Volvo Amazon 1956–1967 car dimensions: 4450 mm long, 1620 mm wide and 1505 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,160 kg. Braked towing is 1,000 kg.
The cabin feels spacious and airy with upright seating and clear dials. A padded dashboard reduces injury risk. Three-point front seatbelts became standard from 1959, with rear mounting points fitted. A powerful heater keeps the interior warm. Later cars add adjustable lumbar support seats and front headrests. Rubber mats and tough vinyl trim make it practical and easy to clean. Storage is limited to a passenger parcel shelf and small door pockets.
The boot holds about 390 litres. The spare wheel stands upright to one side for easy access. The large lid opens wide for simple loading of holiday luggage or shopping.
Payload sits around 420 kg. Braked towing reaches 1000 kg with unbraked at 545 kg. The solid build suits light everyday work and family duties without fuss.
The cabin is simple and airy with upright seating and clear dials. Front seats adjust for height, fore-aft position and backrest angle. From 1964 models gain steplessly adjustable lumbar support. A thermostat-controlled heater with fresh-air intake and two-speed fan delivers strong output for cold weather. Padded sun visors and a padded upper dashboard complete the basic comfort setup.
Petrol engines only: B16 1.6-litre or later B18 1.8-litre.
Oil change and greasing every 3,000 miles.
Front suspension has five grease points serviced every 5,000 km.
Three-point front seatbelts standard from 1959.
Padded dashboard and laminated windscreen.
Seatbelt mounting points front and rear.
The Amazon runs on petrol with inline-four engines starting at 1.6 litres and moving to 1.8 litres from 1961. No diesel options appear in the records for this generation.
Servicing centres on ease of maintenance. Engine oil changes every 3,000 miles with the filter at longer intervals. The redesigned front suspension needs greasing at only five points every 5,000 km, far fewer than earlier Volvos. Gearbox and rear axle oil checks occur at the same 3,000-mile mark, with full changes much less often.
Safety equipment set new standards for the era. Three-point seatbelts became standard on front seats from 1959, a world first. The car also carries a padded upper dashboard, laminated windscreen and factory mounting points for belts front and rear. Front disc brakes arrived on higher models in 1961 and across the range by 1964.
Keeping the car means regular oil and grease attention plus rust checks, as the monocoque body was undersealed from new. Parts remain available through specialist networks and the mechanical layout is straightforward for routine work.
Length 4450 mm, Width 1620 mm, Height 1505 mm, Wheelbase 2600 mm (Amazon 1956–1967)
Sources: manufacturer data, 1963 and 1965 Volvo Amazon brochures, Volvo Cars media and volvoclub.org.uk, NZZ/encyCARpedia/kfz-tech.