The Volvo 122S wagon was a relatively common sight in American suburbs. However, there is a surprisingly small selection of intact examples today. So, the 1967 example of the estate wagon recently offered on eBay caught our eye. The “Kombi” is offered in Denver, Colo. with a $13,000 Buy-It-Now price. The wagon's strong points include:
- A working Laycock-DeNormanville M41 overdrive unit
- A very nice interior
- Functional air conditioning with R-134 refrigerant (Read this: What To Do About R12 Refrigerant, the Original Freon? - opens in new window or tab.)
The 122S is at home in the Colorado mountains.
Solid Underneath
These old Volvos are known informally as “Amazons,” the name in Greek mythology for a race of warlike women with legendary riding skills and courage. Nonetheless, these Volvo Amazons rust from the ground up, a threat to the structural integrity. Fortunately, this one looks sound underneath. It’s a solid Colorado mountain car.
The B18 inline-four - opens in new window or tab. has 47,000 original miles—a find in itself. But it’s apparently not original to the car, and total mileage is not mentioned.
The engine bay features a B18 with less than 50,000 miles.
A lot of mechanical work was done recently, including the clutch, front end, motor mounts, replaced windshield and both fuel and water pumps, brake shoes and pads, coil, timing gear set, belts, and hoses. The engine bay is clean.
Some work remains. The green paint job is faded. Keep it if you like “patina.” The passenger-side rear wheel arch was repaired with new metal but is still cosmetically challenged and needs paint. Rust repair - opens in new window or tab. is also needed where the rear bumper brackets attach to the body.
The interior is better than most, and the seats look nice. But the owner says the fronts need stitching and the back of the rear seat needs recovering or a cap.
A Safety Car with Padded Dash
The interior needs some restitching but is better than most.
The wagon was part of the plan for the Volvo 122 beginning in 1956. However, it didn’t arrive until 1962—when it was shown at the Stockholm Auto Show.
Volvo made 73,000 of these wagon through 1969. A decent share of production came to the US, which is why production numbers seem higher than they are.
The Amazon started as a four-door sedan, with the two-door coupe appearing in 1961. It uses unibody construction, with independent suspension in the front (which got disc brakes in 1964) and a live axle in the rear. A four-speed manual with a long-wand floor shifter - opens in new window or tab. was standard, but a three-speed Borg-Warner automatic was available, as was the overdrive in some models.
This was a “safety car,” with a padded dash (that tended to crack) and the world’s first three-point seat belts in 1958. The later ones have breakaway switches to lessen the impact for front-seat occupants thrown against the dash.
The B18 engine initially made only 75 horsepower in a single carburetor version. But twin SU carburetors increased that to 100. The late-period “sport” version, the 123 GT, got a tach and the two-liter B20 with overdrive for 115 horsepower. Performance buffs complained that the B18 sounded “agricultural,” but it was as reliable as Big Ben.
A Dependable Long Life
Broken taillight? No problem. eBay has an authentic replacement although this one is all red.
The wagon had a split tailgate (the top part could be propped open) and a folding rear seat. A remarkable feature was the folding rear license plate holder, which could display the plate number while the tailgate was down.
The 122S is famously long-lived and dependable, provided owners don’t let rust get the better of them and change the oil once in a while. There are no major mechanical problem areas, but some say the automatic is not as robust as the manual.
Dealers once supported the 122S with nearly everything, but that’s no longer the case. For that problem, it’s eBay Motors to the rescue with a plentiful parts supply - opens in new window or tab. of all kinds of hard-to-find authentic Volvo 122 parts.
About the author
Share your feedback
This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.