Basic information and history

Volvo Amazon needs no lengthy introduction among Swedish enthusiasts. The model was presented in 1956 as the Volvo 121 and became one of the cars that defined the brand's reputation for robust construction and long service life. Around 1962 and 1963, the Amazon had undergone several detail changes, and this particular model-year transition is interesting since body details, interior and instrumentation were gradually modernized throughout production.

This example is registered as a 1962, but according to the seller its specification matches a 1963, and the first registration date is 7 May 1963. The car was sold new in Sweden and has had four owners in total. The history is unusually well documented: the first owner kept the car for 49 years, the next for 9 years, after which the person who carried out the restoration owned it for about two years until the most recent change of ownership on 10 October 2023.

An interesting fact is that the car had always been used in northern Norrland up until the most recent change of ownership. According to the seller, it has never been rusty, and the only welding carried out is an older repair of a rear shock absorber mount.

The odometer reading is stated as 45,377 km and cannot be guaranteed. The trip meter works. Over the last three years the car has covered around 700 km, and it is being sold precisely due to too little use.

Equipment and options

• Tow hook
• Radio antenna
• Front inertia-reel seatbelts
• Auxiliary lights (not wired in)
• Original rear springs included

The car underwent a comprehensive restoration between 2021 and 2023, and the current owner completed the remaining work during 2024. The entire body was sanded down to bare metal before painting, including internally. Windows, headliner, dashboard and engine were removed during the work.

The engine has been rebuilt with, among other things, new bearings. The ignition, carburettor and fuel pump are new, and the entire interior is new. The rear springs have been replaced with somewhat shorter springs, and the original springs are included with the purchase. According to the seller, the car has never had underbody treatment beyond the wheel arches, and the current owner has painted the underbody with black rust-protection paint.

Condition

Body and exterior: Both the paint and body are described as being in excellent condition, and the car is said to be in original condition. There is a small filler crack on the trailing edge of the right front wing, and the chrome around the rear window is somewhat scratched. The windows are in good condition.

Interior: The interior is new following the restoration and is described, along with the instrument panel and headliner, as being in excellent condition. All seatbelts function. The fuel gauge needle occasionally jumps, but according to the seller shows the correct level.

Tyres and wheels: Tyres and wheels are in good condition. The wheels and hubcaps are described as being in usable condition.

Mechanics and function: The car is equipped with the B18 engine, the first model year with this engine in the Amazon, together with a four-speed gearbox. The engine, gearbox and brakes are all stated to be in excellent condition. The engine starts and runs faultlessly, the clutch works and the gearbox shifts without issue. The car is drivable as it stands and has passed inspection, most recently carried out during 2024.

Service history

The vehicle is said to have been fully serviced. However, there are no receipts or other documentation substantiating the service history. The restoration work carried out from 2021 to 2023, completed during 2024, is described by the seller but is not supported by documentation. The most recent inspection was carried out in 2024 with a passing result.

Summary

A Volvo Amazon with an unusually clear ownership history, where the first two owners together kept the car for 58 years and where the car has reportedly spent its entire life in northern Norrland up until 2023. The body is said to have never been rusty, and the car has undergone a thorough restoration in which the body was sanded to bare metal, the engine was rebuilt, and the interior was replaced in its entirety.

Paint, body, interior, engine, gearbox and brakes are all described as being in excellent condition, while the windows and tyres and wheels are assessed as good. The remarks are limited and clearly disclosed: a small filler crack on the right front wing, scratched chrome around the rear window, a fuel gauge needle that occasionally jumps, and wheels and hubcaps in usable condition. The service history lacks documentation and the odometer reading cannot be guaranteed.

The car is drivable as it stands, has passed inspection, and is being sold due to too little use. A well-kept and restored example for anyone seeking an Amazon with a cohesive background.