In 1965, few cars would announce their owners’ practical natures like a Volvo 122S (or a 544). But a station wagon? If you pulled up to your date’s house in this thing, you’d earn their parents’ trust in no time. Because of this practical nature, it’s unsurprising that there seem to be quite a few “Amazons” for sale at any given time, although their prices have been steadily on the rise. Barn Finds reader Curvette spotted this well-sorted wagon for sale on craigslist in the Seattle area, and since it came from California, it’s a “solid example” with “mostly original paint.” (Is it Pearl White? Ivory?) The asking price for this cute but durable little Volvo is $16,500.
The heart of the 122S is the B18D engine, which is a 1780cc unit that originally came with two SU carburetors and 95 horsepower in 1965. This car has had a few modifications in the name of safety and ease of tuning, such as a dual circuit master cylinder and a single Weber conversion. The Weber is a common swap, and you can buy ready-to-install kits from the major Volvo parts suppliers for around $750 plus shipping. However, that’s already been done here. The radiator has been flushed and pressure tested, and the engine’s been given new points, plugs, distributor cap, and rotor (I think we can assume it’s gotten a condenser as well, although modern quality leaves something to be desired sometimes).
The standard Volvo transmission was the M40 four-speed with an optional overdrive, which this car has. Wagons had a 4.56:1 final-drive ratio (thank goodness for the overdrive!), and this one has a rebuilt differential with limited-slip, which must have been an uncommon option. Not much is said about the interior aside from the fact that it has Siless sound deadening under the carpeting and inside the doors, so this wagon will be a little quieter than a standard 122. The pictures in the ad show that the dashboard doesn’t have any of the typical cracks, and the red upholstery appears to be in great shape (although the front seats don’t seem to quite match the back, so perhaps they’ve been reupholstered).
The load area looks lovely, a perfect scene for a picnic basket. (And you get a Haynes service manual, which in my experience with my 1800S, has been pretty good.)
In addition to the aforementioned upgrades, this ’65 model has Hella fog lamps, new bushings (I assume in the suspension), Bilstein shocks, and IPD sway bars (IPD is a major Volvo parts supplier in Oregon).
Volvo advertised that the average life expectancy of their cars in Sweden was 11 years, and that was in a land with no speed limits on the highway and where “70,000 miles of the roads are unpaved.” Clearly, the 122S was designed to be tough, and this one has also been thoroughly fettled so you can spend more time driving and less time wrenching. Not a bad gig, if you ask me.
Very cool wagon! A better sales “prop”, instead of a picnic basket, would be a half assembled IKEA cabinet being returned to the store. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
Very nice Amazon Kombi. A bit unfortunate with the Weber conversion as the dual SU gives more power. I can see that the front seats come from a newer model with the headrests, and rims and hubcaps are older. Otherwise it looks good- but for a 60 year old car it’s all about what it looks like underneath.
PS – it’s for sure not a 122S as that would be a sedan. A wagon with the dual carb engine would be a 222S.
According to the American brochure, it was called the 122S Station Wagon.
I’ve never heard of a 222S.
Nice example! According to Car&Driver archive, wagons were called P220. Perhaps US ad agency kept 120 (122) nomenclature so as not to confuse the American market….
With every single mechanical and interior part readily available from at least 4 dedicated sources for little cash, it’s an easy to own oldie. Mine had the red interior with this usual white.
I bought a new 1963 122S, drove it for 10 years and couldn’t kill it. I changed the plugs every 10,000, oil was always changed at regular intervals. Great car.
Beautiful car. I’ve always loved the 1960-65 Volvo 122S (Amazon). I’d buy one if there were places that could help service the car. However well-built a car may be, it needs maintenance in order to keep it operational. If only more pics were posted in this ad.
