Inspired by American, British and Italian cars and designed by the then 26-year-old Jan Wilsgaard, the Volvo Amazon debuted in the first weekend of September, 1956. Originally spelled "Amason," the car's name was changed to the more internationally recognized spelling prior to the launch of production in 1957. Unfortunately for the Swedish, the German motorcycle manufacturer Kreidler also happened to launch a moped called Amazone at the same time, which meant the name was unavailable in a number of key markets.

Volvo

Between 1957 and 1959, all cars featured a two-tone exterior. The combinations on offer were black, midnight blue or ruby red bodies with a light grey roof, or a light grey body with a black roof. From 1959, it became possible to buy a monochrome Amazon (or 121), with 1961 being the final year for the two-tone cars.

The Amazon Sport debuted in 1958 with twin SU carburetors and a high-performance camshaft, boosting the four-cylinder's output to 85 horsepower. Later on, there were also plans to put a V8 in the car, which would have been an evolved version of a truck engine. Five prototypes were said to have been built, but in the end Volvo's management decided against a V8 offering. For the second time.

Volvo

While Volvo patented the three-point seatbelt in 1959 and made it standard in the Amazon straight away, the cars also got faster thanks to the Swedish Police, who ordered a fleet of special rides with power disc brakes, radial tires, rear window defroster and a button by the steering wheel connecting the windshield washer with the fastest wiper setting. Volvo put some of these features into series production not long after.

In 1962, the wagon versioned joined the four-door, followed by the opening of Volvo's first foreign factory in Halifax, Canada. Later, an assembly plant was also opened in Durban, South Africa. However, Volvo's biggest investment was in the Belgian city of Ghent. As Sweden was outside of what was then the European Economic Community (a precursor of the European Union), it was important to get a foot inside the European customs union. In 1965, the factory opened with an initial capacity of 14,000 cars per year.

Volvo

In 1967, the Amazon got the new engine from the P1800S. Called the 123 GT, if offered 115 horsepower and overdrive. It also had its side mirrors attached to the front fenders, extra lights and a tachometer mounted to the top of the dashboard, just like on Carl-Magnus Skogh's Acropolis Rally-winning 122S in 1965.

Volvo

Volvo kept building Amazons despite launching the 140 series in 1966. Both the Amazon and the 140 got the new B20 engine for their respective 1969 models, with the last Amazon rolling of the line in Sweden in 1970 after a run of 667,791 units. That car is part of the Volvo Museum's collection.

What's fascinating is that around 8 percent of the approximately 297,000 Amazons sold in Sweden are still around, with 24,282 of them still registered today. The most popular seems to be the 1966 model year, of which 4,804 are out there showing minimal moose damage.

Volvo has been Sweden's number one car brand since 1958, with a current market share of over 30 percent.

I found this one in a parking lot in Stockholm in 2009. Máté Petrány/Road&Track

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