Rusty Volvo Faceoff: Flintstones Amazon vs Rockin 1800ES
Time for a game of “pick your poison”, where we show you two beaten to death piles patina’d classics and you pick which one you’d own. Of course, we’ll kick off today’s featurette with a couple of Volvos, because that’s the way I roll. Take your pick between this 1973 Volvo “rockin rocker panels” 1800ES found here on eBay
for $3,000 buy-it-now or this 1967 Volvo 122S “Flintstones” Amazon here on eBay offered for $4,500 buy-it-now.
When given the choice between two stellar examples of automotive excellence, you first need to examine your needs and motivations. The assignment for today isn’t to find a car that you can pour thousands of dollars of your ill-gotten Puerto Rican municipal bond earnings to do a restoration — no, you are going to drive one of these cars every day. Choose wisely.
First up is the ’73 1800ES, a car that from a distance appears to offer fantastic value for its low asking price. Even up close and personal, the thing looks decent on the inside, and is advertised to be in great running condition…until you get up and close to the passenger side sheet metal…
Eeeggads!! Run away!! Actually, it might not be as bad as it seems. That isn’t entirely true either, anybody how has experienced rust will tell you that it is always 1000 times worse that you initially thought when you start digging into the tumors. Tread carefully and keep your vaccinations up to date.
Next is the 67 Volvo 122, which looks great except for a small spot of rust on the driver’s door — something easily patchable. Everything is great until you read the seller’s words: driver’s side footwell liner needs replacing, some rot in floorboards (not pictured because it can only be seen from the underside of the car). Yikes, don’t buy this car sight unseen — and bring a giant screwdriver to any in-person inspection. If you can’t find the end of the rust, walk away.
Which would you choose? Comments below.
No wagon vs. wagon? Perfect interior means duct tape?
Duct tape was restored in 2013 with NOS tape.
+1
Hummmm
Having just sold an amazon wagon I know a bit more about those.
Amazon has the advantage of simplicity. Helped a friend search out the pockets of rust in his newly acquired 1800ES.
Amazon also has the advantage of feeling more robust.
I'll take the ES. One of the best looking cars ever. Have seen several claims of rust free ES's. I have my doubts if such a thing exists.
You know the saying, "When a seller says it's got minor surface rust, he means a minor amount of the rust has made it to the surface." I'd want to put both on a lift to be sure, but I really like the 1800ES.
~ As much as I love the ES I want another Amazon 2door. And this one looks fair. Long as the floor isn't Swiss cheese it should be able to be brought to daily driven status with out major complications.
[scot c]
I'll take door number 3 for the Puerto Rican Bond Redemption. In no lifetime would I ever have sunk as much money into Puerto Rican bonds as I would have into either of these stalwart examples of two of my favorite cars.
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