Thanks to David W. for tracking down this jewel box of a car! This 1964 Volvo 122S Wagon is about as nice of a 122S wagon as I’ve ever seen, and this one is over-the-top nice with a few modifications for ease of driving in modern traffic. Not to mention that the listing on eBay is an absolute model for all other sellers on how to show off their product with the best photos possible and lots of them. The bid price on this Swedish beauty is up to $8,300 already and there are over five days left to get your bids in on this one!
This is one Amazon.. I mean, amazing Volvo! This car is known as the Amazon in Sweden but here in the US they were called the 122S by the time that they were introduced at the New York International Auto Show in 1959. An incredible amount of work has been done on this car to bring it up to at least somewhat modern standards as far as functioning several decades ahead of a normal 1964 Volvo 122S Wagon would. Hagerty lists a #2 “excellent” 1964 Volvo 122S as being valued at $13,500 and a #1 “concours” car at $22,700. This one will fall somewhere in-between those two numbers, in my opinion, because it’s not original. That isn’t to say that it’s not better than anything that Volvo kicked out the door in 1964, because it is, but original is king (or, queen) when it comes to concours pricing. Of course, the price of a resto-mod like this 122S would most likely be higher than a car that’s been restored back to original spec so who knows what the final price will be. There is no reserve on this auction so it’s heading to the highest bidder!
As perfect as this car looks, there is a flaw! The humanity! The lower portion of the tailgate, you know, the part that goes down while the upper part goes up in a sort of clam-shell design? Yeah, that lower portion is starting to show some rust bubbling. I’m assuming that this red color would be easier to match than on a silver car or some other metallic finish car, but white and black are probably the easiest color, or tone, to match. The underside looks rust-free and that’s probably more important than the tail gate is, rust-wise. Modifications include, “IPD sport coils and sway bars front and rear, renewed front bushings, ball joints, tie rods and idler arm, plus Bilstein shocks on all corners. The front brakes have been updated to discs with braided stainless flex lines. A 2.25″ exhaust was installed through a Dynomax muffler with side exit. The rear end was rebuilt, it’s a Dana-Spicer Type 30 axle with 4.10 gears. Rebuilt driveline with new u-joints, hanger limit straps and poly bushings.” Wow!
Hey, those seats aren’t from a 122S! You are correct, they’re from a late model Volvo 240 and they’re heated. I can’t imagine driving a car like this in sloppy, salty, snowy weather, but that’s what they were made for; Sweden isn’t exactly Arizona. Since I wouldn’t be driving this one every day I would prefer the original-spec seats, but that’s just me. The back seat is original, that’s nice. When it comes time to haul firewood home, or stow away your snow shoes and/or groceries, you’ll have more than enough room in the back. The seller says that “the gauges and controls operate correctly, the only deviation from stock are programmable intermittent wipers, on a Volvo switch. Tachometer is functional, heater and fan work great, and the correct indicator light for the overdrive has been installed.”
This isn’t a stock 1964 engine, it’s a “B20F motor from a ’72 140, it starts easily and runs beautifully, this is a great driving car. Lots of upgrades here, including a dual-line master cylinder, 1968-style steering box with collapsible column and poly coupler bearings, Bosch alternator conversion, Pertronix electronic ignition in a Philbin-built 007 Bosch distributor, and a Bosch blue coil mounted in stock location.” I had no idea that Regis Philbin made Volvo distributors! (hey, where’d everybody go?) What a cool custom Volvo! Have any of you done such intensive modifications to an “old” vehicle?
I notice the wheels appear to be 6″ wide, look to be modified by cutting the wheel and adding a spacer! Well done!
Close – these are original centers welded to new rims. No spacers, exactly – but the same essential result.
Plenty old volvos with b20s runnin round. This is a great 122
Too far away from me. SAD!
Now that a wagon after my own heart. Looks like this is going to get expensive though!
Those wheels really make the car. Very Nice
This kind of a “mild” resto-mod. I had several 122 wagons and this is great.
U can find many of these in Swedish,Norwegian and Danish sites….higly overprised…..thow the “S” model is rare .
I love it and I want it, and I can’t have it, and I never thought I would ever say I want a Volvo!
You write about no snow in Arizona. When we visited Grand Canyon we couldn´t see anything because of falling snow. Then I drove the rented Pinto on summer tires across Humphreys Peak during the snowy night. I was glad to have experience of such conditions at home in Sweden. No problem but I would have prefered an Amazon.
Men helst med en säck potatis i lasten, kanske?
