Background
Introduced in 1956 and built until 1970, the Volvo Amazon was the car that truly brought the Swedish marque onto the global stage. Known for its robust engineering and clean design, the Amazon combined mid-century styling with modern mechanicals and a focus on safety that was ahead of its time.
Of the various versions produced, the 122S stands out as the sporting highlight of the range — a car that offered genuine performance, rally pedigree, and everyday usability. Today, the Amazon 122S remains a well-loved classic, admired as much for its durability as its understated charm.
The Amazon was originally designated the 120 Series, but quickly became known as the Amazon after a trademark dispute outside Sweden forced Volvo to market the car under its numeric code abroad.
It was designed by Jan Wilsgaard, whose clean, American-influenced styling gave it broad international appeal. The Amazon’s body was conservative but handsome, with subtle curves, neat detailing, and proportions that gave it a quietly confident look.
Volvo’s ambition with the Amazon was to replace the ageing PV444/544 while moving the brand upmarket. It was available as a four-door saloon from the outset, followed by a two-door saloon in 1961 and a five-door estate in 1962.
All versions shared the same unitary bodyshell and well-engineered underpinnings, with MacPherson strut front suspension, a live rear axle with coil springs, and front disc brakes from 1964 onwards.
The Amazon 122S was introduced in 1958 as a more powerful version of the 121 model. While the 121 came with a single-carburettor 1.8-litre B18A engine producing 75 bhp, the 122S used a twin-carburettor B18D (and later B18B) unit producing up to 90 bhp in early versions and eventually 100 bhp.
This gave the Amazon a respectable top speed of around 100 mph and 0–60 mph acceleration in just under 13 seconds — not blistering, but certainly brisk for a family car of the late 1950s and early ’60s.
What really set the 122S apart was its balance of performance and practicality. It was never intended to be a sports car, but its strong torque, solid chassis, and tough mechanicals made it a natural in motorsport. It quickly found favour in rallying, where its reliability and handling earned it multiple international victories.
Volvo even offered a performance kit for privateers, including revised camshafts, carburettors, and higher compression ratios. By the early 1960s, the 122S had become a regular sight on European rally stages, often outlasting faster but more fragile rivals.
By the mid-1960s, the Amazon 122S had been steadily refined. The four-speed gearbox gained optional overdrive, braking and suspension were improved, and the interior grew more sophisticated. In 1966, the larger 2.0-litre B20 engine became available, pushing power to 115 bhp in some variants. These later cars, especially the two-door 122S models with overdrive, are now among the most desirable.
The Amazon was never a cheap car, but it was built to last. Its thick steel construction, rust protection, and over-engineered components have helped many examples survive into the present day — often with impressively high mileages. The Amazon’s reputation for durability made it popular with rural drivers, teachers, police forces and families across Scandinavia, the UK, and North America.
Today, the Volvo Amazon 122S is a highly respected classic. It’s easy to see why: it offers reliable mechanicals, simple but attractive design, and a driving experience that’s far more engaging than many would expect. With strong club support and a good supply of parts from both Sweden and specialist suppliers across Europe, it’s also a very usable classic — one that can be driven regularly without fuss.
In terms of collectability, the 122S sits just below the overtly sporting P1800 in the Volvo hierarchy, but values are rising. Originality and condition are key, with well-preserved or correctly restored examples commanding a premium. Two-door models are more sought-after than four-doors, and cars with factory overdrive or rally history are especially desirable.
The Amazon was never flashy, but it was always solid, capable, and quietly stylish. The 122S model in particular brought just enough performance to make it enjoyable, whether on a twisty back road or a long-distance tour. More than 50 years since the last one left the factory, the Amazon still embodies what made Volvo great — and the 122S remains the pick of the range for those who appreciate subtle performance wrapped in Scandinavian steel.
