Amazons on Screen and on TV

[jakobandhismakarov]

Okay, so I may have been living under a rock for a little while, but I've gone from seeing zero 120s on the TV and film to two in under a week!

Apart from one being in the background of a Sweeney chase, I have never seen an Amazon as a film car, despite a rumour that it was a candidate for the 'star vehicle' role in Herbie, along with a Toyopet and the aformentioned Kafer.

Here's where things get somewhat intertwined. Whilst over in Bristol visiting friends, we watched the film adaptation of the Watergate scandal, All The President's Men. Guess what they roll in:

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w130/jessopjessop/685.jpg

C'est magnifique.

Then what do I hear about but a TV series based in Stokes Croft (where said friends used to live) called Being Human. I normally avoid BBC Three like drinking **** from an Orangina bottle. Bristol friends mentioned it, then a colleague clocked that Mitchell's car was very similar to mine.

Turns out he was right:

Pilot:
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w130/jessopjessop/vlc2009-04-1521-49-30-75.jpg

Episode 2:
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w130/jessopjessop/vlc2009-04-1522-07-53-18.jpg

I've recently completed my recording of the whole series. The car itself looks mint, and appears in a lot of cut scenes, including the web only prequel.

My DVLA tracker thing informs me that it's a B18, so a 1964 122S?

Sadly the tax appears to have expired. It looks period perfect apart from the later garnish on the back end and a later roof mounted aerial.

Is 881 HWN known to the VOC? Thank Christ it's a B18 - a '16 would have struggled with those bloody hills................

Anyone know of any other Amazon appearances on the idiot box? Heartbeat must be a contender, surely................

I know it's really, REALLY sad but this has cheered me up somewhat............

[222s]

Never watched it but apparently 'Peak Practice' regularly featured a red 122S 4 door.

[jakobandhismakarov]

Never watched it but apparently 'Peak Practice' regularly featured a red 122S 4 door.

Sounds about right. Slightly off topic, but there's a driveable 122S in Rally Trophy. If I knew how the hell to work zmodeler I'd do an Amazon for GT Legends. A bloke in France is doing a P1800 for the TC 65 class.

GT 4 had an S60 and 240 GLT (although the 240 was modelled weirdly, being massively overweight and not that tuneable) so here's hoping for GT 5 having a 544 kicking about somewhere.

[222s]

Rally Trophy is great fun, but a bit too hard work with just a keyboard - very difficult to stop it fishtailing!!!

What's zmodeler? I can do a NURBS model in either Solidworks or Rhino, if that's any help - can zmodeler import iges files?

[Alf ista]

I know it's really, REALLY sad but this has cheered me up somewhat............
Not a bit sad. I know this might be considered cheating, but here is a site that may help:
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicles.php?make=volvo&model=amazon

[jakobandhismakarov]

What's zmodeler? I can do a NURBS model in either Solidworks or Rhino, if that's any help - can zmodeler import iges files?

Dunno, I can find out if you like............

[austingipsy]

Not a bit sad. I know this might be considered cheating, but here is a site that may help:
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicles.php?make=volvo&model=amazon

That's a brilliant list ! one it doesn't mention is A simple plan by Sam raimi, there is a lovely white amazon estate featured throughout the film. Lot's of shots of it driving about in the snow.

[austingipsy]

Oh and there's this which is just an ad but it's cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS7iaGSyHdA&feature=related

[classicswede]

I love the look of th early amazons.

Pv's have been in quite a few films. Mouse trap for one and the nutty profesor being another. Both Pv's are in off white

[Peter Keen]

My favorite is a scene in Bullit, where Steve McQueen has a shootout in an underground carpark, he shelters behind an amazon!!!!!!!

[Lucien]

Couldn't believe it when watching a sky+ "Lost" from a couple of weeks ago (season 5, episode 10 "He's our you", about 12 minutes in) there's a flashback scene with Sayed featuring two early amazons in dusty but nice condition. My wife got rather bored rather quickly of me pausing and rewinding!

