1966 Volvo 122s Amazon
Before
Below - after
 
I bought this little Volvo for $1450 from a local person who imported it from Canada some years ago. It has new brakes, suspension springs and shocks and clutch.
This little car has an upgraded B20F engine with a mild cam. It gets along pretty good. I rebuilt the alternator and put a new battery in it.
 
Sitting next to it's younger sister, the XC-70
Below - February 1, 2008. I decide to fix some minor dents and dings, so off come the bumpers and other bits and it's sander time!
I banged out the trunk lid and some dents along the fender area, bondo'd them in and sanded them down.
The hood is very straight, no dings, minor dings around the front fenders needed sanding and minor filling. Lots of scratches and minor ding rash.
The front clip had some rusty spots and lots of dents filled with old Bondo, so I removed it and worked it on the bench.
Now I'm working my way around the car, sanding out scratches, filling in the little dings here and there. Next comes the black basecoat followed by a clearcoat.
With the front piece back on, I fill in the seams and sand it all down.
Still sanding on March 17, 2008.
I decide to paint it silver/grey, so the front and rear glass and door windows all come out.
I ordered all new seals from IPD in Portland, as well as a new air dam to replace the rusty front bumper.
 

New headliner on the way
 
Dash comes out to get painted.
Everything sanded down again through 600, nice and smooth and ready for primer.
Tomorrow, I'll shoot on the urethane primer.
 

Urethane surfacing primer
 
 
The air dam arrived via UPS from IPD - fast service!
 
Gotta do some more Bondo and primer on the interior parts (dash, trim, etc.) then color tomorrow. Clear coat as well - maybe.
Dam faired in now - final shot of primer. Interior parts sanded down and primered, almost ready for the pearl silver color coat - just gotta fix up the engine compartment to get it ready for color. I have a gallon of the pearl silver, I expect to use it all on the door jambs, engine bay, trunk, interior pieces, and of course the outside body of the car.
 
I might have got a little crazy here.
 
The grey/silver/blue/gold pearlescent metallic that sister Katwoman recommended. She sure knows he colors! Looks great!
 
 
 
 
 
Next, I shoot on a gallon of clear coat.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Going back together - I ordered $1800 worth of seals, bits and interior stuff today.
 
 
 
Probably take a couple of weeks to finish sanding, polishing and putting the shiny bits back on.
 
 
Above - I re-install the dash and steering wheel. Below - engine bay is painted, need to replace hoses, paint the radiator and other bits. Overhaul the carbs.
 
Above and below - I wet-sanded the entire car with 1000 and finish with 1500. Now I have to go to Florida for two weeks for work. While I'm gone, all the new parts will have arrived from Vintage and IPD.
 
 
April 12, back from Florida and I continue to wet sand the Amazon, starting with 800, going up to 1500.
 
 
Then I polish with the Milwaukee grinder, using a yellow foam pad and 3M compound, below - the left side of the photo shows the hood polished, right side sanded.
 
Below - long day of sanding and polishing, makes a hell of a mess.
 
Below - all polishing done, except the front clip, I'll do that when my back recovers!
Above and below - new interior panels, upholstery and seals from Volvo. Original parts, just like new in the original colors.
 
The long box has the new windshield, seat upholstery, new kick panels and headliner.
 
April 14, I spend most of the day assembling one door. It's a long process!
 
Old dog hanging out. Bumper and rear bits installed. New trunk seal and gas filler seal.
 
Window and wing window and new seals and window runners installed.
New door panel installed.
Below - new Volvo mirro installed.