The ownership history of this 1960 Volvo 122S remains complete from the single family that owned it from new, the car passing from father to son to granddaughter before the current owner, and seller, purchased it in 2017. That sort of provenance could be just the sort of thing a discerning Volvo collector could be looking for.
Fortunately, this California-only Amazon has been both well cared for and refurbished over the years. It features a claimed rust-free body and chassis, an overhauled 1.6-liter inline-four, a four-speed manual transmission and all the style and panache of an iconic vintage Volvo. During the seller’s ownership, she has updated the brakes, rebuilt the SU carburetors, and installed a full set of tires.
POWERTRAIN
For 1960, the Volvo 122S featured the B16B engine, a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder with twin SU HS4 carburetors. Prior to the seller’s ownership, the engine was the subject of a significant list of improvements, including new pistons, head work with new valves, and a reseal. There’s no data on the extent of the rebuild, but the seller reports that the engine idles and runs “fine,” with no evidence of smoke. The seller reports two leaks, but only identifies them as in the “front and the back.” The engine bay appears to be in very good condition with a polished aluminum valve cover, and decent paint on the firewall and inner fenders. This 122S features an M40 four-speed manual gearbox, which was last serviced in 2018, with a fluid change and a new clutch. The seller has the following comment on the transmission: “There is some adjustment needed somewhere because it bucks in 1st and 2nd gear.” It’s unclear whether the bucking is from the transmission, or possibly the carburetors need adjustment on acceleration.
CHASSIS
The seller has provided several photos of the undercarriage, which are helpful in determining the car’s overall condition. As one would expect from a California car, there’s no visible rust underneath. Both the floors and the rear trunk well appear to be in very good condition. The seller points out that there was $500 worth of repair to the floor when the carpet was removed and some corrosion was uncovered. There’s a fair bit of overspray underneath from when the car was repainted. The seller reports that the unassisted steering follows the road with no pulling or wandering. The suspension bushings appear to be in decent condition in the photos, and the shocks look like they’re in nearly new condition. The seller had the four-wheel drum brakes serviced and reports that they are in excellent operation condition. The 122S rides on color-matched steel wheels with Volvo hubcaps and trim rings. The wheels are equipped with four Coker Classic wide whitewall tires that the seller installed since her ownership in 2017. The spare in the trunk appears to be original to the car.
EXTERIOR
The previous family that owned this 122S had it painted prior to the seller’s ownership. The body color has been changed slightly from the original Cherry Red finish, and the roof was originally painted gray, rather than the current white. The seller’s assessment of the paint is that it’s in good shape, with one paint chip and a dent on the hood. The paint work shows well in the photographs, with a bit of hazing that may be worth correcting along with the paint chip on the hood. The brightwork on the grille, bumper, side spears and windows appears to be in excellent condition with no corrosion or pitting. The grille and several of the exterior emblems are replacements. The glass all looks to be in very good condition, with no chips, scratches, or evidence of delamination in the windshield.
INTERIOR
According to the seller, when the car was refurbished, the interior was reupholstered with two-tone white and gray vinyl, which appears to be in excellent condition, showing no cracks, rips or other damage. The black seatbelts – for which this car was famous – appear to be in fine condition. The tan/gray carpet was replaced during the seller’s ownership and appears to be in excellent condition. The door panels are two-tone and have held up well, with no evidence of damage, either on the door cards or on the black armrests.
The black dash pad – which extends to points that carry over onto the front doors – looks undamaged, with no cracks or discoloration in the photos. The steering wheel and its distinctive spokes and horn ring are in good condition, with a few cracks where the spokes meet the wheel rim. The white headliner looks tight and undamaged. The right sun visor appears to be a bit loose, but serviceable. Neither the speedometer nor the odometer are currently functioning. The original AM radio is in place in the dash, as is the original rear-mounted Jensen speaker that pairs with it, and the system reportedly works. The seller does point out that the door gaskets are beginning to fall out and should be addressed.
DOCUMENTATION
This vehicle will be sold on a clean California title in the seller’s name. Additional paperwork includes documentation for work done under the seller’s ownership and some documents from the previous owners’ time with the car, including the original bill of sale.
The Volvo 122S is a car that has wide-ranging appeal. For fans of European cars, these Swedish vehicles were prized. But their styling was so reminiscent of American cars from the early 1950s that they have unique crossover appeal. Find one in good running condition, and they’re capable of decades of enjoyment.
PHOTOS
EXTERIOR
INTERIOR
ENGINE BAY
