My original ignition key "seems" to be the same as the door key. However in a previous post Ron Kwas said that in his experience the door key and the ign key were different. In my experience they are the same, maybe this is a Canada vs US model thing. Anyway before I get the locksmith to try to finesse my ign key to work right, I was wondering if any of you would care to chime in on whether your original door key matched ( or didn't) your original ignition key. I know that many of the 120 know have aftermarket ign switches, but I happen to have in my possesion a fully functional switch and amazingly, found a trim ring for the dash hole in my misc parts box. I'm talking about a '68 120 (wagon if that changes anything). Thanks as always, P of M.

The ign key was always different from the door keys.
Ign was Bosch, especially if it had the armoured cable from ign to coil.
The doors were Wilmot-Breden. Not sure about station wagons.

When I first got my 122 about 4 years ago, I used the ignition key to open the door, and I thought that the second key was for the trunk. But when I went to the locksmith to get copies made he told me that the trunk key is also for the doors and that the only reason why my ignition key opened my doors was that the locks were so worn out. I found that the he was right and the trunk/door key works much better at opening the doors than my ignition key. If your door locks are worn out enough your ignition key might be working fine. Have you tried your trunk key on the doors??

Every Volvo I've ever had (PV, 120, 1800, 140) all had one key for the ignition, and one for the doors, trunk, glovebox (PV, 1800), and fuel door (1800).

However, when I got my PV there was only one key. But the ignition was so comprehensively worn out that you could stick just about anything in there and get it to work.

My '68 122 door key and trunk key are the same key. Ignition key is different. The ignition key kept breaking so I instlled a push button to engage starter, although I only added that to the igntition system. I kept the original key for off and on, and for "security".
I have never heard of ignition and door being the same key. Some previous owner, be they Canadian or American, may have modified it.

This is weird, cause my 65 4 dr definatly had different keys for the trunk than the doors. But the Ign key was the door key. Ah the mysteries of life. Thanks for your response.

Pearl;

Just as you've stated, from the factory, in my experience, the trunk matched doors (typically a UN16 or later a UN18 keyway - 5 pin) and Ignition was either the Swedisch ASSA or German Nieman - 6 pin.

Patrick;

What replacements were later fitted, or what creative modification may have been made to allow for a single key, or MAYBE what was even fitted originally by the many facilities (Canada, Belgium, So. Africa and who knows where else) which did the final vehicle assembly, MAY explain some differences.

Cheers