1965 Volvo Amazon 221 Estate

Description

• Just one former keeper
• Excellent driver, structurally sound and ready to drive or improve
• Replacement / rebuilt twin carb (122S) engine a few years ago
• 4 speed with overdrive

The Volvo Amazon was a mid-sized car manufactured from 1956 to 1970. It shared the wheelbase, tall posture and H-point seating of its predecessor, and was offered in two or four door sedan and five-door estate body styles. In 1959 Volvo became the world’s first manufacturer to provide front seat belts as standard equipment and later the Amazon was the first car featuring three-point seat belts as standard equipment.

By the end of production of the Amazon, almost 668k cars had rolled off the lines, of which less than 10% were estate models.

This truly lovely Volvo Amazon 221 Estate really does look great in its original Volvo blue/grey paint.  These estates are hard to find and it’s even rarer to find one as honest as this.  How many 1965 cars have been loved and cared for by just one family since they were first manufactured?

Although it does not come with an extensive history file, it does have enough to convince us of its quality and honesty.  With only one previous owner as above, the Amazon comes with its original owner’s handbook, manuals, original registration book plus a number of old bills and MOTs.

With the mileage reading 1539 it seems from its condition and history that this car has probably been around the clock and it’s really reading 101,539 miles, yet the condition and the drive is so nice that it would be easy to think it had done less.  Either way there is evidence from the MOTs that the car has done less than 500 miles since the last tax disc in 1986 when it was parked up in the previous owner’s garage and stored.  It presents so well you would be forgiven for believing the mileage to be true and correct, it really is that good.

The previous owner originally purchased it as a family car that he also could use for his painting and decorating business.  It was so good – he kept it on the road right up until 1986, predominantly due to its rugged reliability and its Swedish charm.  The impressively honest condition demonstrates years of maintenance and care, and it wasn’t until the end of last year that our vendor bought it and after all the mechanicals were sorted to get it back on the road.

Exterior

This Amazon 221 estate has clearly been well cared for and is in wonderful condition, especially when you think it is now 57 years old, with only a small dent in the roof where a step ladder fell on it and numbers of chips and scratches that has been touched in over the years to prevent rust getting a hold.

This solid honesty is predominantly due to it being cared for over long-term ownership but a perfectionist or someone trying to maximise its value would have it resprayed in the original colour.

Our vendor has shared that the rear wheel arches were replaced by the last owner and that he did the paintwork himself so whilst it’s not concours it is a delightful, useable, everyday classic that can only appreciate.

The paintwork has minor blemishes, firstly there is a patch on the offside front wing that has been touched in – also the same on the driver’s door.

There are a variety of small marks and chips that have been touched in over the years and the paintwork over the rear wings is decidedly average, although that does not detract in any way unless closely inspected.

Underneath is as tidy and as solid as the paintwork with signs of professionally welded rear inner wing panels and an outrigger. It is well protected by underseal and on inspection it really does look more like a ten-year-old car.  These Volvos always were made of the best steel in the business.

The chrome brightwork is in super condition all round with the exception of the usual tiny pitting to a couple of the over-riders and a dent on the centre of the rear bumper. However, there is a perfect used spare bumper supplied with the car!

Interior

Inside, the interior has held up extremely well over the years with the only stand out issue being some small damage to the side of the passenger seat base. As can be expected with a car of this age it is showing some wear and tear but as with everything else on the car the previous owner saw fit to keep it in overall good fettle.

The black vinyl seats have held up surprisingly well and do not present as 57-year-old seats and bases, still being good to look at and sit in! The rare to find original dimpled rubber fitted mats, are complete and bearing testament to the Volvo build quality.

Foot pedal rubbers and dashboard/instruments lend to the estimated 101,539 miles being honest and correct.

Engine & Gearbox

Although there is not a great deal of paperwork with the car it is evident that it has been meticulously maintained. The B1800 overhead valve four-cylinder engine delivers plenty of punch, growling sportily when accelerating hard and is nestled in an engine bay that is honest and clean rather than show class detailed.

The gearbox is as slick as you would expect of a Volvo Amazon and has none of the usual issues of a 57-year-old car.

Wheels Tyres Suspension and other

It is plain to see on inspection that the running gear and suspension are in great condition, there’s nothing complicated about the suspension on the Volvo. At the front, the set-up comprises of coil springs and wishbones and a rugged solid rear axle set up at the rear, driving as it should without any knocks or squeaks. The front calipers and discs are new as are the master cylinders (brakes & clutch) also the rear brakes and slave cylinders.  All replaced with good quality original parts from Brockhouse Volvo in Norfolk.

This Amazon is fitted with re-furbished original wheels and new tyres and the hub caps are just perfect – there’s even a spare hubcap in the boot with the spare wheel/tyre!

Our view

Owning and running a Volvo Amazon 221 back in the day was always considered a safe bet. A reliable, classy (without being flash) well-built car. Back in its day, it one of the safest on the road and today is a pampered classic for tours, high days and holidays.  Enjoy those special days in this Amazon, or use as the perfect daily driver.

Vehicle Location: Toddington, Beds LU5 – it’s the responsibility of the winning bidder to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor.

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