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The Amazon is a very simple car, even by 60's standards. It is really pre-war technology. As such, it is extremely reliable and you can fix most anything that goes awry with one on the side of the road. By virtue of this simplicity, they are also loud, rather anemic on the highway due to the lack of an overdrive gear in the wagons (and most sedans), and not very practical for use as a daily driver. The worm and roller steering is not very quick or precise, the brakes (front disc/rear drum) leave something to be desired, and the interior is rather cramped if you are more than say 5'8" as most American men are.
My all-time favorite Volvo is a K-Jet 240 from about '78 through '81, or an early LH-Jet 240 from '82 through '84. These cars are sort of an evolution of the Amazon. Still very utilitarian, but with rack and pinion power steering, power disc brakes on all four wheels, a safety cage with crumple zones, and much more comfortable driving experience. With overdrive, the manual transmission 240's can easily achieve in the mid-to-high 20's on the freeway if driven reasonably. The downside, of course, is that they are not as reliable as their "ancestors." But still easy enough to work on that a DIY/shade tree mechanic can do most of the servicing and repairs at home.
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