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Yvan,
Tom did a great job listing the features that make up a 123 GT. Here are a couple more that are stated in the 123 GT pamphlet printed in Aug 1966 as the production was just beginning for the 1967 production year. I believe they were available as options for the Amazon, but were standard on the 123 GT:
- Light under the hood and in the trunk
- Chromed beauty rings on the wheels
- Louder horn
- "Special windscreen wiper blades of a new type suitable for fast driving"
- "Sports car shock absorbers"
- White fog/driving light covers with blue lettering
- The three spoke steering wheel was mentioned, but don't forget that it has a very attractive black and silver center button with red GT letters. Tough to find one in good shape. I have found a firm that does reproductions of this button, but they are too expensive and the quality is not what you'd expect for the price.
- There was also a light under the dash over the "glove shelf", but I'm not sure that was uniquely standard on the 123 GT.
At the time it was introduced, the 123 GT was the first Amazon produced with following items as standard:
- Radial tires
- Alternator
- Collapsing steering column
- Servo assisted brakes
I have tried unsuccessfully to find out from Volvo how many 123 GTs were produced. It appears that they did not keep an accurate count, but the best guess for those produced for the production year 1967 and 1968 were about 1,500. In 1969 they were available, but only as special order and due to the new EPA rules that took effect 1 Jan 1968 it was difficult to import any Amazon in to the US that was produced after that date.
I had a 1968 123 GT that I bought new in Germany and had to get a certificate from the factory that it was produced before 1 Jan 68. Lucky for me, it was produced in Dec 67....or at least that's what the certificate stated.
It appears that most of the 123 GTs produced in the 1969 model year went to Switzerland. They had a B20B engine, dual circuit brakes, and locking steering wheel with the ignition on the steering column rather than on the dash panel (fewer broken keys), and four way flasher. However, like all 1969 Amazons it had no hood nose chrome, no roof rain gutter chrome, no inside door pockets, and no arm rest in the back seat.
Today, the original fender mirrors (part # 276608) and steering wheel are probably the most difficult things to come by.
You can see my current 1969 123 GT at: www.rogers-ben.com/personal
Jerry
Oberstaufen, Germany
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