I bought my 122 new in 1967 using Volvo's Tourist Delivery Plan. The car has been in Virginia since new and has always been garaged. It is Light Blue #95 with black interior. Currently it has 120,000 miles on it.

Looks like an OD in there from the interior shot. Was this original? Did the dash and tach come from a 123GT? What's that wooden steering wheel? Is the A/C original?

In November of 1997, I decided to take the car off the road for paint, rechroming, and other projects. The car was disassembled, painted inside and out and then put back together. While apart, a late model 140 transmission tunnel was welded in place to accomodate the '72-or-later remote shift. This also let the stick clear the bottom of the A/C unit. The interior was carpeted in black Mercedes level loop carpet.

After the A/C unit was mounted, I used a '68 120-series knee pad to finish off the bottom of the dash, cutting out the middle section to accomodate the A/C unit. The A/C under-dash unit is from a '67 122. The compressor is a Sandon SD508 with a custom aluminum bracket and the condensor is from a '72 140.

The interior is fairly stock and all original. The dash pad is from a GT but was all that was available in '76 as a replacement. The GT tach is from my thirty-year collection of new and used 120 goodies. Over the years I have bought Volvo R-Sport accessories and new parts in anticipation of having to restore the car someday as I had planned not to sell it. I'm glad I did, because all these things are now not available from Volvo. That steering wheel is a rare Nardi signature wheel, stamped autograph by Nardi, the Italian race driver.

We can see that this is a B20, which was not available in '67. When did you put that in, and what's in the motor? How about the suspension?

The engine is a '69 B20 short block bought from Volvo. It has an ipd cam and lightened lifters, stainless steel header, a Volvo R-Sport Stage II big valve, ported and polished cylinder head with 11.00:1 compression, electronic ignition with a Bosch 50K coil. The exhaust is 2-1/4" with a DynaMax turbo muffler and an Ansa dual tip. Needless to say, it perks!

The suspension is a combination of ipd coils, Volvo Competion Service DeCarbon gas shocks, ipd sway bars and ipd stainless steel brake hoses. The wheels are Panasport 15/6 with Bridgestone RE91s.

Can you tell us where these photos were taken?

This is the Marine memorial in Washington, about twenty minutes from the house. The rest of the pictures are from northern Virginia, including the ones taken in front of the Volvo Mid-Atlantic office about five minutes from here.

Jerry, we know this car took first in class at the Lake Placid meet. How has it done in other competitions?

Now the embarassing part -- I don't think that this car ever placed less than second in class! We have attended every Volvo National Meet on the East Coast since they began in '81. It has been to the Rockleigh Meet twice and took first place there also. I can check my trophies if it's a big deal, but I generally don't brag about it. I just enjoy the shows and, most of all, the people. It used to be embarassing when I had my 123GT because both cars competed against each other and were always first and second!

I have always paid strict attention to details on my cars and every modification has been made with much thought, design and layout. I didn't want any changes to look too far out. I want the car to look as original as possible without ruining the overall character of the car. Lastly, I couldn't have done any of this without Ernie Williams and Garland Culpepper and, most off all, an understanding and supportive wife. As for purists, this car has never seen a trailer! We had a great trip to Lake Placid, New York, and then to Montreal and home again. I fixed some paint chips in the front end and then it was off to Rockleigh (more dings from the New Jersey Turnpike) and returned via Cape May and the ferry.

Photos, story and 122S by Jerry Sira.