Thanks to reader Mathias B. (presumably of Sweden) who spotted this enhanced-at-birth 1972 Volvo “165” here on bilwebauctions.se. It resides outside Göteborg, Sweden (“Gothenburg” for us English-speaking types) until its auction on 5 May 2018. While it may or may not have inhabited a barn during its 46 years, its tale should interest anyone who loves a good car story. This one began as Volvo Engineer Sture Levin took a brand new Volvo 145 (four-cylinder wagon) to customizers Nilssons who upgraded the car with parts from Volvo’s upscale 164 sedan. Online bidding has reached $250,000 Swedish Crowns (SEK) or nearly $29,000 (USD).
In 1972, Volvo’s 140-series model designation decoded as 1=First Series, 4=Four Cylinder, then the number of doors, so the station wagon (five-door) equaled “145.” Volvo’s top-shelf six-cylinder line included the 162 coupe and 164 sedan but never a “165,” a six-cylinder wagon (thanks to curbsideclassic.com for some details).
Nilssons crafted the ultimate “one of none” super-wagon with air-conditioning, supple black leather, four-speed overdrive transmission, and of course the bigger engine.
The sweet B30E inline six cylinder engine made 160 HP during a year that Ford’s 302 cubic inch V8 made 135 HP. I remember getting smoked at a Pittsburgh traffic light years ago by a 164 while driving my 1978 Buick LeSabre. Compared to a V8 the boxy Volvo sounded raw and mechanical, but it was no contest.
Additional exterior trim and sunroof contribute to the high style of the “165.” I have friends in Gothenburg who might be willing to check the car out. While I don’t see myself casting a bid on this truly one-of-a-kind vehicle, I certainly appreciate it. Who has a Volvo story to share?
This such a cool Volvo Wagon. The epitome of a mundane hotrod grocery getter. I’ll bet it brings all the money.
A similar thing happened on these shores with a Paul Newman connection. He already had a 740 wagon with a V6 from a Buick Grand National and commissioned a custom build of the new 960 wagon he had purchased. He chose Ron Converse at Converse Engineering for the job and the drivetrain included a Ford crate 5.0 302 with Kenne Bell supercharger making about 380 horses backed by a T-5 transmission and independent rear suspension. Three were built in total with one being for David Letterman.
Here’s a great link:
http://www.swedespeed.com/news/publish/Features/printer_33.html
Looks just like the Volvo we had when I was 5 or 6. Don’t remember a sunroof, but it sure was cool to lay in the back at the drive-in theater.
Just wonderful. Style and function…
Nice car, nice stance…meatier tires and it would look perfect.
At least it was a Volvo and not a 1974 Volkswagon Super Beetle that smoked you. That would be me. In a 1977 Mercury Cougar XR-7 with a 400 cu V-8. Beautiful car, but a slug in a race. Even my 1972 Mercury Montego MX with a 351 cu V-8 could blow this Cougar away
That’s quite a cool machine. I used to drive a 164E sedan in the early 1970s and found it ideal for long road trips.
Had a 1970 164E sedan. Great road car.
As one who thinks nearly all Volvo wagons are absolutely hideous, I would like to have this example.
My dad had a 122 back in the late 60s, it’s actually what I learned to drive in. 2 doors, four-cylinder, 2 carburetors with a nice 4 speed manual transmission. The thing was built like a tank, he couldn’t hurt it no matter what you did. I actually ended up teaching several girlfriends to drive a manual transmission on it also.
Later in the mid-70s I bought a new 242 with the electric 5 speed overdrive transmission. I put 88,000 miles on it in less than 2 years and never had a problem with it. Of course after that I got the itch for a new car ended up buying a Audi Fox.
Greetings All,
I had a 164E sedan.
Volvo makes a great car though the fuel injection on this model was somewhat finicky.
Volvo however cannot spec a 12v motor to save their lives. Thank God my car didn’t have power windows.
The wiper motor a one year item, the next years were no better. The heater blower motor was also problematic.
The hybrid leather vinyl seats with heating elements were different for 1976.
So much of the car I loved including the sunroof, also not a motor, thankfully.
I’d still own another if I found one, 256K on that car, I just tired of it.
One of none…. is one of two. I have not seen one of these since 1988 in Sheepranch, Ca. while visiting this tiny town I met a man who loved Volvo’s and had many parked all around his home, as he showed me his cars and his love for all things Volvo he opened his garage door and there sat a early 70’s silver 165 and yes, he built it from a 145 and explained how he built it and what was needed to do so. 10 years later I drove through this sleepy little town and the Volvo man’s home was all cleaned up and not a Volvo in sight, I still wonder were all those old and odd Volvo’s ended up.
There are a couple of others out there. A dark blue one turned up in a barn in Sweden in rough shape a few years back. Supposedly that one was actually the only one the factory ever built. And then the occasional home brew ones here and there. Maybe five or ten at the most?
