Volvo 122 amazon

[gttouring]

i have found one! in great shape (needs paint) runs new breaks and freshened motor- new cylinders for the driveline...
for a great price, now- i love this car always have
but should i go into the money pit?
i envision fun projects and a vintage racer maybe
thought s on the cars reputations or good racing supply house- i have searched the internet and it s not the hottest volvo around (if there are 'hot ones')

[TimD]

I wouldn't have thought it would be too difficult to source tuning parts for the B18 Amazon. There are hordes of them still in classic rallying and they've even had their fair share of circuit racing. Ruddspeed were tuning them way back in 1961 if I remember rightly.

My one overriding memory of driving them is that the dashboard was very high and a sagging driver's seat resulted in me having to peer out from under the steering wheel to see out.

[johnh875]

I think they are great cars, go for it

[Peter Mallett]

Basic mechanicals. However be wary of bodywork. Engines are cheap compared to structure.

[gttouring]

Yup
the floor boards have abit of daylight- but other wise its a good one.
I have it running or painfully lugging itself about.
its fun, sagging seats were fixed by the last owner.
I have been searching but have not found any good photos of a proper Rally or factory racers(a ruddspeed version might be neat too) as I would like to make it as historically acurate to the factory types as i can...Any ideas?

[johnh875]

You could try contacting Volvo - you never know! The "works rally car" books would likely include it too.

[stein johnsen]

Originally Posted by gttouring

Yup
would like to make it as historically acurate to the factory types as i can...Any ideas?

What year is your 122S ? I should have some photos of both types.
Volvo run these cars in SU forms B 18 up to 1966 From 1970 B 20 they had some factory cars with Webers and disc rear brakes
Close ratio g.boxes for both types ,an overdrive g.box homolgated but only used in Spa /Liege rallies
4,1,/4,56 and 4,88 LSD for both types of cars.
70 litres fuel tank in both versions ,2 original tanks welded together !!!
5,5 by 15 inches wheels homologated.

.

[Al Weyman]

My first proper car was a 122s and I have many fond memoiries of it, I gave it an engine rebuild as soon as I bought it (well actually got tucked up by a Hampstead Car dealer but managed to get the money out of im for the rebuild). It was a great car mine was the early 1600cc version with twin SU's but was very easy to maintain and looked classy in its day.

[gttouring]

1964 B18 with twin SU carbs rated at 100hp by the manual...
skinny tyres the lot.
however, I will make it bigger- bore and Twin webers 42 DCOE. or get a B20 and the factory overdrive box.
but other options have come up- a 2.5 crank and a bore to make it a square engine (92mmx92mm) 7.5K revs and alot more oomph...
possible a 5 speed T9 gear box and discs allaround..(i would like it to LOOK like the factory racers, just be quicker... )

[stein johnsen]

Your B 18 from 64 has 90 BHP ,the P 1800 had 100 BHP

To convert to Webers on a RHD car you will have problems with the stearing column if my memorie serves me correct. You probably have to use the short inlet manifold from the P 1800 Weber kit
I looked at the 2,5 kit in the States and it is nice but costly.

A "cheaper" solution is to use Volvo B 21 crank ,B 230 rods ( 8000 RPM) VW forged pistons This will give you approx. 2300 cc on a B 20 block 2100 cc on a B 18 block .Volvo made a 2200 cc 180 BHP kit in the 1970 !
Use the Volvo M 46 overdrive g.Box from the 240 Turbo or the M 47 from the 940 god for 230 /240 BHP or even better the M 90 from later 940 and 960 ,5 speed gearboxes for up to 400 BHP
Rear axle with disc from P 1800 ES 1970/72 will fit nearly without modifications . It will fit the 1967 122 S without any modification.

[gttouring]

thanks alot for that info
are you a Volvo driver yourself...Te questions are swarming and I would like a nice brain to pick.

[stein johnsen]

I have built a few Volvos over the years and rallied them even in the UK
I built the Volvo 142 for Tony Fall in 94(? )for his London Mexico rally 5th overall after a lot of problems.

You can mail me on steinjohnsen@gmail.com and I can give you some more info on the 122 S

[Al Weyman]

I see on the final instructions I have just received from Brands Hatch for the April 15th meeting Julius Thurgood (the main To Hat man) has entered a 122S in the Sebring race.

[johnh875]

I saw a nice original looking 122 on the way to work the other day. From the registration number it had been re-registered about 2 years ago & looked to have been restored (paint was too shiny to be original). At the same time someone was taking their 1966 Ford Galaxie to work.

[gttouring]

thanks all for the info-

Query-
The B20 will cost$ 4500 in parts and $1800 (machining etc.) in labor if i build it myself

that is a whopper of a price- and no transmission is included, or new rear.

a new MX-5 or Rx8 (ROTARY !) i cna find with a trans (my girlfriend works at MAzdaUSA,) and slap thse in for much less than the aforementioned Volvo resurrection.

what to do- dose authenticity matter- if the outside is the bit? or should i stay true?

[XAutoRacer]

I found my old race car rotting under a tree....
Volvos have many rust spots, but patch panels are available....
It cost a fortune to fix it, but I like the result....
Have fun!!!

[gttouring]

What was or is it rotting away? Wow old threAd

[SPECTATORSAL]

My better half owns & drives (daily!) a 1968 Volvo Amazon Estate (some of you may have already seen it at various race circuits!!). He gets lots of parts from the very helpful Simon at Brookhouse Volvo in Ipswich. FYI : http://www.classicvolvoparts.co.uk/ It's a wonderful car...very comfy & reliable!

[SPECTATORSAL]

If you're considering using an Amazon for competition work then my better half suggests you contact the people that are currently using them with great success in rallying, namely Rob & Emma at Amazon Cars. They have also been very helpful & like Stein have an in depth knowledge of these vehicles. FYI : http://www.amazoncars.co.uk/