The interior and upholstery (interior trim) of the Volvo Amazon has more variety than the Volvo PV-series. Mainly because customers wanted more color options and combinations, and the time cars were only available in a few colors is something that was left behind in the 50’s. Altough the first Amazon, the P1200-series, didn’t have many color combinations (inside and outside), the Amazon is known for its many colors and variety of upholstery.

Type of seats for the Amazon

The Volvo Amazon has a early type and a late type of seats. The early type is a version with springs and was available with fabric or vinyl (Volvo called it “leatherette”). The late type of seats were much better: they were designed with help of paramedics and are more comfortable and much more ergonomic, mainly because foam was used, the backrest was higher and better shaped, and there was a adjustable lumbar support. Later headrests became available and most of the late types Amazons have preparations made for headrests (you can actually feel that on the frame if your car doesn’t have headrests: there are two small tubes welded on the backrest frame). The late type rear seat was also redesigned but still had the springs instead of foam.

The old type of seats, filled with springs

The new type of seats

For some markets (like the USA-market) the late type Amazon was also available with a front bench instead of two seats, so three persons were able to sit in the front. The car was only available with a gear shifter on the steering column (because otherwise the person in the middle couldn’t sit there) and was mostly sold with a BW35 automatic gearbox. A M40 manual gearbox was also available at that version but wasn’t sold a lot. The Amazons with double benches are very rare and unfortunately new upholstery isn’t available (so you need a custom-made interior if you own a double-bench Amazon and want to replace the interior trim).

How to trace the upholstery color code of your Amazon

Finding out which interior color code your Volvo Amazon has isn’t rocket science: just pop the hood and look for the VIN-plate (with chassis number, type of car etc etc). Just below the paint color code there is a field with “Klädsel” (what means “upholstery”, which also is written on the plate at most models). That is the code you are looking for!

Note: because a Amazon is a old car and you will probably not the first owner of the car (and most likely not even the second owner) it is possible the interior trim of your car doesn’t match the upholstery code. A previous owner might have changed the interior completely (changing it is pretty easy). The upholstery code will tell you which interior was originally fitted into the car.

Upholstery Volvo Amazon 120-series

In the table below you’ll find the interior trim and upholstery color codes (including samples) for the Volvo Amazon 121, 122S and P1200. All seat covers and other upholstery of the Volvo Amazon can be bought at VP Autoparts, which also have stores in Sweden and USA.

Color code	Description	Example
135-200	Brown (USA-market)
137-202	Blue (USA-market)
138-203	Brown with gray
139-204	Blue with gray
147-224	Gray (USA-market)
148-225	Red (USA-market)
149-226	Gray with gray/white in middle
150-227	Red and red & gray in middle
155-248	Gray (USA-market)
156-249	Red
158-250	Gray with gray/white in middle
159-251	Red with gray and red in middle
167-502	Red
168-503	Black
172-507	Black (same as 168-503 but with wider trims at side panel)
170-505	Blue
175-523	Red
183-545	Red
184-546	Medium brown / cognac
185-547	Green

As you can see some colors may look the same but are in fact slightly different (see the gray or red fabrics). Volvo also uses a new number when things like door panels are slightly modified (like the stitching of the door pockets).

Upholstery Volvo Amazon 130-series

In the table below you can see the upholstery (including samples) of the Volvo Amazon 131. All seat covers and other upholstery of the Volvo Amazon can be bought at VP Autoparts, which also have stores in Sweden and USA.

Color code	Description	Example
401-189	Light brown / beige (USA-market)
403-191	Blue (USA-market)
404-192	Light brown with gray/white in middle
405-193	Blue with gray/white in middle
406-233	Gray (USA-market)
407-234	Red (USA-market)
408-235	Gray with gray & white in middle
409-236	Red with red & gray in middle
410-244	Gray (USA-market)
411-245	Red (USA-market)
413-246	Gray with gray/white in middle
414-247	Red with red and gray in middle
416-514	Red
417-515 MY65	Black (with trims on door panels)
417-515 MY66-68	Black (without trims on door panels)
417B	Black – only for 1969 and without side pockets on door panels
419-517	Blue
420-532	Red
424-551	Red
425-552	Medium brown / cognac
426-553	Green
428-584	Black
429-585	Red
430-595	Beige / sand
431-596	Medium blue
432-597	Dark red
434-636	Red
435-637	Blue

 

Upholstery Volvo Amazon Combi / 220-series

In the table below you can see the upholstery of the Volvo Amazon Combi. All seat covers and other upholstery of the Volvo Amazon 220 Combi can be bought at VP Autoparts, which also have stores in Sweden and USA.

Color code	Description	Example
501-230	Medium brown
502-231	Gray
503-232	Red
504-215	Medium brown with gray & white in middle
507-254	Gray
508-255	Dark red
510-518	Dark red
511-519	Black MY65 with wide trims on door panels
511-519	Black MY66-69 with small trims on door panels
513-221	Light blue
514-536	Red
518-554	Red
519-555	Medium brown / cognac
520-556	Green
522-598	Beige / sandstone
523-599	Medium blue
524-600	Dark red

 

Dashboard of the Volvo Amazon

The first Amazon, the Volvo P1200, had a slightly different dashboard than the 121, 122s and 131. The heater controls were on the left side (on the right side for the RHD-version) and the lining of the dashboard continues on the doors. Unfortunately Volvo discontinued this on the later types.

A extra shelf underneath the dashboard was available for all types, an accessory that was purchased a lot.

The dashboard of the Volvo P1200. Notice the heater controls on the left and the dashboard that continues smoothly on the doors

When the 12 volt version was introduced and the name was changed from P1200 to Volvo P120-series the dashboard was also changed. During the rest of his lifetime the Amazon didn’t have many changes on its interior except for the steering wheel, upholstery colors, door panels and things like the ignition key (and position of it).

The interior of my Volvo Amazon Combi MY65

Dashboard and late type steering wheel (which is much better in my opinion) of my ’69 Volvo Amazon 131

The Volvo Amazon 123GT has a slightly different interior: because the 123GT has a tachometer / revolution counter, a special GT steering wheel, seamless inclination of the backrests of the seats (which can completely fold down), overdrive as standard, extra controls for the foglights and roadside light and dashboard padding with special bracket for the tachometer and storage deck/top shelf.

 

Volvo Amazon instruments and controls

Because the old P1200 wasn’t sold a lot I will only describe the instruments and controls of the 120-, 130- and 220-series.

The dashboard of the Amazon, click for a larger version

1. Temperature gauge	14. Cigarette lighter
2. Warning light for battery charging / alternator	15. Fan switch, heater/ventilation controls
3. Trip meter	16. Grab handle
4. Speedometer	17. Switch for glove compartment light
5. Mainbeam control light	18. Bonnet release handle
6. Direction indicator control light	19. Footdipper switch
7. Milometer	20. Clutch pedal
8. Oil pressure warning light	21. Brake pedal
9. Fuel gauge	22. Accelerator pedal
10. Windscreen wiper and washer switch	23. Lighting switch
11. Choke control	24. Direction indicator switch, headlight flasher
12. Horn ring	25. Steering wheel
13. Ignition switch and starter contact	26. Gear lever

 

© Volvotips 2011