Volvo set new standards for safety, paving the way for many of the features found on today's cars
Imagine what the public thought when the Volvo 144 sedan was unveiled back in the 1960s.
Up to that point, Volvo churned out sporty and rugged vehicles, but the 144's arrival broadened the manufacturer's focus to include cars that combined roominess and leading-edge passenger safety, the same philosophy that's built into the very Volvos we drive today.
The first of what would become a trio of new 140-series models rolled off the Torslanda, Sweden assembly line in August, 1966. Initially, the 144-designated sedan (the middle number indicated the number of engine cylinders while last digit matched the number of doors) was built alongside the smaller 120 series, known as the Amazon, which was the bestselling car in Scandinavia and a popular worldwide export.
Although the older 120 and the upstart 144 shared the same lineage, they couldn't have been more different. The Amazon was in many ways conventional looking, with rounded fenders and a low greenhouse that was reminiscent of a 1950s British Rover. The car had also proven to be anvil-tough and was the chariot of choice among both amateur and professional rally drivers who valued its solid drivetrain and precise handling. A small but growing cadre of North American automotive enthusiasts also appreciated these traits and many an MG, Triumph and Austin Healey were used as trade bait for the sporty, yet family-friendly, Amazon.
By contrast, the 144 followed a completely separate path that set it well apart from its contemporaries. Rather than follow a streamlined styling approach as most manufacturers at the time were doing, this latest Volvo was shaped more like a brick, with a seemingly complete absence of style. It was also longer, wider and taller than the Amazon.
Imagine what the public thought when the Volvo 144 sedan was unveiled back in the 1960s.
Up to that point, Volvo churned out sporty and rugged vehicles, but the 144's arrival broadened the manufacturer's focus to include cars that combined roominess and leading-edge passenger safety, the same philosophy that's built into the very Volvos we drive today.
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The first of what would become a trio of new 140-series models rolled off the Torslanda, Sweden assembly line in August, 1966. Initially, the 144-designated sedan (the middle number indicated the number of engine cylinders while last digit matched the number of doors) was built alongside the smaller 120 series, known as the Amazon, which was the bestselling car in Scandinavia and a popular worldwide export.
Although the older 120 and the upstart 144 shared the same lineage, they couldn't have been more different. The Amazon was in many ways conventional looking, with rounded fenders and a low greenhouse that was reminiscent of a 1950s British Rover. The car had also proven to be anvil-tough and was the chariot of choice among both amateur and professional rally drivers who valued its solid drivetrain and precise handling. A small but growing cadre of North American automotive enthusiasts also appreciated these traits and many an MG, Triumph and Austin Healey were used as trade bait for the sporty, yet family-friendly, Amazon.
By contrast, the 144 followed a completely separate path that set it well apart from its contemporaries. Rather than follow a streamlined styling approach as most manufacturers at the time were doing, this latest Volvo was shaped more like a brick, with a seemingly complete absence of style. It was also longer, wider and taller than the Amazon.
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