Anyone that is into rare 122s/Amazons this one would have to rate top of the list. 123GTs are rare enough as it is but to have a dark blue one is extremely rare (only heard about one other Canadian version now in Sweden). GTs were mainly produced in white, red and dark green with a few later metallic blue versions for the Swiss market.
Add to that a Ruddspeed performance motor and that is unheard of. Unfortunately
the car for sale is in England where these examples still do not command the prices that they should for such rarities.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CLASSIC-VOLVO-AMAZON-123GT-123-GT-BLUE-VERY-RARE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ280228830474

It was stated that "my 131 is better than a 123GT".

Can someone tell be what a 131 is? Thanks.

Jerry

Hi..a 131 is a late 2 door amazon, single carb..well it is in the UK at least..
a 133 is a two door amazon with twin carbs.
I jokingly said my 131 was better than a gt because my car is a very late model,
early 1970, and as such has a twin braking system,gt does not, headrests, gt does not,
a b20 motor..gt does not,and, er, that's about it. I have put twin carbs on mine, got a k cam,
fitted on overdrive, progressive springs and bilsteins. As such it is almost undoubtedly
'better' than a gt, but of course it isn't a gt, so it isn't 'better'. Any clearer? ;)
To confuse yourself even more, look here:
http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/prof_120.shtml

best,
Dave

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the clarification concerning your 131. I must however correct you about the 123GT. There were in fact a limited number of 123GTs produced in the 1969 model year with a B20 engine, dual-circuit brake system, locking steering wheel, etc. They did not have headrests since they were not standard until the 1970 model year, but that was easier to add as an option since the fixtures were in fact already built into the seats.

Most of these B20B engined 123GTs were exported to Switzerland where the GT kits were installed. My car was first registered in Switzerland as a new car in Jan 1969, it was later brought to Germany where I bought it seven years ago.

You can see the car at: http://www.rogers-ben.com/personal/#

The car orignally came with cream colored interior, but as you see I changed that to the golden brown color which the 1967-68 123GTs came with. As with all the 1969-70 Amazons the door pockets and the rear seat middle arm rest was missing. As you see, I added those back in too. The 1969-70 models were also lacking the nose chrome and the roof rain rim chrome and those too have been added back on my 1969 123GT. I also added the US market optional knee protectors thanks to Fredrick in Sweden.

So, I guess you can say that I have the best of both worlds, a 123GT and the 1969-70 improvements. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Jerry
jrogers722@aol.com

I spoke to the guy selling the 123gt Reg: JVG 463G on Wednesday. Frustrating that he ended the auction early as I had a the serious money required to buy this. He promised me the auction would go the distance, which was until tonight, however he must a capitulated early probably for a price less than he'd have got via e-bay. If the buyer is out there and wants to sell, I'll make you a quick profit.

Well I was guessing that it would sell between 8&10k pounds but it looks like the auction got ended early. Too bad.... I bet someone made him a cash offer to sell it off ebay.

Chris

I think you may be surprised how much that car goes for.. I reckon about £8k, maybe more.
I would love it, but don't have the cash, and anyway, my 131 is better...;)

Volvos "tuned" by Rudds of Worthing do indeed have a sort of cult following and there are quite a few Amazons in the UK to which the owners claim the title. As a tuning shop that became a Volvo dealer they were in a position to offer complete cars which had various parts replaced by items in their catalogue. These items were also available to all so parts can be found on many cars. The main item which is actually identifiable as Ruddspeed are cylinder heads that have their name plate rivited to them just below the front spark plug. This can be seen on the Ebay car. 123GT's in dark blue aren't "rare" in the UK but they may just about be the least common colour. Perhaps more of them were made in RHD.
I have quite a lot of original Rudds paperwork/ price lists /specs of parts including the reply from them in 1968 when I enquired about tuning my B16. No engine parts but they had lowering springs, Koni shocks and a Peco back box.
Their tuning methods were really to apply normal tuning methods of the time but they obviously learned from experience with the B18. In April 1965 their cylinder head had the ports matched and polished and the CR was raised to 9.8 to 1. (exchange price £24.15.0) An "S" tpe cam was offered which was similar to the one in the 1800S one - C type. Also offered was an "SS" cam with increased overlap and lift. I've heard rumours that this cam was the basis of the "D" cam but I've not seen anything official. Later thay offered a stage II head with over 11 to 1 CR which could also be fitted with side draught Webers. Their full spec engine claimed over 130 bhp but by then the Factory kit was available so as a Volvo dealer I'd think that fitting the Rudd kit declined somewhat. An interesting period though and I've thought about doing a short history but......
Ruddspeed tests are included in the Brooklands "Gold" Amazon test book. Worth adding to your library.
At the same time, just a few miles away in Brighton, T.H.Shaddick were also offering tuning equipment for the B18 under the "Nordic" name. Some would say that they were better tuners and their range of kit was also better than Rudds. For example, they offered 4 different cams.

Thanks Derek - that info made very interesting reading and yes I do have the Amazon "Gold Portfolio" and a basic 123GT. As a previous poster mentioned
the car must have been pulled from Ebay for a offer too good to refuse. These would seldom come up for sale and as far as I am aware none exist in the 25 - 30 still left here in Australia. Obviuosly a few posters have never heard of the notoriety of the Ruddspeed mods and I find it inconceivable that a 131? is better than the 123GT Ruddspeed regardless of the tired but original look.

The price for any vehicle should be, and usually is, determined by market forces, and not by artificial aspects of perception and sensibility. Whatever that car sells for is the value of the car at that moment.
I have a copy of Graham Robson's excellent book on Volvo, and he makes no mention of a Ruddspeed engine that I can find. Volvo built them well enough at the factory to my mind.

Rhys, there were Ruddspeed B18s back in the day for sure. I don't know how many, what went into them, or how they performed, but they did exist.

Can you briefly describe the Rudderspeed engine? How was it special? Thanks!