Masculine and feminine behind the Volvo success story Amazon

Perhaps it is the contrasts that make the Volvo Amazon so fascinating. The name itself is a blend of masculine and feminine, with the masculine in Volvo's logo and the feminine associations in the word Amazon. The Amazons were a tribe of female warriors according to Greek mythology; perhaps it was precisely this that was so appealing about the slender and skilfully designed car. The fascination with the name does not end there. During the production stage, the S was swapped for a Z, giving the spelling Amazon, and the cars exported outside Scandinavia were instead called 121 and 122. Some even refer to it as the Volvo Canadian. The estate model – the 220 series – arrived only six years after the first launch (1962) and was manufactured in 73,000 units. One of them is the fine object on Bidders Highway – a grey 1965 model, discovered by the current seller in a magazine feature.

– This one appeared in 2012 in Bilsport issue 5, he says. It was on the cover of that issue. I looked at the registration plate and tracked him down and praised his build.

The car had just been finished, so a sale was not relevant at that point. But they stayed in touch, and a few months later came the long-awaited call, where the builder said he might be willing to let it go.

– I wasn't looking for an ordinary car; I wanted to buy a finished one. It should preferably have a nice engine and so on. We brought it home with covered transport up to Luleå on 27 December 2012. I was active in my younger years, but now I'm an older man, and the polishing cloth has become my thing, along with the smaller details.

The Volvo Amazon stirs emotions wherever it turns up. Everyone seems to have something to say about it, or can share an Amazon-related memory.

– Among others, there was a woman in her fifties who came up and said, 'Oh, what a lovely car, was the windscreen this small when the car was new?' I replied, 'Yes, it hasn't been changed at all!' And then she asked, 'May I look inside the car?' Of course she could. She stuck her head in and said, 'Wow, it smells like Amazon!'

To round things off, the seller has a few wishes regarding the next owner: preferably someone just as meticulous as himself.

– And someone who cares for it tenderly, drives it like a precious gem and never leaves it unattended.

Want to own this national treasure? Visit the auction page!