Volvo 164
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The Volvo 164 was an automobile manufactured by Volvo from 1968 to 1975.
The lines of the 164 came from the pen of Volvo designer Jan Wilsgaard and were first seen in the late 1950s as a larger prototype exercise called the P358. The 164 was introduced in late 1968; the last model year was 1975. It was considered an upscale offering as compared to the nice but more utilitarian 140 series of cars.
The 164 was powered by a OHV straight 6 cylinder engine, the B30. It was a derivative of the proven B20 4 cylinder. Transmission options included a 4 speed (M400), another version with an attached Laycock d'Normanville overdrive (M410) and an 3 speed automatic (Borg Warner BW35).
Only offered as a 4 door saloon (or sedan), the 164 nonetheless shared many components with its 144 sister. From the windshield rearward, sheetmetal was identical. The front was lengthened 6 inches to accommodate the longer 6 cylinder engine. Because of the shared components between the 140 and 164, several private parties have constructed 2 door and station/estate wagon versions with 164 front ends. Volvo is said to have produced a single 165 Estate which was given to designer Wilsgaard on the event of his retirement from his career at Volvo.
When Volvo was developing the 262C coupé in the mid-seventies, a 164 was used as a testbed. The result was a two-door "162" with the low vinyl roof that would be found on the 262C. This car is today on display at the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg, Sweden. As with the estate versions, some replicas has been made by enthusiasts.
External links
- Volvo 164 Club of Sweden (http://www.164club.org/)