as what this one is going for. A heck of a car!

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  12. Avatar Eric Lund

    The car arrived at its new home in Virginia. Upon seeing it in person, the paint was more heavily oxidized than anything else and before shipping it off to the paint shop I spent a day compounding and waxing. Look at it now!

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