1967 Volvo Amazon 123GT B20 Overdrive, HERO Endurance, Historic HRCR Stage Rally Car For Sale

Volvo Amazon 123GT

1967 | B20 2.0L Petrol | 4-Speed Manual with Overdrive | Pearl White | Full Endurance or Cat 1 Stage Rally Spec with MSA Logbook | Comes with Performance Parts

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Equipment:

• South-African import 123GT shell in Pearl White, first declared registered in Sept 1971 (under EJB 810K – then assigned with current age-related plate).
• Welded and strengthened shell, with Safety Devices roll cages with bolt-in door bars.
• MSA/MSUK log book for Category 1 stage rallying.
• B20F 1,986cc OHV 4-cyl engine, low compression big valve head with single HS-6 carburettor for endurance/reliability. Lightened flywheel, phosphor bronze valve guides. ‘D’ camshaft. Alloy rocker cover. Aldon electronic ignition with back-up coil. Simonz exhaust system. Twin cooling fans. Alternator.
• 4-speed M40 manual transmission with Laycock overdrive. HD Sachs hydraulic clutch.
• Multiplate LSD with 4.56 diff ratio.
• Bilstein dampers with uprated springs all round.
• Front disc brakes with rear drums, Mintex competition pads/shoes. Brake bias valve. Cockpit mounted brake servo.
• Centre handbrake conversion.
• Alloy sump guard.
• 5x genuine Minilite 5.5×15 alloy wheels with Dunlop gravel tyres.
• Custom baffled alloy fuel tank inside the boot, with twin dash 6 connections to twin Facet Red Top fuel pumps.
• All lines plumbed inside the car. Varley Red Top battery. Plumbed in 4l LifeLine fire extinguisher system plus handheld item (both currently out of date).
• Internal/external mechanic cut-off switch.
• Laminated front and rear screens, side glass treated with MSA-spec laminate film.
• Bonnet and boot safety catches.
• 2 x 6-point Sabelt harnesses (out of date), currently fitted with road-going Subaru seats for endurance/regularity events.
• Flip-up roof vents.
• Terratrip with front-hub mounted sensor.
• Co-driver LED map lights, and horn button.
• Air horns.
• Cockpit, bonnet and boot lights.
• Wired and relayed for competition lighting.
• Sev Marchal reversing lamp.
• Built in storage safe for valuable items etc.
• Front and rear tow loops.
• Standard car equipment including two speed wipers and electric washers, two speed heater.
• The car comes with a history folder including old receipts for the original build by Tony Barrett of South Service, London, plus various assorted paperwork including a recent dyno readout, 1998 international passport, MSA logbook and details on previous events etc. A jack and wheel brace are in the boot.
• Additional parts come with the car, including performance upgrades to prepare the car for stage rallying including twin SU carburettors on manifold, associated linkages, a high-compression head and a new 4-into-1 exhaust manifold. Also included are 5x Vredestein road tyres, 2x spare Dunlop gravel tyres and the bolt-in door bars for the roll cage.

Description:

In 1956, Volvo launched one of its most successful model ranges, the 120-Series which was to remain in production until 1970. Only in Sweden was it officially known as the ‘Amazon’, due to the name already being in use with a German motorbike manufacturer, however it still kept this moniker across the globe. Starting with the 121 and 122 models, the range soon established itself as a comfortable, reliable and well-built saloon car which was later joined by other models including the range-topping sports model, the 123GT in 1967. The GT was a two-door with upgrades such as a hotter high-compression engine, driving lights, fully reclining seats, dash-mounted tacho along with other cosmetic upgrades. It soon found itself at the hands of many budding rally drivers, and it still achieves huge success on the stages and endurance events today thanks to it’s strong build and reliability.

This particular example is a 123GT originally supplied to South Africa. It was imported into the UK in 1971, and then rebuilt as a rally car in the late 90s by renowned rally car builder Tony Barrett of South Service, London for a Mr Radin and Mr Lyons who were to enter the 1998 London to Cape Town rally. The shell was stripped, welded and strengthened, and installed with a Safety Devices roll cage and the upgrades as listed above. Many reliability-focused parts were fitted including safety cabling to the exhaust, engine and transmission, spare speedo-drive cables routed, twin ignition coils, fuses and relays in the electrics, etc etc. The car was entered under number 20, and successfully finished the event as 9^th in class. The car has also completed the 1999 HERO ERA ‘Le Jog’ Lands End to John ‘O’ Groats endurance trial under entry 88, and won a Blue Ribband award for visiting every control, plus various other smaller events including being rallied at Race Retro in more recent years.

Fast forwarding to now, the car is now ready to be ‘raced and rallied’ again, with the B20F firing up easily from cold and pulling very well out on the road. The car was tuned and dyno’d in Sept ’23, with the readout giving 102bhp on the current ‘poor fuel’ endurance setup. This could be upped using the parts with the car for a more stage-focused tune. The M40 gearbox selects all gears smoothly and quietly, along with the overdrive – The car will cruise nicely at 65-70mph or plenty more if you wished. The servo-assisted brakes pull the car to a stop strongly, the suspension is clunk free and the steering is nice and direct. The exhaust rattles/vibrates slightly at certain revs thanks to its more solid mountings, which is to be expected in a rally car!

Externally, the car is still in a good, presentable straight shape with its Pearl White paint. There are a few stone chips on the bonnet/front end, plus a bit of gravel rash on the sills/door bottoms which you’d expect for a competition car. The only corrosion present are the lower rear quarters, which are just starting to bubble through where the panels meet the shell – This could be rectified for show purposes, or left as is if the intention is to use it in anger! Underneath, the car is very solid with only the odd patch of surface rust on suspension components and high-impact areas. All the suspension and brake components are in good order, and the transmission oils and diff (LSD) have been serviced.

Inside, the ‘stripped out’ interior is in good order with only the dash-top showing signs of a crack from sun-damage. The seats are from a Subaru, fitted for ease of access and comfort for road-based events, however the tube rails underneath are there to mount competition-spec seats. All the electrics and lighting work, aside from the electric oil-pressure gauge. Wiring is present for additional spot-lamps on the roof which were used whilst rallying in Africa. All wiring, brake and fuel lines are plumbed inside for protection. The co-driver’s side is equipped with twin-map lights and a Terratrip trip meter.

The car’s odometer reads 76,986 kilometers, however we cannot verify this to be original/correct. It comes with a history folder including many old receipts for the build by Tony Barrett of South Service, London, plus various assorted paperwork including logbooks and details on previous events etc. A fresh MoT will be put on the car prior to sale. Please do get in touch if you wish to know more or to arrange a viewing.

Conditions:

We have described the vehicle as accurately as we can, but please take your time looking through the photos. Viewing is most welcome, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us. All funds must be cleared before the vehicle can be taken away. We are happy to take deposits to reserve vehicles, however this is non-refundable fee agreed on point of sale, and is valid for 7 days at which point the full balance must be settled and collection or delivery arranged.

Our Terms & Conditions are available here: https://www.overlandandhighway.co.uk/terms-and-conditions

The vehicle must be collected from our premises near Church Stretton, Shrewsbury. We can also arrange UK delivery by trailer if you so require.