Ford's F150 has been the best selling vehicle in America for more than three decades. Volvo, once part of Ford, never had a chance at that title, but that might change with something like today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Amazon pickup. That is, if its price proves a best seller.
Yesterday's 1988 BMW 325iX may have come with AWD and a choice of a lot of wheels to drive, by none of that swayed the vast majority of you, and it dropped in a 55% Crack Pipe loss at its asking. Maybe he'd have better luck if he tried to sell the wheels and threw in the Bimmer to sweeten the deal.
Okay, I've just realized that we've had A LOT of German cars on here recently. Seriously, it's been Deutschland über alles on NPOCP for far too long. That's why today, we're going with a candidate from a country that's as diametrically opposed to Germany as possible, that being of course … Sweden. Oh crap!
It's the thought that counts, right? And today, I want your thoughts on this custom 1965 Volvo uni-bed pickup and its price tag. Okej?
Volvo's Amason was first introduced in 1956. Its name was changed to Amazon for the Swedish market, and, initially, 122S for everywhere else following a trademark dispute with the German motorcycle maker Kreidler. The 122S was introduced in the U.S. in '59, and eventually offered in three body styles; two-door and four-door sedans and a handsome station wagon. At no time over the course of the car's 14-year lifespan did Volvo ever make it available here as a pick-em-up truck.
Of course that market was already ocupado with Chevy's El Camino and Ford's Ranchero car-trucks. That doesn't mean it wouldn't have been a good idea however. This custom 122S shows just how that idea might have played out.
The car started out as a station wagon and in fact you can make out the longroof's scuttle line which is now serving as the bed's upper lip. The wagon's back hatch now serves as the rear glass- apparently still openable - for the truncated cab. The lower gate remains and looks totally like it was a pickup tailgate all along.
In fact, it's remarkable how factory this conversion looks, aside from the somewhat odd angle of the dangle on that back glass. Described as a rust-free former California car it also seems to be in pretty decent shape with shiny paint and bright five slots that seem to look good on damn-near anything.
Mechanically, this custom is still pretty stock under the hood. It rocks the B18 four, although that has sadly traded its jaunty pair of Skinners Union side-draughts for a Weber 2bbl. Hopefully they've just left the air cleaner off for the pics. Me, I'd go back to the SUs. A four-speed stick with a loooong shifter completes the make-go parts.
That shifter sits in a relatively stock - I mean, it is missing the whole back-half - interior and the upholstery and dash look to be in exemplary condition. That and the rest of the car makes this seem like a turn-key package. Well, except for the carbs.
Considering that it's pretty much drive-off, what do you think about its $14,500 price tag? Is that an amount that should have someone considering picking up this 122? Or, is that too many Kroner for even so krazy a kustom?
You decide!
Cars.com, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Cup of Joe Leahy for the hookup!
Help me out with NPOCP. Click here to send a me a fixed-price tip, and remember to include your Kinja handle.