Amazon for sale - engine rebuild, twin carbs, new suspension

[Keith Moody]

It pains me to say it, but I’m going to have to part with my beloved 1964 Volvo Amazon 121.

I use the car every day and have spent a lot of time (and money) keeping it mechanically sound and in decent nick.

The car comes with a huge history folder. Over the past 10 months I have:

Rebuilt the engine (cylinders resleeved, crank reground, new pistons, followers etc).
Fitted reconditioned twin SU carbs and D-spec cam
Four-branch manifold and Simons sports exhaust
Converted to a 4psd with overdrive gearbox, new UJs, gearbox mount bush and diff pinion seal (clutch looks new)
Replaced the suspension (10mm lower Scandix progressive springs, Bilstein dampers)
New front discs and Mintex pads, new rear brake shoes
New radiator and thermostat, plus hoses
Replaced heater matrix and heater unit (control valve works fine)
New dynamo, voltage regulator and battery
Upgraded to halogen headlights with Roadrunner spots (not pictured)
New front and rear seatbelts (fitted by Quickfit SBS)

Before I bought it, the car came with a recently fitted towbar, four new tyres and welding receipts for £3k – so it’s a solid old girl.

Bodywise, it’s good but not perfect – there’s a little rust around the door bottoms and some bubbles on the passenger door near the handle. No leaks from the windscreen or doors, though.

Inside, the seats are starting to wear a little and the dash is cracked (aren't they all?). Will take pictures and add them to the post.

So no concours winner (well, not yet), but a brilliantly useable daily driver that’s been neatly modified to make it more usable – it’s never let me down and drives fantastically.

The only reason I’m selling it is to buy a modern car that’s a bit more family friendly ☹

It comes with 11 months’ MoT and tax until Feb (it’s tax exempt). Advisories at the last test wear for play in the steering idler arm and a lower ball joint.

I will add some more photos over the weekend – if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me: moody.kr@gmail.com

£7499 ono.

[Notlob]

Originally Posted by Keith Moody

£7499 ono.

Is that a misprint!!!!!!?????

[amaz'in]

Notlob..I was wondering the same thing..seriously....

[Keith Moody]

Okay, I hear you - the price is too steep.

But it's a tough one to value, just look at all the work it's had done!

[Derek UK]

Unfortunately, that's the problem with "old" cars, and you're in the trade, sort off. Replacing worn out parts doesn't increase the value much, just brings it back to about the same as a decent example. The previous welding bill brought it back from being "dead" to being a viable car but it probably only put about £750 on the sticker price. It may be a "solid old girl" but they often don't have the looks when inspected close up.
Years ago I had a Escort Mexico clone stolen, nice little car but the insurance company didn't want to pay out what I thought was a reasonable amount. I truthfully told them that I'd just spent £200 on a new 2000E gearbox. Didn't cut any ice. As the assessor said. A gearbox is a gearbox, and your car had one.

[woodman]

"The only reason I’m selling it is to buy a modern car that’s a bit more family friendly ☹"

Could you elaborate on this statement, Keith? With all the money you've spent that hasn't increased the value much, surely the most family-friendly thing is to get more use out of the money, by using the car more? I have the same car as you and it'll fit five people and luggage, especially with the roof rack on, and I have a five month old baby who seems to have more luggage than the rest of us put together......With a tow bar as well I'd say the world's your oyster!

[222s]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

Unfortunately, that's the problem with "old" cars, and you're in the trade, sort off. Replacing worn out parts doesn't increase the value much, just brings it back to about the same as a decent example. The previous welding bill brought it back from being "dead" to being a viable car but it probably only put about £750 on the sticker price. It may be a "solid old girl" but they often don't have the looks when inspected close up.
Years ago I had a Escort Mexico clone stolen, nice little car but the insurance company didn't want to pay out what I thought was a reasonable amount. I truthfully told them that I'd just spent £200 on a new 2000E gearbox. Didn't cut any ice. As the assessor said. A gearbox is a gearbox, and your car had one.

Ditto - also things like the £3K welding bill depend on who did the work (& thus to what standard). For example, if the underside is a patchwork quilt of plates, then any bills for that are meaningless, as opposed to if it has had proper floorpan panels fitted, and all rust cut out & properly replaced.

As Derek says, money spent is rarely matched by an increase in value. I have spent far more than I wish to add up on very high quality & through welding work, and yet I know that this already totals more than the car will ever be worth, let alone what it's worth in its current highly roadworthy but cosmetically semi-restored state, and there is more to go.....

Originally Posted by woodman

"The only reason I’m selling it is to buy a modern car that’s a bit more family friendly ☹"

Could you elaborate on this statement, Keith? With all the money you've spent that hasn't increased the value much, surely the most family-friendly thing is to get more use out of the money, by using the car more? I have the same car as you and it'll fit five people and luggage, especially with the roof rack on, and I have a five month old baby who seems to have more luggage than the rest of us put together......With a tow bar as well I'd say the world's your oyster!

+1. The only old / classic car that is more family friendly than an Amazon saloon is the estate! My car has been in the family since I was 13 (I'm the oldest of all my siblings) & more than proved it's ability at lugging children, dogs & associated paraphernalia around the country.

[Moosejaw]

It's not a bad looking car, and I'm sure it's in fine fettle mechanically from what you say, but frankly it wouldn't be a bargain at half that price, sorry.

There's a really nice dealer car on Ebay now for £6,800 and he'll be lucky to sell at anything close to that price. Truth is, for any non GT or estate late model Amazon to sell for more than £4-5k it needs to look and drive spot on.

[Notlob]

Sold my 67 131 earlier this year which was bodily in v good condition and mechanically sound, interior v good with just a couple of cracks in the dash. Not concourse but a good condition 1 and got £3,400 for it which I thought was about right.

For £7,500 I'd expect better than immaculate!

[Keith Moody]

You're all, of course, absolutely bloody right.

Truth be told, I listed the car in a fit of anger after it'd let me down. With the price, I just suffered a simple case of tunnel vision, trying to claw back some of the blood, sweat and cash I've ploughed into it.

It is a fantastic motor - and it seems daft to throw away all the time and effort I've putting into getting it right, so I've decided to hang onto it.

Sorry for wasting people's time - and thanks for the, ahem, friendly slap round the chops that brought me to my senses.