Been a while,..Big (life)changes, but now I need advice, comments, criticism.

One of my beauties has to go for a number of reasons, the least logical being "can't keep two 'keepers'".

The first one is my 1957 445 Duett, (w/ a B-20, M-41) daily driver type car, still needs to have the interior finished, but totally usable (two tone sand and sage green), and the other choice is my 1968 Blue on Blue 220 (122 Amazon wagon). Also totally usable, drove it 2000 miles across country last year, also needs the interior finished (headliner, rear cargo area carpeted, etc.)

The Duett has a serious "cool factor", but face it, it handles like a shopping cart, and rides like rolling down a flight of stairs inside a metal trash can!!
The Amazon is almost a modern car, compared to the Duett, (late B-18, also w/ an M-41) and is in my opinion, a little more elegant, almost pretty. Deep dark blue, has all the chrome bits, and probably easier to find spares for, in the long run.

Picture of Homer Simpson dancing up and down, whimpering "what do I do, what do I do,...!!
THX, R.

I'd keep the motor & gearbox out of the 445 and sell it as a rolling chassis.

An M41 of any type coupled to a 4.10 rear lets you do 60-70 and save a lot gas on those big trips, or do 80-90 and not be flogging the engine.

What do the two donkeys have done to them, what intake, exhaust, etc.?

As for looks, they both look better than my 142, but you can't see them when your driving them.

Aren't you leaving out the requirement for an overdrive setting on the end of the long tail shaft (output shaft) of the M41? My understanding is that the M41 is identical to the M40 internally, with the difference being a "tail shaft" rather than simply a flange to attach to the drive shaft.

With an M41/Laycock J my 544 is doing 75mph at 3,500rpm.

Suppo176--the difference internally between the M40 and M41 is that where the M40 ends with a shaft with the driveshaft flange attached, in the M41 that shaft extends much further--inserts through an extension housing and into the actual Laycock overdrive unit. At the rear of the OD unit its output shaft holds the flange. -- Dave

The case is also different. The M41 has the filler/level plug higher up the side of the case to give a higher oil content to cope with the OD. You can build M41 parts into an M40 case but you will have to add a measured quantity of oil via the gearstick hole. I bought an Amazon with this conversion. Worked well but you can't check oil level.

Current market value favors selling the Duett. The Amazon is a much more practical "driver" due to the fact that the Duett is essentially a sailboat with a 6 gallon gas tank.

The Amazon wagon, on the other hand, can be "modernized" to make it a relatively efficient and comfortable means of transport (and it also will get you numerous "Thumbs Up" from other savvy motorists.) Disc brakes, an OD on the back end of the M41 (if it does not already have one), and I heartily recommend a "D" grind cam for the B18D.

Suppo
1965 PV544G

I would absolutely love to have a Duett. One model that I've yet to own.

That said, I think a Amazon wagon is one of the most beautiful cars that ever came out of the Volvo factory. The Duett is sorta goofy looking by comparison, which is part of why I love it.

I'd think, and as you have expressed, the 122 is more comfortable, and more usable on a daily basis, and you can comfortably take that 2k mile trip on a whim.

Were it me? I'd keep the 122. It's still a 50 year old head turning classic, and seems to be the one you are most comfortable using.

You've had the wonderful Duett experience. That'd be good enough for me, and I have no problem with passing a loved car on to a good home.

All that said, a car camping trip in a Duett would sure be fun :)

--
-Matt I ♥ my ♂

Invest a few hundred bucks in an industrial sewing machine, teach yourself how to sew, make new upholstery & headliners, and keep both cars. With new interiors they'll be worth even more and better than money in the bank.

Again, thanks for all the responses to my (admittedly small) dilemma.

This is a great site for technical questions, and those equally important answers, but every once in a while, the big question of WHY these old pushrod Volvos are so important to us begs to be addressed. It's even more pertinent now that the cars are becoming recognized (long overdue) in the classic car community in general, and now that the values are climbing towards Porsche, VW Bus, and Tri-5 Chevy territory.

I don't have to make an immediate decision, although winter storage is always an issue, but I really am in a quandary, and sort of hoped to spark a conversation, either emotional or logical about the merits of either choice, and about the "BIG WHY" question. Volvo's used to be advertised as the "thinking man's car", an alternative to the chrome boats of Detroit.
Is that part of the "WHY"? In my own 30+ years experience, it is truly a special kind of owner/collector who goes this route. Almost invariably, my former customers were either academics, scientists, engineers, or artistic types, with a few rugged individualists thrown in. Is that still the case? Corvette, VW Bug, or Brit sports cars guys have a ready answer, but Volvisti? Ideas?
Sorry for rambling, but these kinds of discussions really stimulate me.