[Brian M]

A great song and video called "An old Amazon"

How many other classics have their own theme song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moVAfGQn7M4



In case your Swedish is not up to it, this is a translation.


I’ve never been an enthusiast
For songs about cars,
That I want make clear
But then I heard, on the radio one day
There was someone that played
A composition about

An old Amazon
With mouldings and Chrome
Steering wheel in bakelite
California white
Real vinyl seats
In imitation leather
An old Amazon
An old Amazon

I turned the volume up to full
There was something that happened
It was as I felt
That it was now time
So I called Helge, who sells cars and said
now I’ve decided, now I know what I want

An old Amazon
With mouldings and Chrome
Steering wheel in bakelite
California white
Real vinyl seats
In imitation leather
An old Amazon
An old Amazon

I cycled to Helges business,
Surely there were plenty Amazons there
At first it seemed, there were no more
But then outside, behind a corner

An old Amazon
With mouldings and Chrome
Steering wheel in bakelite
California white
Real vinyl seats
In imitation leather
An old Amazon
An old Amazon

[jimbolya]

my latest quite obscure spot is on the video for 'The Submarines' song from last year called 'You, Me and The Bourgeoisie'

take a look at 0.44 and 2.55

SHOCKED!

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7365/screencaptureuhx.png

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSS8ub5x0G0

[TomG]

Just watch "The Mask", and at about 10 minutes in, just before Jim Carey goes into the garage to pick his car up, he nearly gets run over then backs into a blue 'Zon.

[swedishandgerman]

Hugh Grant has an Amazon in Four Weddings and a Funeral. From memory he had to go to wedding no.1 in a clapped out Mini because his Amazon got wheel-clamped. He turned up late to wedding no.3 in Scotland in his Amazon

[222s]

Hugh Grant has an Amazon in Four Weddings and a Funeral. From memory he had to go to wedding no.1 in a clapped out Mini because his Amazon got wheel-clamped. He turned up late to wedding no.3 in Scotland in his Amazon

He did indeed, but it wasn't a wheel clamp - apparently it wouldn't start....

[jakobandhismakarov]

What a load of cinematic twaddle.

Short of a fundamental problem (e.g. missing battery, starter motor, inhibitor switch) an Amazon never fails to start.

Mine may take 5 minutes to crank if left (erm) but it always starts. Eventually. Srsly.:thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up:

[Alf ista]

What a load of cinematic twaddle.


Hee hee, at least its one reason to watch a Hugh Grant film........ cant think of another.....:nah:

[222s]

What a load of cinematic twaddle.

Short of a fundamental problem (e.g. missing battery, starter motor, inhibitor switch) an Amazon never fails to start.

Indeed :D

[asneddon]

Its been a while since Ive watched it, but I seem to remember there being an old Volvo in 'The Frightners':
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116365/

It could have been a PV actually.

[222s]

'Tis indeed a PV:

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_2724-Volvo-PV-544-1959.html

A similar coloured one was also used in Mousehunt and The Rock

:)

[austingipsy]

Here's that estate from the Sam raimi film A SIMPLE PLAN , brilliant film by the way...and car :)

[123GT-AMAZON]

i belive there was a shot in carry on at your convenience when they go in the front gates , an amazon does a drive by in the background ;) funny thing is i bet someone on here owns or has owned it .

now how many of us have a car and really not knows much of its history ;) could be some hidden starz also the value would be reflected maybe so worth a hunt and check some reggie plates on all these carz on the box / big screen :)

[pez]

Thanks for bringing an old and intresting thread back from 2009!
Remember reading through it the first time.
Some intresting stuff.

[123GT-AMAZON]

i totally know what you mean , there is a whole host of kool threads on this forum and i do like reading through and searching for gems :)

i think also mitch had said that the volvo amazon estate was featured in the next ads white in color ( that weekend i had popped into town ) , our local branch had a full sized cardboard cut out was amazed nearly asked if they had any spare .... dam that reminds me i must call in there and see if any are going spare now ;)

[Alf ista]

The scary thing is..... this thread was 2009!!! Time sure does fly...

