Volvo 122S - Safe, Sensible, and Supremely Swedish - Classic Car Showcase | E2E E08

[@SigvaldsAmazon]

Delight only a 3? I get SO much attention driving my Amazon! People always ask “what is that?” Or “My neighbor had one of these when I was a kid”. A school crossing guard even made me stop to ask me about my car. As for driving it, I never get out of the car without a smile. Love the looooong shifter and the ribbon speedo display.

[@Everyday2Exotic]

People love this car! But remember, the ranking is all based on the Haugland Collection, so other cars tend to turn more heads.

[@lualrosaal]

I purchased my 1966 122S in April 1988 from the original owner in Savannah, Ga. This car will go to the end of the world and back with no issues. My longest trek was from Ft. Meade Maryland to Ft. Rucker Alabama, for Warrant Officer Candidate School. After seven weeks there drove it to Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. After a three-month long school there drove right back to Ft. Meade, Maryland. I still drive it around and it still puts a big smile on my face. Oh! about the glove box... it's supposed to have a little shelf under the dash directly under the dash grab-handle, it attaches to the inside of the battery box (should be 2 holes there) and a plastic clip on the cardboard kick-panel.

[@ahaugland1]

At some point, I will have to track down a shelf for our car, more out of completeness than real necessity. when we bought it the shelf was already missing. It was being used as a daily driver, but definitely showing signs of age so we've put a fair amount of work into fixing the worst of the issues and dealing with the most important things to keep it a usable car in all weather, such as replacing all door seals, recovering the front seats, headliner, replacing the dash top, etc., as well as fitting an overdrive gearbox and replacing the worn ring and pinion in the differential to quiet the car down. As the car didn't come with the shelf when we bought it, I was ignorant that it was even missing!

[@fraserhenderson7839]

I owned a '64, sweet car. I lost it when a rental car jockey was returning a a Momte Carlo to a nearby rental outlet. He was "tuning the radio", a job that took all his attention. I was stopped at un uncontrolled intersection, waiting for traffic to clear so I could turn left. He didn't notice me in front until he was less than 50' away. He dodged right but also locked the brakes. He hit my right rear around 35 mph and knocked me for a loop, literally. the frame was twisted, ripples in the roof. The driver seat tore the front bolts off the floor and tipped me into the back. I had a minor neck injury but the car was unsalvageable. It was the car I most regretted to lose. That was 51 years ago. I still miss it. I replaced it with a '69 142S, also really great but not the same.

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Wow, what an ordeal! Sorry you lost the car, but good thing you are still around, that could have been very bad!

[@bensonwarungu343]

Why 142s not the same as the Amazon

[@stephen300o6]

I loved my Amazon. Rebuilt just about every part of it, but previous bad repairs over terminal rust broke my heart and the bank.

[@bruceadams2822]

This car figures into some of my strongest sentimental memories. I could not help smiling all the way through. Your good camera work and production effort is quietly excellent. Thank you from Deschutes County and also “😊Go Ducks!”

[@Everyday2Exotic]

So glad you enjoyed! Thank you!

[@greatheightsu]

It's so cute. Especially with a little ski rack 1:12

[@Everyday2Exotic]

It's amazing how something like the roof rack makes such a difference to the overall aesthetics of the car. Sure, they were optional (and certainly very rare today!) but how could you not want one without it?! It truly is a standout in the shape of the car itself. We have so much B-Roll footage of the roof rack I'll have to release a whole short episode dedicated just to it. Haha! Thanks so much for watching!!

[@carlfoleen9086]

Personally, the earlier Volvos had much more character than the 80's & 90's models. It seemed Volvo lost a bit of their soul in that era. I drove a '73 1800ES for more than a decade (and still have some spare parts). That was - and is a car I will always treasure. Perhaps an 1800ES will find its way into the Haugland Collection some day as well.

[@ahaugland1]

There actually already is a 1800ES in the collection, along with a matching 1800E, to the point where they are both mustard yellow! We also have a PV544 to round out our classic Volvos. The 1800s are fantastic cars, as is the PV544, which made it hard to decide which Volvo to feature first. At some point, we will do an episode with possibly with both 1800s, back to back, which would be a lot of fun.

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Alex already commented - but so glad you enjoyed the episode. We loved getting to show off this classic Volvo, it's such a treasure. And you're absolutely right - these cars are, as Amy put it, "From a time when Volvos were allowed to not be the boxiest things on the road!"

[@stevemaricle1385]

I'm smiling as I watch your snazzy presentation of the iconic 122S. A cool car, a fun narrative, beautiful scenery, and a very super job of putting all this together. My wife and I enjoyed driving our 1970 145S in the 70's and 80's. It was more to us than just a average American family car. Once again, Well Done!

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Thanks so much, Steve! I was a little worried when editing this episode that it was going to be too long or too much information but overall, I think we're really getting into the stride of things. Please do let us know if there's anything that you feel like we could do better - we want to make this a series for all ages to enjoy and discover these amazing cars. Also the 145S is such a beautiful car!!