I think this eBay auction, even though allegedly “No Reserve” is a classic case of probable shill bidding – look at how many of the bidders have bid ONLY on multiple listings for this same seller! While I suppose that’s theoretically possible, when you’ve got multiple bidders who fall into this category, I think it’s safe to say “something’s rotten in Denmark” – hmmm, and I’ve made an almost pun there that I’m sure the seller will get!! I think it’s safe to say – no serious bidder is going to bid so much so early in the auction – to do so is absolutely STUPID if you seriously want to buy the car!
No likely reason to be suspicious here… although he says he didn’t restore this particular car, the seller has a well-earned reputation in the classic car community for offering quality restored vehicles (including numerous vintage Volvos). I’d offer that the history of numerous bidders is more likely a reflection of his business track record as an enthusiast who cares about his product.
Re the Philbin distributor – Philbin is a Portland based electronics firm that has rebuilt a number of Bentley distributors for me, as well as the generator on my old Cobra. They do a lot of Ford Flathead stuff as well.
It’s already over $10k. It’s nice and it’s close to me and I’ve been looking for a nice 122S Wagon, but it still needs some finishing and need to deal with the rust in the tailgate soon, even though it’s not bad. I know it will sell for way more than I’m willing to spend, but will keep an eye on it just in case.
@brakeservo – happy to clarify the bidding activity on this for you. The only bidder who has bid on this and other items I’m selling is the very first bid of $2500. I see him bid on my auctions frequently, almost always the very first bid of the auction, maybe just a way of saying hello (even though I’ve never met him, lol). Anyway, go ahead and click on the user id’s on the bidding history page, they’ll take you to a profile that shows everything they’re bidding on. You’ll see that my auction is one of many they’re bidding on, but never on both of the cars I have listed now. Claims of “shill bidding” seem to be the latest commenting fad, but you won’t find that on this car.
Lovely looking car. I’ve always liked the 1960-64 Volvo 122s. Preferably 4 door sedan and wagon.
I have installed many B20’s in everything from 444’s to 142’s……..what a great engine. The B18 is also good with the same upgraded bottom end from the B16 but the 2 liter B20 is just a sweet spot. Portland is a hot spot for great Volvos with the great Volvo performance company IPD headquartered there. We used to say that the B20 had more main bearing surface than the small block Chevrolet. This looks like a wonderful car with plenty of interest. Maby I should go back into the Volvo business.
My dad bought a new Volvo in 1958, the older version of this wagon. {See photo] I loved that car, drove like a truck, and lots of room. Dad traded it in on a New Peugeot 403, 7 passenger Familial, back in 1960
You can get parts for the amazon at Vp auto parts they are located in the US down south and they sell every part you need . The parts are reasonable and they are shipped right away .i have a 65 4door and I have replaced the floors and lower back panels in the rear . They carry everything from brakes to screws.
Sweet looking Duett. I’ve always liked its shape over the PV544. It looks more practical than the Amazon, despite having only two doors.
The good news, there are nice 122 wagons around,,,,the bad news, looks like I’ll never get one now.
Aside from the suspect bidding issues. If I was going to trick out a Volvo wagon I don’t think I could do much better than what has been done to this to upgrade it. The larger engine and modified exhaust as well as the sparking bits sure can’t hurt performance. It seems to be in fairly good condition even if not original. I like it for what it is, which is unusual as I am a purist.
I’d buy a pre-1967 Volvo 122s if I could find one in decent (driveable) condition.
Nice ride, not showroom, but lots of fun. But with electric OD?
The only Volvo factory over-drive of which I am aware in the ’60’s was on the P1800 with a B18B motor. Some 123’s had the O/D but with the B18 in the US, An Australian 123 GT I knew well had a B20 motor, though.
This has the B20B 2 Liter motor and, having driven both, I prefer it as the B20 pulls a lot harder than you might expect from the extra 200cc.
So, question is, was the B20 install done complete with its 240 series gearbox and electric O/D?
Overdrive was also available in 122 variants as a dealer installed option, though this car was originally fitted with a standard M40 4 speed.
The M41 in this car came from a 142, not a 240. The engine came from a Portland area enthusiast, who rebuilt it and then sold it to the fellow who assembled the car
Cameron,
That all makes sense, thanks for the clarification.
I guess the smaller Volvo numbers sold in Oz meant there was less room for dealer options.
I had a 144S with a P1800 B18B motor and gearbox with the electric OD.
My friends referred to it as the 1967 to 1974 Volvo. I was hardly ever able to use the OD, even on the highway, as it had no legs for the hills.
Great to have that history, it can only add value.
Since when does a car have to be showroom new condition to be nice. I’d buy an early Volvo 122s if it were a nice survivor. Particularly a 4 door sedan or a wagon. :)