WOW, I just bought a '64 122s

[aranda722]

Well this is my first car, and i fell in love with it the first time i saw it. It runs pretty well, and i got it for a steal at 2,300 us dollars. Well yeah i like the way it looks now, but i would like to make it better. I was thinking maybe painting it the darkest purple i could find, but other than that i have no idea what to do to it. There's alot of things i could do but i just dont know what, what color what wheels etc. I was also thinking of putting larger wheels on it, would this be a good idea?, i think it would look great. But i am open to suggestions, i would really like it to have a sporty look, but still look cool, do you have any suggestions?

[Steve121]

If it needs a repaint, do it in the original colour, keep the wheels it has and lower it a bit. Purple with big wheels? you gotta be joking! maybe you can prove me wrong but that sounds way uncool

It sounds quite... American...

[TomTom]

By the way, General, do you get many incidents on the Snake Pass these days, people thinking they're Sterling Moss etc?
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To Aranda: if you're keeping the car for a few years, then I would solve any bodywork issues first, then attend to improving drivability (brakes, carbs etc) and then think about 'goodies'.

The american forums have loads of discussion about wheels, so see what the guys there are doing, but it seems that in UK we just usually want... well, four of them, and preferably with tires. I find the stock wheels give the best balance of usability in traffic and stickiness/slidiness. But the choice of tire goes up if you move to 5 inch+.

Good luck with it.

Tom

[222s]

Hi & welcome!

Not keen on the idea of purple paint, but click here for pics of proably the best aftermarket wheels for Amazons! IMHO hey would also look amazing against the current grey paint! These and other similar fitment wheels (5 x 4.5" pcd) are far easier for you to get in the USA than for us over here in the UK.

If you want to lower it / improve the handling etc, then IPD can probably supply all the parts. There's also plenty of USA specific Volvo info on The Brickboard

[amazondean]

The words "fell in love with it" seem a bit dangerous to me

Originally Posted by TomTom

By the way, General, do you get many incidents on the Snake Pass these days, people thinking they're Sterling Moss etc?
Tom

Oh yes. One usually sees the aftermath, ie a hole in a dry stone wall...

Bikers are the worst danger round here, although when one drives a Volvo, only to themselves. Nothing wrong with passing someone when you know you can make it, but doing it just cos 5 of your mates have is a different kettle of fish entirely... it's evolution in action.

[classicswede]

Purple paint sounds great
Slam it and get it rollinh on a set of 17's- shave it decrome etc.
The options are endless.
Dont forget to make the thing stick well and go well.

[aranda722]

Also, what do you think about white-walls on the original wheels? I think it would look okay, but maybe a little too american for a volvo? I was thinking of painting it the same color but do you think i could find that same color in the states, because i also really like that old paint texture, and the paint has peeled in a few places so dont know what to do. Oh, and i was also wondering how much horsepower a car like this would have, and if it is possible(through minor additions) to make it faster??

[classicswede]

White walls do look good if you like that kind of think.
You should be able to get the original paint colour - the paint code is on the chassis plate.

In oringinal form the engine will produce about 100bhp. This can be easily increased by 1 fiiting a full 2" bore exhaust - an absolute must for a 120, also a sports air filter will also give a little more.