Amazon, arguably the best classic car of all time.

[amazondean]

Hi Tom. I never replaced the vent window seals, for two reasons. The first is that although they were not perfect, they seemed usable. Secondly and the main reason is that they are rivetted to the quaterlight frame and looked a nasty job to do. But the rest of the seals which go round the door windows I replaced using stock from woolies. If you go on there website, you will see all the available window channeling. If I remember right, you will need 151-R. Which is a long straight piece that you need to cut to length. This goes down the back and front of the doors. Yoy will need the various locators drilling off the old channels and re rivetting to the new channels. Quite a straight forward job. Also 311, which is the channeling with the stainless steel edging. Again it will need cutting to length. The annoying thing about 311 is that it comes in a roll so it needs to be carefully unwound to try to straighten it. I think you need another type as well but i'm not sure ie a flexible channel. The best thing to do, if you can spare the car off the road is to strip one door, and times what you need by four, for a four door car. Woolies will have what you need so don't worry about stripping it and then finding out you can't get what you need.

If you need any more help just post a note.

Dean.

[amazondean]

I will be posting pictures and detailing the restoration of my 1965 amazon 122s soon if anyone is interested. I am hoping to make a good usable car that will last but do it on a very tight budget of less than £600. I paid £500 for it a few years ago, and am nearing the end, thankfully.



Dean

[Stanleywindrush]

Apart from the great retro styling (basically a 50's car that carried on being made into the 70's - only to be rivalled by the Moggie and Beetle)- the understated fins, fistfuls of chrome and the turning circle to rival a black cab- the cars are also easy to work on.

I knew nothing about Volvos until I saw one parked outside of a pub in Bristol. On the way on it looked interesting - at 11.15 on the way out it looked great!

I have worked on Mini's, Humbers, Hillmans and my Willys Jeep - but for build quality, thickness of body metal and everlasting underseal you can't beat the Amazon. The fact the car had mud flaps, was sealed in the factory and they didn't skimp on the pressings (nothing could be further from those current bloody cheap replacement panels!!) means that there is usually more of the car left to work on - even after a hard life and a few years in a damp garage.

Working on Amazons for 7/8 years now - the only nuts that have ever given me problems are the ones that hold the front wings on (you know the one at the bottom of the wing and those 4 or 5 up the seam at the front!!) Work on a UK built car and its a constant fight with snapped bolts, rounded heads and bruised knuckles!! All mechanics are quite straight forward and I have managed without any specialist tools except for a hub puller.

As I said I knew nothing about cars, but after a year of night school - there isn't anything I wouldn't tackle on one of these (except camber and caster ofn the front wheels) even the headlining isn't that bad Dean!! - work from the front backwards and use on old lollypop stick to push the edges up under the teeth!

Currently I am recommissioning a 123GT that has been sat for 20years. It is a tribute to the construction quality and design that the car (after a good engine soak in oil) only really needs a flush out of the water channels (in the engine) a new brake, clutch and slave cylinders, new brake hoses and fluid and a flush out of the fuel lines.. You couldn't do that with one of your honda accords!

Keep up the good work everyone - and remember to wave - not just to other owners ......but everyone you see, as you are happy in the knowledge you are in a better car than theirs!

I'll post some piccys when I get a chance..

Baz
Volvo 122s - Excellent restored
Volvo 123GT - Good working order
Volvo P1800 - Oh dear, pass me the welder
Hotchkiss M201 Jeep - Excellent original

[Brian]

I have to agree with most things already mentioned here. I particularly like the 'understatment' of the Amazon styling, not too flashy just quietly beautiful. Added to that it's motor sport legacy, easy to work on, good sized lump and you have a car that can be what you want it to be.

I bought mine a few years ago and spent a very enjoyable summers driving unless it rained when I then bailed it out before putting it to bed. I think the phrase is 'all fur coat no knickers'. She looked great but had problems underneath the chrome and polish, time for a refurbishment. Thing is I just kept going with the attitude 'well while I'm doing that I'd be stupid not to do that'. So it's taken some time and 'some' money too!



I'm on the latter stages now, paint job, MOT etc and looking forward to those summer nights again. Not that it would be the end of my resto days.

My next project


"Dear bank manager , regarding my overdarft......."

[hairyapple]

Without even reading all the posts on this subject I concurr. I have a 1967 Amazon Estate. Originally a California girl, she moved to Connecticut 3 years ago as a work in progress (after being rejected by a former lover who chose his wife over his car!), that's where we met and joined in happy
motromony.

It is the best car that ever owned me and I have had some swell cars (can I say Saab 96 here?) I understand her and she me. Modern cars are so complex with their mysteries and co-dependency, requiring high tech therapists to uncover pasts that are often abusive and without love or understanding.

Not that ingrid hasn't suffered indignities, addition of a Weber carb, aftermarket Sears wheels etc., but we have been working on these issues and are closer than ever to finding her inner child.

Appropriate for Easter Sunday, rebirth and all, don't you think?

[amazondean]

Car in restoration state is now welded, filled undercoated, and panelled up ready for top coat

[jakobandhismakarov]

Knowing how reliable Amazons can be (witness the distance travelled by me in my rather worn £500 121) I could almost see myself going to the one car if I had more money.

In the 3 months I've owned the Amazon, it went from Lancing to Sale in one night, Sale to Lancaster and back, Leeds and back, as well as the Snake Pass and back twice, along with Crewe a few times. I think a 121 is a bit underpowered (and this is coming from someone who used to run a Ford Ka with AC) for everyday (i.e. hilly) use, and the brakes are a bit scary if you're used to a eurobox.

The trouble I think with older cars, even ones as tough as the Amazon, is that you never feel totally secure. I really hate leaving Mischa out in the rain, and taking her somewhere a bit rough in case someone has a go. Inevitably your car is decaying somewhere, and it won't be long before a big bill is round the corner. On the Jeremy Beadle, modern cars are not as rust resistant as we are led to believe. A friend's Vauxhall Astra (P Reg, not even 10 years old) was rustier than Mischa, and my mum's 5 year old 206 CC is beginning to rust around the wheelarches despite being garaged for most of its life.

Modern cars are not as crap as people make out, it's just mediocrity is the norm these days. My other car is a Citroen C4, and that's different enough to remain interesting on the long haul to work. Will it be around in 40 years? Probably not.

In Amazon terms I think my ideal car would be a 222S with a working radio. In better condition than Mischa is. I could use something like that day in day out I think.

[Pigeon]

Originally Posted by jakobandhismakarov

(121)brakes are a bit scary if you're used to a eurobox.

Possibly so if you've got all drums, the discs are great. Plenty of stopping power and plenty of feel as well, so you can sense the locking point and be your own ABS.

70mph along a not exactly straight section of the A39, one passenger goes "I hope this car's got good brakes."

There was nothing behind me, and two seconds later there were no more passenger worries about the brakes

[amazondean]

Not sure if I should be posting on an old thread like this, but it would be interesting to hear what people are thinking some 13 years later. I am now amazon free and have been for several years, but I still yearn for one even now. I do have a Volvo 145 but it's not the same.

One of the amazons best assets was that they were affordable. Unfortunately they are too expensive for an every day classic car nowadays, so I am not sure if it still stands in my head that it is arguably the best classic car around that can be used as an everyday vehicle.

I still drive older Volvo's, but my interest is in the Volvo 850. Not actually a classic, but a hard vehicle to beat for an older vehicle. (If only they were tax exempt!)

[gillberry]

Still love ours, still going strong and will be towing our caravan next weekend