Volvo Cars began manufacturing the
Volvo 144 at Torslanda, Sweden (Torslandaverken) in the late summer
of 1966. The 144 series, which followed the Volvo Amazon was the
first Volvo to use a tri-digit nomenclature, indicating series,
number of cylinders and number of doors. Meaning, a "144"
was a 1st series, 4-cylinder, 4-door sedan. The range included the
Volvo 142 2-door sedan, the Volvo 144 4-door sedan and the Volvo 145
5-door station wagon.
The basic shape of the car survived
into the 1990s as the 200 series. The 144 series used many of the
drivetrain components of the Amazon, with many improvements,
including disc brakes on all four wheels. The engine in the standard
144 came from the standard Amazon (121), the 1.8l B18A. The 144S had
a more powerful B18B from the 123GT and 1800S. The 142 (2-door sedan)
production started in 1967 and the Volvo 145 5-door station wagon in
1968.
Volvo 144 1966 |
Volvo 142 1968 |
Volvo 145 1968 |
In 1969 the B18 enlarged to the 2.0
litre B20. Also in 1969 Volvo introduced the 164, which shared much
of the 140 series structure while incorporating a 6-cylinder engine,
the B30. In 1971 the B20E engine was introduced, it was a high
compression version of the B20 with Bosch D-Jetronic electronic fuel
injection.
Volvo 144 1971 (Facelift 1) |
Volvo 144 1973 (Facelift 2) |
In 1973 the 140 series received a major
facelift in 1973 with a new plastic grille, new larger indicators and
a completely revised tail end. Also, the S designation was dropped
and the range consisted of 3 trim levels, standard (with no
designation, known as L, or "luxe") de Luxe and the most
upmarket, Grand Luxe.
Volvo 145 1972 (Facelift 2) |
Volvo 164 1969 |
The Volvo 140 series had a total
production of 412,986 “142” 2-doors sedans, 523,808 “144”
4-doors sedans and 268,317 “145” station wagons. The 140 series
evolved in the 240 series in 1975.
Volvo 140 series adverts
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