Volvo 144 GL (1972) - The piece of gold

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - The piece of gold

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Created on February 28, 2025

Text:

Martin Sigrist

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Werk / Volvo

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Volvo / Werk

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - in 1971 there was 3cm more wheelbase

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Wider 5.5-inch rims for the GL

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - The GL belonged to the upper middle class

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - The fuel injection brought almost a quarter more power

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - A safe value in many respects

Bild von Partner Porsche AMAG Mai Foto-Galerie 2026

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Now rare in good condition

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Classic Volvo shape until the 1990s

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Powerful touring car

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Better consistent than avant-garde

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - The flagship of the 140 series

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - The GL marked well-off restraint

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Classic design by Jan Wilsgaard

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Only available as a saloon with fuel injection engine

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Bosch fuel injection delivers almost a quarter more power

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - The longevity of the B20 engine is legendary

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Wooden foil was still okay in 1972

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - The butterfly steering wheel comes from Amazon

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Simple instruments with a sporty touch

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - speedometer up to 200, lever for the overdrive and sign to remind you - a GL!

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Standard fog lights

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Unmistakably Volvo

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - The fog lights are standard equipment on the GL

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Plastic grille with diagonal brace

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - For everyone to see

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - It's like gold that glitters

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - The GL crowned the 144

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - Showing what you've got

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - fuel filler cap and trim in harmony

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) - From 1971 with recessed door handles

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Volvo 144 (1972) - after the facelift, GL version

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Volvo 144 (1966) - the first production car tested at the Torslanda factory in August 1966 - Svante Simonsson (left) and Gunnar Engellau (right).

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Volvo 144 (1967) - new sedan with high safety standards - Geneva Motor Show 1967

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Volvo 144 (1968) - Production in the Troslanda factory

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Volvo Volvo Experimental Safety Car (1972) - The name says it all.

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Volvo 144 (1968) - also popular with women

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Volvo 144 S (1968) - meets the parallel built Volvo 121 S Amazon

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Volvo 144 (1971) - together with the two-door 142

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Volvo 144 (1970) - beautiful color for the Volvo

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Volvo 144 (1973) - already with the large indicators

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Volvo 144 (1973) - for small and large excursions

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Volvo VESC (1972) - "Volvo Experimental Safety Car"

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Volvo 144 (1973) - Facelift with powerful bumpers

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Volvo 144 (1973) - with the diagonal line through the radiator grille

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Volvo 144 (1974) - a safe car even in the rain

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Volvo 144 GL (1972) – Breitere 5.5-Zoll-Felgen für den GL

Volvo 144 GL (1972) – Der GL gehörte zur gehobenen Mittelklasse

Volvo 144 GL (1972) – Die Benzineinspritzung brachte fast einen Viertel mehr Leistung

Volvo 144 GL (1972) – Ein sicherer Wert in mancherlei Hinsicht

Volvo 144 GL (1972) – In gutem Zustand heute selten geworden

Volvo 144 GL (1972) – Klassische Volvo-Form bis in die 1990er-Jahre

Summary

Despite their excellent reputation, good and beautiful Volvo 144s have become rare. A magnificent example from 1972 - also the top-of-the-range GL model in the series - proves why the Swede is a real gem.

This article contains the following chapters

Original car
Injection comfort
Genuinely Volvo and pretty true to the cliché
Long distance

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The 144 was first presented in 1966 and was initially an addition to the model range above the 120 series - also known as the Amazon - which continued to be built until 1970. Our Volvo 144 GL, built in 1972, most probably still looked quite "fresh" as a new car even after six years of production of the 140 series - no wonder, given the Swedes' habit of long model cycles. The GL or "Grand Luxe" was the top model in the 140 series from 1971 onwards. Only the six-cylinder 164 and 164 E models ranked above it. Volvo had not skimped on the top model of the four-cylinder sedan. Easily recognizable from the outside by the fog lights, the Swedes supplied the GL with leather upholstery and a radio as comfortable extras ex works. A sunroof and seat belts were also available at no extra cost. The GL also stood out technically from its simpler brothers in L (Luxe) and DL (De Luxe) trim: The 2-liter B20 engine had Bosch petrol injection instead of one or two carburetors, which boosted the robust endurance runner to 124 hp.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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Images of this article

Volvo 144 GL (1972) – Breitere 5.5-Zoll-Felgen für den GL

Volvo 144 GL (1972) – Der GL gehörte zur gehobenen Mittelklasse

Volvo 144 GL (1972) – Die Benzineinspritzung brachte fast einen Viertel mehr Leistung

Volvo 144 GL (1972) – Ein sicherer Wert in mancherlei Hinsicht

Volvo 144 GL (1972) – In gutem Zustand heute selten geworden

Volvo 144 GL (1972) – Klassische Volvo-Form bis in die 1990er-Jahre

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