Volvo Amazon (1956—1970)

Own a Volvo Amazon? Add it now

Wikipedia entry

The Volvo Amazon was a mid-size car manufactured by Volvo Cars from 1956 until July 3 1970 at the company's Torslandaverken — with 667,323 vehicles produced.Compared to its predecessor, the PV, the Amazon was a more modern car available in a wider range of body-styles — though the Amazon shared...read more

Community Contributions

+ Add

History

Overview

Launched on September 1, 1956 in Orebro, Sweden, and then at the Earls Court Motor Show a week later, the Amazon (originally spelled Amason, with an 's') was the model that made Volvo the marque it is today. Over its 14-year production run, over 650,000 120-series cars were produced, in the original 4-door model, the 2-door 130 series, and the 220-series estate version.

Model development

Design

The Amazon as we know it today had its genesis in a number of experimental designs of the early Fifties. including the P179 (the so-called "Margaret Rose") and the "55", by young designer Jan Wilsgaard, who had joined Volvo straight from design school aged 20 in  1950.

In 1953, Wilsgaard was given instructions to combine the 55 with the very different PV454 prototype designed by Helmer Petterson, the father of the PV series.  When this brief quickly proved impossible, he was allowed to develop the 55 into what we know as the Amazon today.

Production statistics

Not yet written. Please add some info.

Basic performance figures

Not yet written. Please add some info.

Racing history

Not yet written. Please add some info.

Also known by the individual model numbners: 121 (single carb, 4 doors), 122S (twin-carb, 3 doors), 123GT (sports version, 2-doors?), 131 (doors, single carb), 132, 221 (estate)
Rate this description of this model
Launched on September 1, 1956 in Orebro, Sweden, and then at the Earls Court Motor Show a week later, the Amazon (originally spelled Amason, with an 's') was the model that made Volvo the marque it is today. Over its 14-year production run, over 650,000 120-series cars were produced, in the original 4-door model, the 2-door 130 series, and the 220-series estate version. The Amazon as we know it today had its genesis in a number of experimental designs of the early Fifties. including the P179 (the so-called "Margaret Rose") and the "55", by young designer Jan Wilsgaard, who had joined... read more

Share