Nov
1
You don’t see many of these somewhat indestructible 142s in this kind of condition. particularly after it has already covered 178,000 miles. But we know from the intrepid traveler and mileage maker, Irv Gordon, this one shares DNA with one that has gone 3 million miles. It is just getting warmed up. Read More
Oct
25
We are confident that Volvo enthusiasts will read this featured listing and we have many of them. Our other readers who have not yet warmed to the charm of a 544 will probably take a pass. This one is Mintworthy because it allegedly has 44,000 original miles. We like the red exterior and don’t know what is inside. Probably grey if we know the Swedes. This is a Portland, Oregon car and if it has been in Portland all of its life, it might actually be rust free. We have visions of this one without whitewalls and with body color wheel and no wheel covers. An old friend calls that Stage One rally tune. These are easy to work on and parts are easily obtainable. We would go to Stage Two rally by installing some IPD suspension upgrades and adding a few vintage rally lights front and rear. Nothing too big. The seller is asking $9700 and if it checks out to be an accurate description, then it is a good place to start. Click here for the Craigslist ad.
Oct
24
We’ve had a few Duetts here on Mint and they always seem to get a good response. By that I mean, they sell. This is a very early car for a US specimen as it is a 444 with a split windscreen. We read so many ads each day that we wonder what people are really thinking when the write this stuff. Read More
Oct
22
Okay, so nothing is perfect except maybe this Volvo 122S. We are no strangers to the 122S and this one just has no weakness that we can see from the detailed pictures. The light green exterior with dark green interior was quite popular back then. The seats look great and were years ahead of other car seats of the period in comfort and support. The B20 engine is durable as ever and coupled to a 4-speed plus overdrive and you have a great highway cruiser. Read More
Oct
19
These late-model, fuel-injected Volvos are really neat, useable sports cars. No, they are not the fastest or the best handling but they are built like a Swiss watch and great to look at. We were lucky to have time to inspect this one at Auto Turismo Sport while it was in for service. The gaps are amazing and the doors close with solid reassurance. The chrome along the top leading edge that flows from the door to the rear fender lines up perfectly. Read More
Oct
17
Admittedly we are station wagon aficionados. We applaud their versatility and in most cases, the long roof design. Couple that appreciation with one of our favorite utilitarian cars – the Volvo 122S – and you have a car we believe would be a welcome addition to anyone’s household. We are not at all suggesting that this particular example or any other become someone’s garage or trailer queen, but rather an adventure mobile. Read More
Oct
8
Most of us know about the virtues of the vintage Volvo 544 but this one goes back farther than most of us here in the US are familiar with. I did say most of us because I, a former owner of a ’53 PV444, know more than most. I found mine in the desert outside of Palm Springs, California.
Our PV444 found in the California desert in 1986
It was sitting behind a ramshackle house, surrounded by old refrigerators and wood pallets. The tires were flat so the belly was resting on sand for many years. The owner sold it to me for not a lot of money and I gave him explicit instructions. I would send a truck to pick it up and have it transported to the local Volvo dealer to see if they could get it running and prepare it for shipping to New Jersey. Read More
Sep
25
If you are a fan of solid old Volvos, you know this one is pretty rare here in the US. The name Duett comes from management’s wishes to have a suitable commercial vehicle that can be used as a passenger vehicle on weekends. Hence one vehicle, 2 uses and the name Duett. Clever those Swedes were back then. Another little known fact (unless you are a Volvo trivia expert) is that the Duett was built on an old ladder type frame to simplify the fitting of special commercial bodies. 
Here’s a Jeopardy question, Alex Trebeck. The only Volvo sold in the USA that used a ladder-type frame. Buzzz! “What is a Duett?” Our featured Duett comes from the northwest and has been in the care of only 2 owners since new. Read More
Sep
16
A solid, unrestored 145 wagon with 4-speed + Overdrive is a rare bird. For some uncanny reason, old Volvo station wagons have become cool. They started out as grocery-getters and safe transportation for the family and now a cult has formed. The seller states the original owner stored the car for 20 years before donating it to charity. The current owner bought it from them and has taken pretty good care of it. Read More
Aug
21
If you are a frequent reader of Mint, you know we can’t pass up the possibility of a nice, early Volvo P1800S. We have had some really good examples including the recent offering from friend Mark S. (’64 P1800). Our thinking is the P1800S is probably the almost perfect entry-level sports/GT car. You can find a P1800S in almost any state of condition and no matter what that is, they probably run well enough to enjoy. And no, we are not referring to basket cases with no floors or rockers. Just decent, relatively solid specimens. The design has finally come in to its own and it beginning to be appreciated by astute collectors in the hobby. Will they ever be super valuable? Read More
Aug
8
We like to mix things up here at Mint featuring submissions that represent a wide range of cool cars. The blue car we featured a few days ago looked great in original condition. This one looks like all of the heavy lifting is done. So we made an exception with this Volvo P1800S – too nice to wait or pass on. It is no secret the enthusiast community has recognized the Volvo P1800 is a really neat sports car. It took quite some time to achieve that status. But back in the day, auto journalists liked the car. The press instantly recognized that this was a sporting car, rather than one built for out-and-out performance, and gave the P1800 good reviews. “In doing that for which it is intended, fast steady cruising, the P1800 is superb and it gave us the impression it would run forever at near maximum speed,” Road & Track said. Car and Driver liked the car, too:
Aug
6
After decades of having a blind-eye towards anything from Sweden, the collector car enthusiast has finally seen the light. Yes, they now know what legions of Volvo-isti (invented here) have known for years: the P1800S is a satisfyingly beautiful and well-built sports car. We are beginning to see quite a few P1800S examples that have great potential from what we can tell by the limited information given in some of the ads we are sent. But we know you wouldn’t buy one of these without someone looking at it in the flesh, right? Read More
Jul
23
It is no secret we like a good Volvo 122S. There are plenty of them out there to choose from in all states of restoration or disarray. Unfortunately, many 122S sedans or wagons have been treated to poor quality repair or restoration efforts. A fate many previously thought disposable cars have suffered. Therefore, wouldn’t it be best to find one before it got in the hands of someone who might mistreat it? Today’s second installment of Be Brave is Grandpa’s 122S, 2-door, 4-speed sedan purchased new while on vacation in Sweden and brought back to California. We like good stories. Read More
Jul
16
This Volvo 1800E is very hot. But not inside where it is very cold should you elect to turn on the A/C. Not just any A/C but a super modern, built for Florida A/C. Volvo P1800s are on fire lately. After decades in the shadows, enthusiasts have recognized the charm of these Swedish GT cars. Perhaps you’ve seen Volvo’s most recent summer sales campaign featuring Irv Gordon and his ’66 P1800. Irv is scheduled to cement his Guinness Book of Records position by ticking over 3 million miles sometime in September in Alaska. Don’t ask him why they picked Alaska other than it is the only state he hasn’t visited in the Volvo. Read More
Jul
11
The “Drive It Like You Hate It” campaign referred to the 122S but it is totally apropos for a 544. Loyal 544 owners are often teased that their trusty classic looks like a shrunken old Ford. Nothing could be more far from the truth. These Volvos were actually sport sedans dressed in a housecoat instead of an evening gown. The 544 feels anything but stodgy. It is stoutly constructed and at 2100 lb., pretty light on its feet. It feels quite nimble and the 95 horsepower B18D is enough to move it along nicely. It was considered peppy for its day. So peppy, it was actually faster to 60 than many sports cars. These were very successful rally racers with numerous first place finishes. Read More
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