[@andersf5464]

Very nice video! Fun fact: Jan Wilsgaard, chief designer, made the Amazon lines - and the boxy 740 with, say 30, years apart. Trends... Btw, the Volvo safety icon is really the 240 (apex of ICE car evolution). Imho.

[@RevN3]

Oh man! That opening short is fantastic! HAHAHA!!!! Ovlov! The 122S has the same horn button setup as my 172S did. I used to use the metal frame to do rapid fire honking. The speedo was the same with the strip in mine as well, it was one of my favorite styling features. The ebrake location is also one of my favorites as a left-hander :) Now I really want to track down another 144S. You guys are a bad influence on me!

[@hisnameisjoel]

I was in the backseat of the Volvo flying the drone when we got this shot. I was literally freaking out with excitement because I knew it was going to be one of the best shots we'd filmed so far. The snow is so good!! OVLOV!

[@RevN3]

@@hisnameisjoel Right on! I understand that feeling :)

[@amandahaugland2201]

~very quietly~ Ovlov.

[@RevN3]

@@amandahaugland2201 Haha! I get that reference 😁

[@Everyday2Exotic]

OVLOV!

[@michaeljohndoyle7910]

In 1976 my family drove from LA to Florida in a four-door 122S so similar to this one. Your video brings back such fond memories, so much so that I'd consider owning one today.

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Thanks for sharing that memory! That’s a long drive!

[@testsubject6676]

You guys never fail to give me a good cackle with these shows. This time around it was the "Ovlov" bit that did it best. Of all the cars you guys showed so far, though, this is the one I'd probably most love to drive given the chance. Looks safe, looks comfortable, looks fun.

[@Everyday2Exotic]

OVLOV! Car Branding with Amy was one of the best impromptu gags, and then we followed it up with Swedish Meatballs! How are we going to top ourselves from that?! As always, thanks for watching!

[@Etswe]

Volvo Amazon was my first car, but the standard model. You have the "sport" model. Most teens in the late 70s in Sweden had one.

[@willietarkington1628]

New subscriber here! I own one of these and stumbled upon your video. The production value is incredible, well done and nice in depth look at the car. Thank you! I gotta get me one of those roof racks, but not any roof rack with a classic look is hard to find for these cars.

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Glad you are here! We love to deep dive into all the cars. Once you get a roof rack, then you have to go to IKEA!

[@mechanicspecial]

I love the comment about the flat packed furniture :-)

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Oh we absolutely were attempting to foreshadow our upcoming Ikea trip ;)

[@jimtermeer]

Nice thoughts and commentary! (though I was yelling at the screen about the top radiator hose - there's a better fitting one out there)

[@jimtermeer]

to your delight rating. I was driving mine behind a cybertruck, and they were looking at me!

[@Everyday2Exotic]

To be fair, I’d probably look at a civic over a cybertruck! But, yes, it’s a beautiful car to be seen in!

[@moldyapples]

What beautiful Amazon, I love the color! My first car back in 1978 was a white '65 four-door that my grandfather (who was from Sweden) gave to my dad when he stopped driving, then my dad gave it to me when I started. I now have a '67 two-door that I bought in 2021, which I daily drive. I have done a lot of work on it but fortunately it has good paint and zero rust, being from Arizona. Bummer about your dash getting cut for the radio, Mine was the same, I bought a used, unmolested dash for it, looks so nice with an original radio in there. I noticed yours is missing the package shelf under the dash, mine was too. Used ones are usually pretty beat up but VP Autoparts sells a repair kit for them.

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Thank you! What a fun daily driver!

[@ahaugland1]

Thanks for that! I hadn't realized VP Autoparts sold the trimmed cardboard panel for the parcel shelf before, though it shouldn't surprise me as I've bought a lot of parts for this car and the three other Volvos in the collection from them. I'd have to track down the metal support for the shelf but that should not be too hard to find. I've thought about replacing the dash, but decided it would make more sense if and when I hit the point there is any reason to do any further paintwork or rust repair on the car, as I would need to paint it to match the body. Right now, the rust on the car is really more cosmetic than structural and given how the car is now stored and driven, is unlikely to get much worse The underside is completely clean with no real rust, courtesy of being from an area where roads aren't salted in the winter, but we are from an area with a lot of rain for about half the year and this car was often used as a daily driver

[@103erik]

Enjoyed it! Looking forward to getting my Amazon assembled and driving it.

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Glad you liked it! Sounds like you have a fun project in store!

[@dj_tmc]

I was in Portland yesterday and I literally took the drive from IKEA down here (making a stop in Colton). I really like the route you took!

[@Everyday2Exotic]

It was certainly not the most efficient way but it was by FAR the most beautiful way. Especially with the snow on the mountains, it really made for some incredible footage!

[@chikitabowow]

In my mind the Volvo Amazon is the last truly great Volvo, i've got one and honestly it's remarkable how amazing it is to drive while it ALSO looks great!

