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Sporty stability kit - Volvo 122 S in the (historical) test

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Created on July 20, 1964

Reading time 21min

Written by:

Clauspeter Becker

Photos:

Volvo Car Group Gothenburg

6

Volvo Car Group

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Archiv

34

Volvo Car Group Gothenburg

6

Volvo Car Group

1

Archiv

34

Volvo 122 (1961) - Repräsentationsmobil

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Volvo 122 (1961) - Strandszene

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Volvo 122 (1961) - für die ganze Familie

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Volvo 121 (1964) – mit dem bewährten B18-Motor

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Volvo 122 S (1964) – mit niederländischer Zulassung

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Volvo 121 Estate (1964) – mit jungem Paar am Strand

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Volvo 122 S (1965) – idyllische Abbildung aus dem Verkaufsprospekt

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Volvo 122 S (1965) – robust genug für abgelegene Gegenden

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Volvo 122 S (1967) - auch mit rund 80 PS gut im Schuss

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Volvo 122 S (1967) - die Farbpalette war damals recht übersichtlich

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Volvo 122 S (1967) - trotz 1150 kg Leergewicht flott unterwegs

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Volvo 122 S (1967) - allen Modellen gemeinsam war der gut einsehbare Bandtacho

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Volvo 122 S (1965) – Innenraum mit Liegesitzen serienmässig

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Volvo 122 S (1965) - alle Amazon-Modelle hatten Dreipunktgurte

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Volvo 122 S (1965) - auch bei Frauen beliebt

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Volvo 122 S (1962) am Genfer Automobilsalon - instruktives Modell des Chassis

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Volvo 122 (1962) - rundliche Formen, viel Stabilität

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Volvo 122 (1960) - frühes Pressebild des S-Modelles

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Volvo 122 S (1964) – als Pressefahrzeug bei der Rallye Monte-Carlo

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Volvo 122 S (1964) - im harten Test

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Volvo 122 S (1961) - S steht hier für dreitürig und sportlich

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Volvo 122 S (1962) - Sportversion in der viertürigen Variante

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Volvo 122 (1962) - die Türen des 122 sind ein Meter breit

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Volvo 122 S (1965) – eine Zierde vor dem Eigenheim

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Volvo 122 S (1965) – macht sich auch hinter dem Haus gut

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Volvo 122 (1961) - Blick in das Interieur

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Volvo 122 (1961) - Blick auf den Motor des S-Modelles mit 1,8 Litern Hubraum

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Volvo 122 S (1966) – jetzt mit 95 PS

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Volvo 121 (1965) – AR-Testwagen mit Automatik

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Volvo 121 (1965) – die zweitürige Limousine, von der Presseabteilung als "Coupé" bezeichnet

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Volvo 122 S (1965) – zweitürige Limousine

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Volvo 121 (1965) – familientaugliche Limousine mit Automatik

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Volvo 122 S (1965) – Neuer Kühlergrill und Scheibenräder mit Luftschlitzen

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Volvo 121 (1965) – Armaturenbrett der Automatik-Version mit Lenkrad-Wählhebel

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Volvo 121 (1965) – Demonstration des neuen Haltegriffs am Armaturenbrett

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Volvo 121 (1965) – Rückbank mit neuem Vinylbezug und klappbarer Mittelarmlehne

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Volvo 121 (1965) – Verteilung der Heizungsluft im Innenraum

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Volvo 121 (1965) – Für die Picknickdecke hat auch die Limousine genug Platz

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Volvo 121 (1965) – Viertürer für den Badeausflug mit der Familie

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Volvo 121 (1965) – für Männer, die Pfeife rauchen

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Volvo 122 Sport "Amazon" (1962) – Schick genug für den Golfplatz

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Summary

In the summer of 1964, the Volvo Amazon had already been on the market for almost eight years. Other manufacturers offered five different models in the same period. But instead of always hastily following the latest trends in body fashion, the Swedes preferred to concentrate on slowly but consistently perfecting the technology of their car. The result was a saloon with an old-fashioned look and construction that could compete with any modern car. This historical test report identifies the strengths and the (few) weaknesses of the Volvo 122 S.

This article contains the following chapters

If you don't have to keep changing, you can improve
The chassis: conventional, but well-behaved
Brakes for tough men
Even the Swedes can be slobs
Small rear
The ever new joy: driving
The gearshift: a pleasure
Handy and safe
Better fast than slow
Raise your leg
Technical data & measured values

Estimated reading time: 21min

Preview (beginning of the article)

You might be surprised. A Volvo test now? Aren't there enough brand new cars at the moment? Is the "old Swede" in the best and truest sense of the word even relevant at the moment? At the risk of this sounding really bad, I have to ask the counter-question: Was the Volvo ever what you would call current in the usual sense? Although the Volvo is adorned with a number of design details that are by no means part of the contemporary technical standard of the middle class, it is far removed from any ambition to be an obviously modern car and always has been. It also differs from almost all its competitors in that it is downright reluctant to dazzle with exterior or interior values. The Volvo prefers to rely on convincing, which it has done convincingly. Fourth place among imported cars on the American market and a good reputation throughout the world are things that count for more than fashionable, fleeting beauty.

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