The very last car that my father owned before he decided that it was time to surrender his driver’s licence was a Volvo 242 GT. The car had an illustrious history, having spent a number of years as the daily driver for a gentleman by the name of Ian “Pete” Geoghegan. “Pete” (named after Black Pete) was an Australian racing driver of legendary proportions. His list of credits included winning the Australian Touring Car Championship five times, and co-driving to a win in the Bathurst 1000 with ex-pat Canadian Alan Moffat.
I can remember the first time that I drove dad’s Volvo. I was astounded by the combination of refinement coupled to amazing performance for a 4-cylinder engine. I can understand exactly why “Pete” kept it as his daily driver for nearly ten years. I wish that I’d been intelligent enough to buy the Volvo off my father when he decided to sell it. Yet another mistake to add to my list!
For those of you who need a little inspiration to tackle your next project car, it’s worth your while having a look at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1JMR39KnGM&t=40s
This is an episode of an English show called Car SOS. The premise of the show is that the hosts receive requests from viewers to secretly restore a car owned by a loved one. The cars have fallen into serious disrepair either due to illness, or family tragedies. This episode features the guys restoring a P1800. It’s worth a watch, because the quality of the workmanship is first-rate, and it’s amazing what they manage to achieve on an extraordinarily tight time-line. You also need to watch the restoration of this car to see an appearance by a very special guest star. Watch and enjoy.
video blocked by warner brothers in usa
Lovely looking car. It’s a shame that Volvo never officially offered a wagon version of the 164(5). I’ve always liked the front end appearance of the earlier 164, without the impact absorbing bumper and shrunken grille.
Was always attracted to 164 sedans but the rear tailight treatment always looked too ‘modern’ or complicated for such an old school traditional front end. This looks perfect. Let me go check my lottery numbers!
With the revised, but hardly all new 2 series, Volvo did put their later B28 V6 engine and high trim package in a wagon, sent it stateside from 1980 to 1982 and called it a GLE without the 265 nomenclature. Could be wrong, but I think they were all automatic. The sedan version (264) was also called GLE.
The motor was made by Peugeot, and even after upgrades from the late 70s B27 version it ate camshafts for lunch. In my own ‘81, after replacing one set (had to bore a hole in the fire wall and send the camshaft through it) which were only really good and quiet for 50k miles or so, I swapped in a B23 turbo and 4 speed w electric OD from a wrecked GLT donor the next time. Also grabbed the plus one sized 15” five spoke rims from the turbo wreck which remain about the best looking set of wheels Volvo has ever made.
Great car into the early 90s when rust eventually took over the rockers and rear fender wells. Interestingly that same V6 was standard spec in the Delorian.
My parents owned a 164, it was great, solid and comfortable and then the Aspen replaced it and ooh the horror….
Whatever made them decide to trade the Volvo for a Dodge Aspen?
I have an early 145 with the two piece window made into a 165 just needs work.The engine only has 21,000 an has stick OD behind it.Lots
of pieces to assemble it
I had a 164E in my younger days and loved it, such a solid car that made you feel safe and cosy inside. the 3ltr straight six I had; had twin carburettors 4 speed with overdrive on 3rd and 4th if I remember correctly and one day while driving on the motorway ( M4 UK ) I suddenly lost power, but she was still running if what sluggishly.It being in the early hours of a Monday morning and I; returning back to my ship after a weekend leave pass did not want to stop, so carried on to Portsmouth Naval Base. Arrived safely and not much later than normal. That evening I checked the old girl out and a vacuum line to one of the carbs had come off. She had driven a hundred miles on three cylinders,reconnected ,and she ran right as rain; she carried on for years after that with no ill effects.I’d have another if I could afford her fuel consumption!!!.
I’d buy one if I could find a decent original example. I’ve always loved Volvo 140-240 series cars. I used to see these frequently when I was a boy.
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2018/03/23/one-of-none-coachbuilt-1972-volvo-165-heads-to-auction/
18 yrs w/a 240 wagon were so good I bought a new 850 when they came out w/1 a yr after the sedan. No where near the same car…
33 yrs of volvo now are 7 yrs’n growing w/ford. However, since no more cars to come out may B fords R out nxt? (ford goes to trucks only? or will they make ele cars as well?).
I drove a 1970 142 S with the dual Zenith Stomberg carbs back in 1976. Best memory was blowing off a fairly new Jaguar on Rte 95 in RI coming home from the beach with a car full of buddies. That car was awesome! Handled great on and off road.
My daily driver is a 1992 240 station wagon, I love it. I wish it had as much styling as this one, Unfortunately it has the Swedish styling of a box. I am currently building an LS6 for it to get a little more umph out of it!
Those are nice car. I regret that I’ve never owned a Volvo of any model.
Surprised noone has mentioned the ones made in Australia. One of them even has a 165 chassis number (1651369W000001 no less) both were made by the factory with one assembled as a 165 and the other made from a 164 and a 145 that were damaged during transit. There are a surprising amount of them around now due to people converting them down the track and that even includes a 165 express being restored in Norway at the moment.
Sweet looking car. I used to see Volvo wagons frequently when I was a boy. At the time, I didn’t find them very attractive to look at. I thought the Volvo 700 series more attractive.