[@Everyday2Exotic]

It does still look great all these years later!

[@erfansafaeian8906]

My 122s coupe has coils in the back not leaf springs. I was under the impression they all had coils?

[@PeterLan1]

You are right....

[@ahaugland1]

You are absolutely right and definitely an error on my part.

[@konsum949]

One of my students said very snarky that she couldn't understand how volvo still hav the symbol for male and not the female logo, ver flabergasted i stuttered that itsn't the symbol for male, its the old symbol for Iron as Iron in a Element. Volvo was always proud over the steel they used, high quality swedish steel...

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Ha! What a good teaching moment. The Swedish steel was iconic.

[@StevenJeNova]

I've had 2, both from 1968, back when I was young, 1990's. With time (decades) the main enemy is rust. Motor & transmission is, as said, bulletproof, as long as you service the car properly. As long as you had good sparkplugs, motoroil & gasoline - it worked, no questions asked. Hell, we even drove them on unleaded gasoline (every third fill-up). The engine did not care whatsoever. 😂 A tank! 4 guys, taking a week long roadtrip to other countries was not a problem. Everyone should learn how to drive in an Amazon. It's so basic. Easy & non-dramatic. Heater is an oven. 😅 Not to mention all the fun you can have drifting on lake ice, going sideways. But these cars are getting expensive, nowadays. Especially the stationwagons. I miss the Amazon. We still se Amazons around here in 🇸🇪 but not so much the one which replaced it, the 140.

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Drifting ON a lake? You do it different on the other side of the world! Thanks for sharing all this. We love reading how these cars leave marks on peoples memories.

[@StevenJeNova]

Yeah, the winters are cold, from middle Sweden and up (north), so it's not a problem driving on lake ice, where it's permitted. A snow plow carves a winding race track and you are good to go. With rear-wheel drive & studded winter tires it's a lot of fun. Of course, we did that on large parkinglots as well, late evenings, but the police were not too happy about it & chased us away usually. "You can't be here doing this! Go away!" sort of thing. 😂

[@ahaugland1]

There are still quite a few being driven regularly in Oregon and as we have not salted the roads due to ice, they generally last quite well here. That said, even our car is showing some rust after many rainy winters of regular use. They are getting more expensive here as well, however, and there are quite a few people, especially in this state, who love classic Volvos, especially the station wagons, as they are an ideal car for this environment, being rugged, capable, and able to carry things like camping equipment to enjoy the outdoors.

[@johnquilter7620]

And the Brits got the ribbon speedo right in the Austin America and MG1100 with a non angled end.

[@johnquilter7620]

From when Volvos were really genuine cars, functional, robust, durable and no electronic trickery and I learned that 122s had optional overdrives..

[@ahaugland1]

The overdrives are also Laycock de Nomranvilles, with Volvo using both D and J types

[@Everyday2Exotic]

The overdrive makes such a difference, too, it's really the icing on the proverbial Volvo cake. Thanks so much for watching this episode!

[@rr7468]

Volvo Amazon had coilsprings at all 4 cornrners Greatins from a finn born in Sweden

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Greetings from Oregon!

[@ahaugland1]

Definitely my mistake.... unfortunately there's really no good way to go back and edit the video to fix it... It had been mentioned in the comments before and in filming my mind had wandered off to other cars in the collection. It had been a while since I had the Volvo up on a lift and I had forgotten the structure of the rear suspension.

[@robertmagee8223]

Nice volvo..but surely you have coil springs in your car not leafs

[@ahaugland1]

Yup! I screwed up and knew better. One of the downsides of having as many cars as are in the collection is that it can be difficult to remember some of the specific details and in the moment of filming, my memory failed.

[@AlyssaMcFarland]

Adults…with legs! ❤

[@Everyday2Exotic]

A novel concept!

[@tudorevans9306]

Volvos were made of really good Welsh steel 😀

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Ooh, interesting! Even Volvo themselves say the 122S was made with Swedish steel. How do you know it was Welsh made? We'd love to know!

[@tudorevans9306]

@@Everyday2Exotic My dad worked in Port Talbot the largest steel works in Wales if not the UK at the time. Up until the 1960's and early 70's a very large amount of Welsh steel went to Volvo. I'm not saying the whole car was made of Welsh steel or even this car but a great deal of Welsh steel was exported to Volvo in Sweden to make cars. PS the Steel works in Port Talbot is still functioning but sadly the two blast furnaces are about to be closed down to be replaced by electric arc furnaces.

[@kingster3835]

your cars trunk lid closed so loudly compared to my 1970 coupe has! is it because of the rubber seals?

[@Everyday2Exotic]

That’s a good question…. Maybe Alex can hop in and answer?

[@ahaugland1]

We replaced all the seals on their car when we bought it so it takes a bit more force to close doors and the trunk lid as the new seals haven't compressed as much as the old worn out ones they replaced. Over time it will likely settle in more as the new seals get compressed.

[@elephantstoner]

Brittish??

[@Everyday2Exotic]

Swedish!!