It was only the last model year of the Volvo Amazon (1970) that had head rests factory installed, but they were available as extra option earlier. The export cars to North America had head rests factory installed earlier. It is possible to fit head rests into the Amazon from model year 1965 and on in all three categories of the car (P120, P130 and P220). It is from that model year that the upholstery is entirely in vinyl.

There are two kinds of head rests for the Amazon, but the most common is the wide and straight one that can also to be found in the 1970-1971 140-series, in the P1800 and possibly also in early models of the P164. Head rests in the back seat have never been available in the Volvo Amazon.

To fit head rests into the Amazon is fairly simple, but requires some time and some patience. The procedure is not reversible as you cut holes for the guiding sleeves in the upholstery.

You need:
2 680126-0 Head rest
4 672020-5 Guide sleeve, outer
4 672021-3 Guide sleeve, inner
4 672017-1 Washer
4 672016-3 Nut
4 672018-9 Lock sleeve
4 672015-5 Nut
2 Upholstery

You'll find most nuts, washers and sleeves at www.gcp.se, upholstery in all colors at www.vp-autoparts.com, and the head rests and remaining nuts and sleeves at your local junk yard.

Work with one seat at a time and start with taking out the back rest. It is fastened with two screws in the fitting on each side. Also remove the knob. Take the back rest out of the car to have more room to work with. On the lower part of each side there are metal clips that keep the upholstery tight over the back rest (they were hidden behind the fitting). Carefully remove these on both sides without damaging clips or upholstery. Turn the back rest upside down and bend the rails apart using one or two (flat) screw drivers. Be VERY careful not to damage the upholstery - it is very easy to do so! The vinyl upholstery lies in two layers inside the bar with the two rails keeping it in place. If you got your head rests off another car, use the old seats to practice on first.

Carefully pull the upholstery downwards and up. Use a sharp knife to cut through the padding at the top so that you have room to fit the two inner guide sleeves (the long ones in metal). Once you have those in place, follow with the two outer guide sleeves (those in plastic). Carefully pull back the upholstery and mark with a pen on the upholstery where the sleeves will end up. Pull off the upholstery again and glue a reinforcement of vinyl around the circles you made with the pen (use textile glue and vinyl from the old seats). This will prevent the upholstery from being teared around the holes you are about to make. Also pay attention to the function of the back support knob while you have the upholstery removed.

Carefully pull the upholstery back in place almost the whole way until you see the guide sleeves push against the vinyl. Make sure that the upholstery is placed exactly right and hasn't slipped sideways while you worked with it. Use the pen to mark the sleeves and use the knife or a razor to cut the holes needed in the upholstery. Flip the back rest over and pull the upholstery back all the way. Use a pair of pliers to secure the rails in the bar. Put some cloth or a towel in between the plier and the upholstery to make sure you don't damage the vinyl.

On the top of the back rest, put washer 672017 with the pegs down and secure it with nut 672016 on both sleeves. If the upholstery of the head rests doesn't already match the rest of the upholstery in the car, now is the time to put the new upholstery on the head rests. They are fastened underneath with a similar construction as found on the back rests, only in plastic. Be careful! If you have a P130 it will be very apparent if you cheat or do a sloppy job when the seats are folded.

Secure nut 672015 and lock sleeve 672018 on each of the bars on the head rest and fit these into the sleeves on the back rest. Lock them tight in the desired level by tightening the nut and start over with the next seat. Put the two back rests back into the car and don't forget the knobs.

This is a translation from Swedish of a guide on the subject I wrote about a year ago. You'll find it on www.fredriklofter.com (soon also in English, now that I actually translated the whole thing). The text in this summary has been prepared with uttermost care but is, despite of this, strictly a guide to be used in conjunction with normal and cautious vehicle shop practice. I can not accept liability for your actions. Work safely!

Best of luck!

:: Fredrik
Stockholm, Sweden