R. -

Not necessarily directly on topic but...

My second car was a '67 122 wagon. Oft confused with a Volkswagen by unknowing locals. Drove just fine. I never really warmed up to it but it always did everything I asked it to. Gave me some great memories. At the time (1972), I outright laughed at the Duetts. They looked ancient even when rolling off the truck back in '67.

I have a Duett now. Wouldn't trade it for the world. The crowd favorite (and mine too) everywhere I go. If I had time, space, and money, I'd try to convince you to sell me yours.

As for Volvo, and their niche, yes - maybe it *was* the 'thinking man's car'. Unfortunately, the people at Volvo weren't thinking. Their focus became competing with Mercedes and BMW. Which is fine, except - Mercedes and BMW do what they do *really* well. Everything that was Volvo is now Subaru. They make a great car for the money, don't pretend to compete with anyone else because they are, like Volvo once was, in a class by themselves.

Being a 'thinking man' (I think), I'd be embarrassed to tell anyone I drive a contemporary Volvo. There are many better choices.

All of that having been said, I'm doing all I (reasonably) can to keep my '96 960 going. My brother dubbed it 'der Panzer'. 310k and climbing...

(Just my 2c..., I surely didn't mean to offend)

KaiS

hi horizon- interested in your comment about the Subaru. have become interested in the forester model for its reputation for reliability and safety. could you comment a bit more. like wagons and plan on keeping my 92 245, but always like a backup vehicle. a used Subaru forester is a top candidate but don't want to go the cleaners. how easy is it to repair. rarely take any car to shyster dealers even indies who want to make a home run. worst thing about the 240 I have found is their mysterious and hard to track down electrical anomalies. is a clutch replacement a nightmare on a forester like it is on fwd cars(hoist and hang or take out engine plus half the front end assembies). only downside I see right now to this vehicle is all have awd which may be another nightmare repair job and its lowered gas miles. really don't need that here in se fla. would be a different war if still in nj winters. appreciate your insights. thanks tons oldduke

Sell one or two of your fixer uppers and give yourself both space and cash to keep both the Duett and Wagon.

I also have a dark blue wagon with B18 and M41 so I know how you feel about that one.

If the choice is set that one has to go -- I'd keep the 122. Of the many Volvos I've owned, two of my favorites were the '65 544 w/B18 and the '64 122 wagon w/mildly warmed over B18. Both had an M40. The 544 was fun to drive (even autocrossed it) and be seen in but the 122 was also fun and infinitely more practical for daily use.
If one doesn't have to go immediately - I'd put the B20 into the 122 and continue to drive it forever. Having the B18 in the Duetto rather than the B20 wont hurt the value but will make the 122 that much more enjoyable. - Dave

Sounds like you enjoy the newer wagon.

Sell the other and let someone else enjoy the old log wagon.

this would let you finish the interior and have some bucks left over.

Just my thoughts.

Ray J.

Try to look ahead - which car can you drive years from now?

Well, I take your point. The Duett is a little more cramped, and harder to get in and out of.

What is the most important to you? The driving pleasure as a personal thing, the Cool factor (which relates to what other people might think of you), the pleasure of working on the car to maintain or improve it, or the practicality of each car's appetite for parts, supply of parts, and relative parts cost?

How often would you be using the car for what you enjoy most about it?

These are personal matters unique to you and do include emotional preferences beyond measurable, rational ones.

Thanx for the responses (so far,..). Both are daily drivers' with a basic "looks good from 15 feet". I've used both as daily transportation, but now there are space issues. The "cool factor" isn't just about what attention I get (although sometimes that is fun) but how I like driving either one.
There comes a time when a decision has to be made. Maybe I could cocoon one of them in Cosmoline, and stash it in an underground bunker (or missle silo) for another decade, or two.

Really had this bee in my bonnet that one or another of the two wagons had to go. Recently sold my Sugga (and THAT hurt, belive me), and there are two 1800s, and a B-14 PV444K California awaiting restoration, so how much time do I have left? Fantasy versus reality. Time versus ambition. Wasn't getting anywhere in deciding, so that's why I'm throwing this out to the community.

Amazon

I guess this falls as a "comments" reply.

Based on my experience, you're crazy.
You can keep two keepers.

Sheesh! I've kept more than two for decades too long!