Amazon: - 121 or 131...?

twinbeech · Nov 15th, 2012, 18:22

My car is a 121, that is what all the paperwork says, but the tag in the engine bay starts with 131, so is it actually a 131, or is there no difference? Curious

222s · Nov 15th, 2012, 18:58

Nothing to worry about - a brief explanation below:

Body coding:
120 = 4 door saloon
130 = 2 door saloon
220 = estate

Engine coding:
121 = single carb
122S = twin carb

Thus chassis coding for a single carb 2 door is 131, and for a twin carb estate it is 222, However both would be badged 121 & 122S respectively, as that is the engine spec. A single carb estate would be badged as a 121 (except for the very earliest ones which were badged as a 221 or 222), even though the type code says 221. I guess it is due to this general mess & complexity of the type & badging that these cars are collectively known as Amazons, even though only the very first ones were actually called or badged as that. Some call them the 100 series, but that is incorrect (as that is in fact the 142, 144, 145 / 164), as the Amazons are the 120, 130, 220 series.

Hope that's as clear as mud....

Fortunately, later Volvos had much clearer model designations!

Tail · Nov 16th, 2012, 18:53

I had to explain all this to my insurance company as they have it down on the insurance database as a 131 but its badged as a 121, they had no grasp whatsoever and in the end insured it as a modified with no change in the premium at all.

Nov 15th, 2012, 18:22	#1
twinbeech Aviation Artist Last Online: Mar 2nd, 2021 08:15 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: near Melton Mowbray	121 or 131...? My car is a 121, that is what all the paperwork says, but the tag in the engine bay starts with 131, so is it actually a 131, or is there no difference? Curious __________________ XC90 185

Nov 15th, 2012, 18:58	#2
222s Amazoniste Last Online: Sep 19th, 2016 21:52 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Emsworth View Photos By: 222s	Nothing to worry about - a brief explanation below: Body coding: 120 = 4 door saloon 130 = 2 door saloon 220 = estate Engine coding: 121 = single carb 122S = twin carb Thus chassis coding for a single carb 2 door is 131, and for a twin carb estate it is 222, However both would be badged 121 & 122S respectively, as that is the engine spec. A single carb estate would be badged as a 121 (except for the very earliest ones which were badged as a 221 or 222), even though the type code says 221. I guess it is due to this general mess & complexity of the type & badging that these cars are collectively known as Amazons, even though only the very first ones were actually called or badged as that. Some call them the 100 series, but that is incorrect (as that is in fact the 142, 144, 145 / 164), as the Amazons are the 120, 130, 220 series. Hope that's as clear as mud.... Fortunately, later Volvos had much clearer model designations! __________________ Paul - 1967 Amazon 222S B20 o/d Estate & 1961 A-H Sprite Mk2 948cc WANTED - For '67 Amazon estate - offside rear quarter, preferably new old stock. Last edited by 222s; Nov 15th, 2012 at 19:02.

Nov 16th, 2012, 18:53	#3
Tail Master Member Last Online: Nov 29th, 2020 00:42 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Newton Abbot	I had to explain all this to my insurance company as they have it down on the insurance database as a 131 but its badged as a 121, they had no grasp whatsoever and in the end insured it as a modified with no change in the premium at all.

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