1972 Volvo 144

Conceived to ultimately replace Volvo’s popular 120-Series ‘Amazon’ saloons and estates, the 140 made its debut in 1966 for the 1967 Model Year. Initially launched in square-set four-door saloon form only as the 144 (1 signifying Volvo’s new first series, 4 representing 4-cylinders, with the second 4 denoting 4 doors), the model’s basic ‘boxy but good’ shape survived until 1993 in the replacement 1975-93 200-Series, with ultimately more than 4millionexamples of the now iconic rectangular Volvo being produced over the car’s long 27-year life span, helping to cement Volvo’s reputation for building robust and dependable boxy cars. The two-door 142 was added to the range during 1967, with the capacious 145 estate being introduced in 1968 to complete the Volvo 140 family.

Mechanically similar to its 120 Amazon predecessor at launch, the 1.8-litre 140 added all-round disc brakes to the specification to enhance Volvo’s already enviable safety credentials, with the sportier B18B motor from the Amazon 123GT added for the livelier S model. For the 1969 Model Year a more potent 2-litre B20 engine replaced the previous B18, with a restyled black plastic grille first appearing for 1971 to supplant the former Amazon-esque split metal grille, reviving the traditional pre-war Volvo grille, bisected by a diagonal stripe, last seen on the short-lived Volvo PV 36 of 1936-38. A fuel injected B20E 128 bhp engine was also added for range-topping E and GL model derivatives at the same time.

For 1973, the exaggerated large ‘steel girder’ bumpers first pioneered by fellow Swedish rival Saab became standard on all revised Volvo 140 models, along with a totally redesigned ‘square cubes’ dashboard, now padded for added safety. Flush door handles and modifications to the standard (but detuned) 109 bhp B20F engines also featured, these being the final enhancements to the Volvo 140 models, ahead of being replaced by the more prodigious 240/200-Series range in 1974 for the 1975 Model Year (see separate notes).

(GSA: 315 words)