1967 volvo 144-anyone have one? Are they good?

Discussion in 'Other Volvo Models' started by universatile, Feb 3, 2005.

  1. universatile

    universatile Guest

    Greetings,

    My friend is offering to trade me his volvo 144 and I was considering
    rebuilding the engine and throwing on some webers.

    It is a lovely car, good for my lifestyle with ample room for camping
    gear and a roof rack.

    Questions,

    Anyone have one of these beauties?

    How reliable are they?

    What gas mileage do you get in them?

    Anything anyone can say about this model/year is appreciated.

    Peace
     
    universatile, Feb 3, 2005
    #1
  2. If you don't mind playing with carbs (I believe fuel injection started
    around 1970 or so with Volvo), I've never found a 60s Volvo I didn't
    like, assuming it was in good shape. The B18 engine is still, IMHO, the
    most reliable engine ever made. Check out the body before you buy,
    though--body parts for the 144 in most places are harder to come by than
    parts for the 240, or even the 1800 or 122. Everything Volvo made
    (except the 1900) up through the 240 was an absolute tank.
     
    Cormac Foster, Feb 3, 2005
    #2
  3. universatile

    James Sweet Guest

    When it comes to 60's cars, it's about as reliable as you're gonna get.
    Remember that it's over 30 years old so you'll be tinkering with it
    occasionally but overall they're very solid beasts.
     
    James Sweet, Feb 4, 2005
    #3
  4. Like Cormac said, check the body for rust. Inspect undercarriage, front
    floorboards under the carpet/mat, and the trunk.

    Haynes makes a good maintenance/repair manual for the 140, and also a manual
    for the SU carbs if you're more serious. Lots of folks install the IPD
    Weber carb kit on this engine, though I don't know if it's much better than
    good condition SU's. The engine is very durable when well maintained, and
    usually very re-buildable by any good machine shop, again with several
    rebuild/upgrade options from IPD. Unless run dry, the tranny usually lasts
    at least as long as the engine. You may look for an overdrive to add on for
    an upgrade. It can use the same overdrive as found on most 1800's and
    122's, with some drive shaft customizing if you can't find one all ready to
    fit. The front seats on the 140 series are the best long distance seats
    I've ever owned, and can be rebuilt with some parts from IPD and maybe some
    other suppliers. If all of your steering and suspension components are in
    good condition, the feel of the drive and the steering are very tight and
    almost sporty, with a turning radius smaller than the old vw bugs. IPD
    sells a stiff anti-sway bar kit to upgrade the fast cornering capabilities.

    Kind of noisy, but can be improved with a hood pad and some other
    strategically placed dynamat (or less expensive generic sound deadener). As
    you can tell, I think IPD is a good 1-stop shopping center for classic
    volvos. But, it's not the only place, so shop around if every penny
    matters.

    My 1st volvo was a '71 144 B20B baby-poop beige/gold. I purchased used at
    top dollar in '73 and never regretted. Since '73, I've advanced quite a
    bit: all the way to a '91 240. In between, I've had a 145, a 122, and 1800E
    (for fun/project car), one crappy Audi and one crappy Mitsubishi. My
    fondness for the 140 has endured. Most other cars (except, perhaps, BMW and
    Mercedes) were built by corporations for consumers. The older volvos were
    built by engineers for drivers and car owners. I'm not putting down the new
    volvos, since I've rarely been in one.

    If your friend's 140 is mostly rust free, go for it. Can you believe that
    trunk space?

    Pat Q
     
    Pat Quadlander, Feb 8, 2005
    #4
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