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Adding to the global perspective from UK, over here in Malaysia, its just the same. I see more 122s running around compared to 140s.
Of course, my 74 144 is in mint condition. During my college days in the USA, I rounded up every upgrade I could get my hands on, and today, it has the M41, electronic ignition from a 75 244, and power steering adapted from a 164. It is now my weekend driver after I got it fully restored. My dad owned the car from 1974 (new), and it was his daily driver until he passed on in 2001, leaving me in the driver's seat.
The 140 is a timeless classic and it enjoys the best of both worlds. I'd like to think of it as a bridge between the older pushrod Volvos and the newer "square" Volvos. THis is because besides sharing mostly mechanical parts with the earlier 122/544, it also shares a fair amount of parts with the 240 series (especially body parts eg windows, doors, etc). From the A pillar back, it is a dead ringer of a 240 (especially the 1975-1978 models. It even has the same taillamps). Sure, it does not have the classic looks of a 122, but it was the boxy shape of the 140 that defined the tough utilitarian image for Volvos for many years to come, right thru the 940 series, and although the "square" Volvos are no longer in production, it is this very image that appears in people's mind when talking about Volvos.
My daily driver is a 1997 940 turbo and while I enjoy its refinement which is light years ahead of the 140, not the mention the power, I still enjoy the brutish feel of my 140. Well, the 140 may not be a classic to the untrained eye, but for me, its a different story. It is a classic in its own right, and I only wish that more people turn to restoring this model - The "forgotten Volvo".
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...and the bricks keep on rolling
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