Volvo 122S - Restored w-Upgrades - M41 OD - Rare A/C - SCM Ownership - NICE 122!

Description

Here up for bids is this outstanding Volvo 122. This car is owned by Keith Martin, publisher of Sports Car Market, he bought it in May of 2014 from noted Volvo racer Jim Perry, who had owned it since 1985. It features a fully upgraded suspension and brakes, M41 transmission with overdrive, and uber-rare factory A/C. Keith logged many miles in this car on various rallies and tours, vetting the car in the process and making various improvements along the way. The result is one very fine driving Amazon. An opportunity to buy back a previously owned Lotus necessitates this sale, the new owner of this Amazon will be getting a car that is fully sorted, road proven and ready for immediate enjoyment.
Click to enlarge any of the images, OR click here to view a slideshow of all of the enlarged images.

The car has had one repaint in its original color of Light Green, code 91. This is arguably one of the best Amazon colors and was only available in 66 and 67. The paint quality on the car is to good driver standards, it shows a few chips here and there but no dents or dings. The paint has good lustre and shine and overall presents very well, it's good enough for local shows but not so perfect that you'd be afraid to really get out there and drive it. The body on this 122 is straight and sound, with good panel fit and consistent gaps. Tires are Cooper radials with lots of tread remaining.

Clean and straight nose, lights and lenses are in good shape, headlights are desirable Cibies. Both bumpers front are rear show excellent chrome with no damage.

Trunk contains the factory jacking equipment and tool kit. The 3rd photo below shows the only questionable area of bubbling on the car, a few small spots down low on the driver's door that Keith says has not changed since he's owned it. The 4th photo below shows the car's only really notable flaw, a light ripple on the passenger side quarter. Hard to photograph, the view here is looking towards the rear of the car. My magnet detected some filler in this area, going around further revealed no signs of filler anywhere else on the car.

The glass is all in good condition with no damage, all of it original except for the windshield. All of the car's anodized trim is in good condition, all of the chromed trim also still looks good after 49 years.

The upholstery is original, seats have been rebuilt with new cushions and have the comfortable seating that 122's are known for.

All gauges work correctly, including the ribbon speedometer. Temp gauge has been recalibrated, indicator lights all work, as do the signals and horn. The factory (dealer-installed) A/C unit works perfectly and unlike other systems from this era, this will actually freeze you out, it works great! A/C equipped Amazons required a modification to the shifter lever, as seen in the 3rd photo. The 4th photo shows the correct indicator light for the overdrive. The heater, fan, wipers and lighter socket all work correctly.

Back seat is very well preserved, 3-point seatbelts have been added. Headliner is original and in good shape except for one seam split on the sail panel. The rubber flooring is all excellent with the exception of a few small splits near the shifter boot. Dashpad and garnish moldings are perfect.

Door panels are in great shape, windows wind smoothly and locks all work. Good sills, weatherstripping and windlacing.

Shown below are photos from Keith's 600 mile tour of eastern Oregon, you can read the firsthand accounts of his driving impressions at these links:
www.sportscarmarket.com/blogs/keith-martin/600-miles-in-an-air-conditioned-vintage-volvo
www.sportscarmarket.com/blogs/keith-martin/just-the-amazon-and-me
www.sportscarmarket.com/blogs/keith-martin/making-the-scm-volvo-amazon-better-than-new
www.sportscarmarket.com/blogs/keith-martin/how-perfect-should-the-volvo-amazon-be

To say that this Volvo is dialed-in would be an understatement. The entire drivetrain was built by Jim Perry, and then the best vendors in Portland improved other aspects even further. The car starts easily, runs very strongly, shifts perfectly, brakes perfectly, and handles like its on rails. Former IPD guru Cameron Lovre (and now owner of Swedish Relics) knows a thing or two about Amazons, he says "This is the best-driving 122S I have ever experienced".

Radiator has been recored, system back-flushed and all hoses replaced. A new brake booster was expertly installed by Swedish Relics, who also fitted a bronze bushing to the M41 transmission, making the feel of the linkage perfect. Having the overdrive option in this car makes freeway driving a breeze.

The car comes with a full set of receipts chronicling all of the work done, as well as the owners manual and A/C related ephemera, radio blanking plate and 2 sets of keys. In addition, the winning bidder will receive a complimentary one-year subscription to Sports Car Market!

Floorpans and rockers are all original and just as nice as you'd want to find them, with no rust issues and no sign of accident damage. Calipers and drums have all been rebuilt and fitted with Porterfield racing material, as well as IPD braided lines. Driveline has been balanced and new u-joints installed. IPD swaybars are installed front and rear, in addition to IPD sport springs and Bilstein shocks. Tip into a tight bend at speed and this car will deliver, remaining completely flat and neutral. This is the type of car that will cause spontaneous grinning - rev match a shift and the burble from the exhaust provides the kind of auditory feedback that makes driving fun. With all of the hard work done, this is one that's sure to bring many miles of happy motoring.

Click here for a slideshow of all of the enlarged images.

About the reserve price:
Out of fairness to all bidders the reserve is held in confidence, please just bid at the level that you'd want to pay. This auction ends Monday, May 16th at 10AM Pacific Time