[Iamtheonlyreal1]

Here is a movie I saw on cable a few months ago, and it is called Swedish Auto, and it is a decent movie.. It is about a guy that works in a Swedish auto repair shop, and in the main part of the story, he restores an Amazon Gt, and that car is a major focal part of the movie.

hCw1-t4pCL8

[123GT-AMAZON]

omg thank you Iamtheonlyreal1 i must get that movie ;) and off course a 123GT niceone is featured now thats what i was looking for , i will fill you in on my review once i have seen it .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Swedish-Auto-New-DVD-January-Jones-Lukas-Haas-Derek-Sieg-/200694885820?pt=US_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray&hash=item2eba58edbc

i wonder how many more gems like this will be shared and maybe even any keen writers out there can try to write in a amazon or a classic volvo into the scripts a long shot i know but its a small world :)

[Volvorama]

'Torn Curtain' with Paul Newman. Very old (Hitchcock?) Cold War film. Baddies try to run him over in a 122S.
'The Sure Thing' teen movie features folks getting a lift in a 122S estate and at one point doing slightly indecent exposure out of the windows.
The World According to Garp includes a character who drives a 544.
Red 131 is evidence in a Wallander episode.
Amanda Tapping has an early 1800 in Stargate SG1!
Very obscure - 'Off the rails' record cover for French rockers Little Bob Story has a red 4 door 120.
Historical note. The real Woodward from 'All the President's Men drove a VW Karman Ghia but I think there was a problem fitting Robert Redford inside, hence the 122S.
Weird detective drama (I think) has a guy driving around in a green 120 Estate with front sidelight that didn't work. Long time ago and that's all I can remember about it.
There are many others I'm sure...

[222s]

Red 131 is evidence in a Wallander episode.

English adaptation, or Swedish one? There were two Swedish versions - the TV series (where Wallander is very old), or the (TV) movies (where he is huge, with long hair)? One of the TV series episodes had a victim owning a 130, but from memory I thought it was white rather than red, so possibly a different episode. In the one I'm thinking of, someone complains about an old heap being near their house (iirc, this then lead to the discovery of its owner's fate), but Wallander's remarks about it show that he clearly liked it (appeared to be a very good condition Amazon).

Mrs 222s hates watching TV or films where old cars appear as I don't cope well with inaccuracies....

[Bladerider]

Some Amazons in scenes, but not featured, in "Girl with a Dragon tattoo" both in Polis livery and plain. Kept replaying the scenes on my holiday flight movie.

[Benzine]

i belive there was a shot in carry on at your convenience when they go in the front gates , an amazon does a drive by in the background ;) funny thing is i bet someone on here owns or has owned it .


I had a quick scan through that film on youtube, didn't see an amazon but saw an 1800 parked up right near the end

http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj495/phnarphnarphnar/1800.jpg

[123GT-AMAZON]

I had a quick scan through that film on youtube, didn't see an amazon but saw an 1800 parked up right near the end

http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj495/phnarphnarphnar/1800.jpg



yeah i think maybe that was it i knew a classic volvo was in there but also i do think when they did a pickit and was oustide near front gates a 120 drove by i could be wrong tho lots of volvo`s featured in the carry on films ;)

[Volvorama]

Red 120 - Old balding Wallander in Swedish. They find a set of car keys and know they're for a 60s Volvo and set out to find it. The Sergeant thinks it's a nice car.

[Volvorama]

Simple Plan - They have to add a non-Volvo wheelbrace as it's used as a murder weapon and the standard Volvo one would not be very effective.....

[123GT-AMAZON]

just seen a amazon in a tv show the journeyman s1 e7 and its about 18 mins in you see the amo clear as bell was really taken back as i could see bits of the car and knew what it was ;)

just watched another few episodes and in S1 e9 about 29 mins in the same car is used again ;) and i managed to gain the reg plate its RNW 129 i just need a daytime shot and i can get the state its regged under next so will keep my eyes peeled