Rottycar series #2- 1971 Volvo 164

[beaky]

My second car was another cheaply-bought "classic":a 1971 Volvo 164. I'd always liked volvos- my father was a Volvo salesman for years, and drove the demos... I remember family outings in 544s, 122s, and 164s. This one had just over 100K (nothing for a Volvo); the previous (second) owner was a college girl who'd driven it little. It was nearly rust-free, but sadly it had been badly dented while parked on the street. What sold me on it (other than the incredibly low price) was her story of being with a group of friends on a ski trip in Vermont: one -20 degree morning, all the new cars wouldn't turn over, but this old Canadian-built Swedish beauty started up with no fuss whatsoever. These first two pics were taken the day I went to look at it. Note the "aftermarket" turn signals:




The venerable straight-six Volvo engine (gas, not diesel), originally designed for tractors. I cleaned it up a little after this photo, but never got those old Strombergs to stop leaking. I found a fantastic Volvo specialist (Robert Lambie of Rawbear Performance in Clifton, NJ); he helped me keep her alive for a while, but to his credit told me one day to stop bringing it there. "I don't think this is the one you should keep", he said simply. I considered this, but had to keep driving it for a while.





Here she is on a trip to Washington, DC: I was visiting the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.This was also the car that I drove to my first intro flight lesson at Blairstown, NJ... good memories. The leather interior was in pretty good shape, it never failed to start (until the end), and the heater worked very, very well. Eventually the car completely died on me , rather unexpectedly, too: I wound up junking it and buying a real piece of crap after that, mostly because I was broke and desperate...



Next: 1989 AMC Eagle

[bbstackerf]

You don't a Pacer anywhere in that there inventory do ya?

PS I'm diggin the after-market turn sigs.

Keni

[beaky]

You don't a Pacer anywhere in that there inventory do ya?

PS I'm diggin the after-market turn sigs.

Keni

Sorry, no- the Eagle is close, but no Pacer.
My mother did drive a '74 Gremlin for a while, though... wishI had a picture of that.  :D