It is an icon of timelessly beautiful automotive design from Scandinavia. The Volvo P120 Amazon celebrated its world premiere 60 years ago and shaped the image of the Swedish brand's long-lasting saloons and estates during its almost one and a half decades of production in plants on three continents.
In an era of fast-moving fashion in the automotive industry, the Volvo P120 Amazon demonstrated everlasting elegance, combined with constant innovations in drive and safety technology. In 1959, for example, the Volvo P120 Amazon was the world's first four-door saloon with three-point front seat belts as standard and even attachment points for rear seat belts.
When the new four-door Volvo was presented in the central Swedish city of Örebro on the first weekend in September 1956, it won the hearts of the public. And not only that. The elegant and modern mid-size sedans were completely different from their predecessors and thus signaled the start of the Swedish company's global career.
Volvo Amazon for Scandinavia, Volvo P120 for the world market
The lines of the Volvo P120 Amazon were drawn by the 26-year-old Jan Wilsgaard, who later became the head of the Volvo Design Center for many years. Under Wilsgaard's responsibility, the shapes of the Volvo 140 and Volvo 240 as well as the Volvo 700 series and also partly the design of the Volvo 850 were created. Jan Wilsgaard died a few weeks ago at the age of 86.
Wilsgaard designed the initially exclusively four-door Volvo P120 Amazon in a pontoon shape, which was new at the time, with subtle stylistic elements from Italian, British and American design culture. In contrast, the massive doors and the high waistline embodied safety, while the front with the V-shaped hood proclaimed the sporty ambitions of the Volvo P120 Amazon.
The prestigious appearance of the saloon, which was only 4.45 meters long, was enhanced by the elegant two-tone paintwork, which was standard in the 1957 to 1959 model years.
Combinations of black, midnight blue or ruby red painted bodies with a light gray roof or a light gray body with a black roof were offered. From 1959, single-colored Volvo P120 Amazons were offered as an alternative, which then replaced all two-tone versions in the 1962 model year.
Variety like never before: elegant four-door models, fast sports cars and chic family estate cars
As early as 1958, Volvo expanded the model range of the initially exclusively four-door mid-size bestseller. The 61 kW (83 hp) Volvo P120 Amazon Sport made its debut to coincide with the official German sales launch of the Swedish brand. But there was more: with up to 94 kW (128 hp) factory sports engines, the Volvo P120 Amazon was one of the title favorites in numerous touring car and rally championships over the years.
Continuous model updates kept the Volvo P120 Amazon fresh - even after the introduction of its designated successor, the Volvo 140, in 1966. In the autumn of 1968, both model series benefited from the new B20 engine with a displacement of 2.0 liters and an exhaust gas purification system. The larger displacement provided more torque and power.
Standard three-point safety belt as a lifesaver
Volvo has always led the way when it comes to safety. But the Volvo P120 Amazon brought innovations that changed the entire automotive world forever. From 1959, the Volvo P120 Amazon was fitted with Volvo's patented three-point safety belt as standard - a world first! To this day, no other safety feature is anywhere near as important. It is estimated that the three-point safety belt has saved the lives of over one million people in its 57 years of production.
As if that wasn't enough, the Volvo P120 Amazon also boasted many other exceptional safety features, including the padded dashboard, the dual-circuit braking system and the effective rust protection that prevented premature collapse of body parts. All vulnerable components were galvanized in a hot bath - a revolutionary measure that also contributed to the Volvo P120 Amazon having a far above-average life expectancy.
The first world car with Swedish roots
A total of exactly 667,791 Volvo P120 Amazon were produced between 1956 and 1970, making the mid-range series the most successful Volvo model of those years. With the Volvo P120 Amazon, the focus of the Swedish premium manufacturer shifted from the domestic market to the global market. Around 60 percent of Volvo P120 Amazon production was sold on export markets. In fact, this model was also the first Volvo to be produced outside Sweden.
The last Volvo P120 Amazon was built at the Torslanda plant near Gothenburg on July 3, 1970. A dark blue sedan that went straight into the vehicle collection that later became the Volvo Museum.