New hobby

[Lucky Phil]

14 hours ago, PJPR01 said:

We were just a bit after you in the line up.  My Dad had a 66,67,68 122S station wagon all at the same time. He loved  Volvo’s and had a friend with a Saab dealership.  I learned to drive on these Volvos as a kid and had the 68 model until my mid 20’s!  Rebuilt them completely at times as needed.  
 

We later added a 73 145 that my dad bought from the factory in Goteborg and brought it back home to California.  Years later my Mom bought a 1982 245 DL.  All 5 station wagons and all 5 stick shift.

They were slow but reliable and super easy to work on and roomy.

The newer ones are reasonably stylish but never enough to want to buy another one.

Ok I'll join in. When I was but 16 years old and a first year apprentice my best mate bought a 122S that had been a rally car and been stuffed into a tree front on. His dad was the service manager at a local Volvo dealer and a classic car guy with "contacts". We pulled the front off the 122 and repaired and panel beet the hood (where I learned how to "heat shrink" panels by an award winning restorer of the day) and got it straight and true then re sprayed the whole car. He and I put quite a few miles on that car with it's 1800 pushrod engine over the next few years. We painted it a pale yellow colour almost a light mustard. My friends older brother also had the four door version the 124 as well and it was a light grey colour. Back then it wasn't exactly a "cool" car to be seen in as a young bloke but it was faster and handled better than many thought it would.

Phil  

Edited 12 hours ago by Lucky Phil

[PJPR01]

That's cool Phil...similar experiences in a different part of the world!  The front hood of my vehicle had a slight wrinkle in it that my Dad had hammered out (not perfect, but good enough!)

I can't even recall the hundreds of hours spent on maintaining and modifying the 122S.  Upgrades from IPD here in the states, a short shifter, some added guages, upgraded needles in the SU Carbs, rebuilt the gearbox with new bearings and synchros, new clutch,  new shocks and springs all around, and then a fabulous stereo system installed with 4 6X9 speakers and an equalizer and special wood cabinet panels built in the rear area to replace the soft carpet like panels...plus so many other fun little items.  Mine was the original Pearl White, I had painted it a lovely burgundy, blacked out grills/rings around the headlights...upgraded FIAMM horns hiding behind the grills.  

Geez...far too many hours and $'s spent...but for a 16 year old it was decent but not fast transportation, and lasted me until my mid 20's.  I used to drive it every trimester up and down the California coast from Palo Alto to San Diego (500 miles each way), one memorable event, the engine blew coming over the Grapevine north of Los Angeles with oil scattered all over the engine compartment, and I had to nurse it the remaining 100 miles to San Diego by adding a quarter of oil every 20 miles and driving it only about 25-30 mph the whole way...a long and tortuous return to school.

Found a guy in San Diego to help me rebuild the engine, and it lasted for another 100K running as smooth as silk.  I think I put close to 150K in total miles over that time...was glad to finally upgrade to an Audi 4000S...but it served faithfully for all of those years.