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"Sherpa"
1967 Volvo Amazon 122S wagon
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As found..."wrong" wheels. The five spoke Mazda wheels looks
completely out of character, but I do like the idea of a bit more meat
under this car. The side mirrors are next to go, no plastic mirrors are
allowed on
my classic Volvo.
I bought this car from it's original owner, with full documentation from
the day they picked it up at the factory in Sweden in 1967. The car has
never been in an accident, and there is no rust in doors, rockers,
floors or fenders. The only spot I can find is below the rear reflexes,
and on top of the hatch. Very fixable. Engine and carburetors were
rebuilt about 50,000 miles ago. Never smoked in. Runs, drives and stops
great.
When I went to look at the car the first time, I was convinced that I
would have to use the J-type overdrive from my clapped out 123GT, to
make this car a freeway flyer. Much to my surprise, the owner installed
one a while back. Who's to complain !! Also, it is sporting an
alternator and pointless ignition...who's to complain? The original
parts are neatly stacked in boxes. The car also came with a factory roof rack. Who's to complain ?
The car has an amateur paint job on it, and it's a bit more "olive"
than the correct 94 code racing green. I am going to live with it for
now, and just spend some time making it "mine"
1. Get rid of those rims
2. Get rid of those side mirrors
3.Clean everything up, like remove digital volt meter under the dash.
4. Replace the collapsed front seat with my GT seats, which adds chrome
hardware, and folding seats.
5. Install a correct OD switch
6 Add a chrome tip to the exhaust.
7. Replace the cracked front blinkers
8. Find and replace the missing left rear reflex housing.
Future plans would be to:
1. Install a 140 style high/low relay operated by the blinker arm, to
eliminated the foot dimmer switch, and make sure the high beam flasher
is working.
2. Add a tach on the dash, 123GT style
3.Install Hella era correct fog or driving lights, using 123GT brackets.
4. Install a correct style fuse box.
5. Hide the brain box for the electronic ignition.
6. Detail the engine compartment
7. Replace the dash. Now covered by one of those cheap plastic covers.
Tailgating French style. Original owner Mary on the left.
This is in Beaune, a large town in the Cote d'Or, which is in
Burgundy, in the East of France. Check out the car, loaded to the max,
explaining the name it was given.
I wonder where the rear bumberettes went?
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Mary's husband Dick, outside the Sinana Pasha Mosque in Prizren in
Kosova, 1967. This is a scan from a slide, so the car looks a bit blue,
but it's the one. |
May 24th, 2010: So I went to pick it up, and the original owner
Mary was happy to
pose for a picture. I lived about 60 miles east
of the Volvo factory in
Sweden when she picked it up. I was nine year sold.
They literally drove
past my house on the way to Europe. Small world eh? |
As "always", when you buy a car from the original
owner, you get a box of spare parts. That is just the way it is.
The last few years I spent in Sweden was in Småland, a very rural
county. Driving the wagon home along these gravel roads brought back
many memories.
It doesn't get any better than this.
The car is very clean, with very dry doors etc..
,,,.check out this 43 years old door panel.
Not bad, even the elastic in the map pocket is in good shape.
The car is clean under as well. No rust was found in the floor or
support structure.
The floor mat is intact, but needs cleaning. The digital volt meter
has to go, and I may have to hide that modern radio.
No rust ever, pretty cool.
The "book"
All the service work from the day it left the factory has been carefully
documented.
The spare tire well was very nice, with
the rubber mat and jack in like new condition.
A simple clean up, and
reinstall was all that was needed.
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Follow a "gentleman's restoration" of this car:
Part 1
Part 2
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ClassicRoad.com