Long before books were sold online, before you could shop for anything and have it delivered to your door, or before we were masters of trivia via Alexa, the other Amazon quietly went about changing the world from a then small Swedish company with a penchant for safety. Now owned by Geeley and formerly a Ford brand, Volvo began as an independent Swedish auto manufacturer with safety as the primary tenant for their automotive offerings. Although production was slow and steady after the war, in the 1950s interest and sales grew internationally around these robust and durable cars.
Volvo 123 GT.
Built from 1956 – 1970, first as the Volvo 12o, the Volvo 122 quickly became one of the most popular European cars of the post-war era. Available in two, four, or wagon configuration, these models were delightfully compact, offering ample room for four adults, spacious trunks, and admirable fuel economy. Manufactured with stamped steel unibody construction, the 122 was lightweight, very well built, and modestly priced. And while the 122 was built with safety in mind, it was a surprisingly pretty car featuring a tidy body design, excellent proportions, and durable performance – a feature that would become all the more important in rally events. Named the “Amazon”, it was originally designated Amason, named in honor of the feisty mythic Greek Goddess. The name was however taken by another entity, so it was changed to Amazon for use only in the Swedish market, though eventually designated in other markets with the three-digit numeric moniker.
