A Viking returns – rebirth of Amazon
“The Swedes are a peculiar race,” according to Christer Olsson from his book “Volvo Gothenburg Sweden.” That book has and always will be, our official guide to what Volvo has done. It outlines Volvo’s historical chronology of our cars, trucks, buses, aero, marine, racing and other musings, and is our first go-to when we’re “stumped by the chumps.” If you can find it, it’s worth the search: ISBN 3-907150-58-9 (English Edition).
The first P130 Amazon series (two-door) had to compete with an aging 544 series, and the more practical 122 four-door. As a practical group of people, it’s surprising that Volvo would favor building another two-door sedan, just before launching their P1800 and still having the 544 series for another 5-6 years. I always wanted a 122, or even better, a 220 wagon. I think one of the best achievements from that series was how the doors closed. Not with a “click,” but with a good, heavy “thump.” Even today at club events, I just love the way that door sounds when it matches up with the door frame latch. My 130 (two-door) was hand painted - think cheap paint brush red - and a beat up interior – just one ratty Swede, but it ran. It would tow about 2,000 pounds and I used it for a side hobby/business I had with bee hives and honey. I always wanted to restore it but just ran out of time. Its new owner restored it and did a masterful job. No idea where it is today.
What follows, via the URL link below, is one person’s remarkable and heart-warming story of how he brought back to life a 1966 Volvo 122S and wove together a new chapter for not only the car, but for two of the car’s owners.
http://sharkeyvolvo122.blogspot.com/
Hemmings Daily is a great publication (then again most of you who have tinkered with Swedish Iron or anything older than your grandmother’s Dodge Dart, know Hemmings). Mark McCourt wrote a wonderful piece about this story, and how a Trans Am Volvo 122 was found and brought back to life.
If you want to see the vintage Volvo 122 up close, attend the Waterford Vintage Race Weekend at the Waterford Hills track in Clarkston, Michigan, on July 27 through July 29, with the Trans Am 2.5 Challenge Race scheduled for Saturday, July 28. For more information, visit WaterfordHills.com.
dan