These are really simple to work with, but as said above, the SU carbs were maybe better. I had one of these 122S wagons back in the late 80’s, not as nice looking as this one however but it ran fine. If you can change oil and occasionally adjust valves and synch the carbs, these are fine. They should not be hard for any shop to repair, especially those that deal with much more complicated foreign cars. Yes, check it out in person or by proxy first, but if it looks this good it likely is, especially for the often-high prices for wagons.
Great car! I have driven a,couple and enjoyed the drive. They were a little slow. But a trip through the IPD catalog will help in the need. (Great people to deal with) I never owned one of these, perhaps one will come my way someday. Just not now.
I had a 62 122S, paid $500, spent 3500 to have everything rebuilt; this was 94.
Smoothest riding, most reliable car I ever owned.
X1 stole it; forged the title, sold it to one of her friends.
Has /had a 63 series California plates OUA 444. I wanted to transfer those plates to my 57 444; Oh You A 444!
I am sure it will find me someday.
The hubcap collection I sold in California in the late 80’s found me in New Mexico in 2017; 30 some years, 800 miles, I bought them back. Now I have the trucks to put them on.
Before you take her on the road; Grease up your Zerks; marine grade bushing grease should do the job.
Check your driveshaft bushings for rot. You will hear them wobble if they are shot. replace all 3 at the same time
Replacing them is easy; if you know what you are doing, don’t go cheap, get genuine Volvo parts.
Do not ever put crap gas in it! that will burn your pistons.
The B18 has a long stroke, needs 92 octane minimum.
If you can’t find it? 8 ounces of kerosene and 4 ounces of MMO; slows the burn and lubes the top end.
Properly tuned and fueled you can do 120 MPH, it won’t even feel like it.
I don’t recommend it! I got cited for lack of insurance, because the speedo was in KPH. On a wide open I 10 in AZ.
Dave, I like the use of Marvel Mystery Oil. I am used to eye balling the 4-ounce use in all my cars and trucks, old and newer. But the 120 MPH in an old Volvo. That both surprises AND scares me! I can imagine the cop as he saw you pass. What is that?
I had the same basic engine in my 142S. When traveling across country I was headed west and just crossed the state line into Nevada. The speed limit then was 55MPH. Since I was doing 80 MPH in the salt flats at night. I kept up the same speed. And just like in Utah, every 10 minutes or so. A car would come up behind me and pass. The next car to pass me I. Nevada was a Highway Patrol.He pulled up along side, nodded and took off. I then paced him from about 1/8 of a mile. He has rolling at 115 mph! I followed him into Elko as I needed gas and sustenance. When I was pulling back onto I80 there he was in front of me. Back up to 115 again. All the way to Reno. The next morning, I had to add 3 qts of oil the back end of the car was an oily mess as was the little pop-up camper I was towing. (4ft wide by 6.5′ long) It had larger high quality tires since I never drive slow. Continued on to SanFransisco on down to the Long Beach Grand Prix (when it was still an FIA Grand Prix) Across Arizona and all states in between CA and Northern Illinois with never having to add more oil. I guess 115 mph at an extended time frame wasn’t to be tolerated by that engine. It gave me a few more years after that before I parked it under an 18 wheeler.
Some lady in a late model Honda passed me like I was standing still.
Like I said earlier; I had everything rebuilt by a place that did nothing but Volvos.
These guys knew the 122s upside down and backwards.
3500 was a lot of money back then; I could have bought a restored 56 bug for that amount. What are people asking for one now?
VWs used to be so common, Wreakers would charge you to take it away.
I went through over 300 bugs, that I got for free; make it: stop, go, legal, sell it for 1500.
I still have a 60 bug and a 62 panel that I have had for… Coming up on 40 years.
Pretty wild how valuations change over time, I.E. I would had to pay 20K for a Model A in 85. 20 years later my brother bought Charles Lindbergs’ staff car for 1500.
Check your change; there are wheat pennies floating around again.
With the rough winters in Sweden, Volvos had to be built tough. No country for wimpy cars.
And don’t get me started on how wonderful the 123GT variant was. I miss mine still (totaled).
Sweet…I’d drive it !