Volvo 122S

ENGINE 1586cc/4-cyl/OHV POWER 85bhp@5500rpm TORQUE 87lb ft@3500rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 90mph 0-60MPH 16.6sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 22-28mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, four-speed manual MoT 12 months from sale ODOMETER 11,789 miles

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

The B16 engine starts easily and pulls lustily at higher revs, but feels slightly down on power at lower engine speeds – something the vendor will investigate prior to sale. All other mechanical aspects of this nearly 60-year-old car seem to be in very fine fettle – there’s a good amount of feel to the steering with very little play, and changes both up and down the ‘box are smooth. It rides well, too, with no creaks or rattles from the suspension, and the brakes are sharp and don’t pull to either side.

BODYWORK CHECK

What looks like original paint is flat in several areas with signs of swirl marks. A small amount of corrosion and cracked paint at the base of the A-pillar where it meets the front wing will require attention sooner rather than later, but overall the body is rust-free. There are also stone chips to the gutter rail on the nearside A-post. Chrome varies from serviceable to very good, though there are a couple of dents in the strip on the front nearside door. The front and rear windscreen rubbers are decent, but there are a number of scratches in the rear screen itself. The doors hang nicely, but the offside rear door’s missing rubber strip means that the paint has been scuffed close to the top of the B-post. The car has been wax-sealed underneath.

HOW’S THE INTERIOR?

The interior is rather delightful with the recently refurbished half-velour seats in good condition. Carpets and door cards are also very good and the headlining is taut and free from discolouration. There is a split in the leather on the raised section of the dashboard where the speedo is housed while the speedo itself doesn’t work. The steering wheel needs adjusting because the ‘Volvo’ lettering is upside down when positioned with the road wheels straight ahead and the casing around the steering wheel has also split, but is perfectly usable. The empty recess in front of the passenger is presumably for the radio, but there are no seat belts fitted.

UNDER THE BONNET

The engine has apparently been recently rebuilt. There’s no documentation to back this up, but appearances suggest this is indeed the case. There are a number of recent-looking additions, including a new ignition coil, HT leads and battery. Belts and hoses are free from cracks and appear to be in decent condition, and there are no signs of any leaks. There’s some slight misting under the spark plugs but nothing excessive. There are also no signs of corrosion on either the inner wings or the bulkhead.

THE CCW VIEW

Early Amazons are rare in the UK, so this one is worth a closer look for that reason alone. It’s a shame that there isn’t more history, though.