Comments: 1-15, 16-26
Overdrive unit required a rebuild due to crispy (old) seals, because the car was sitting for a long time.
Brake hydraulic system required an overhaul due to crispy (old) seals, because car was sitting for a long time.
What a marvelous Swedish barge! It's fast, it's quick, it's smooth... it's the Special Agent 007 of the motorway. Regal in appearance, stout in construction, and the 4-speed transmission with electric overdrive is a high pleasure to shift. Heater is equal to Swedish winters; unfortunately air conditioning is kinda equal to Swedish summers... there are ways of making it work better.
I had a 164. I bought it new in late 1969. I kept it 25 years. I was thinking about restoring it, but...nope, I bought a 300d. The difference was incredible...
164 was a fun car. More like a truck, horrible gas mileage. SU carbs were prone to percolate in higher temps. I had no overdrive. 70mph was pretty noisy. York ac compressor was lousy...
Car had good seats...
I had a 164 and loved it. Enjoy it!
I owned a 1975 164E. 1st car ever. Too bad I was too much of a driving rookie to appreciate it. Once I moved on to lesser more modern cars, I really started to appreciate the Swede. Had a recurring problem dirty points in the distributor. Beautiful and powerful, smooth ride.
At various times, I owned four 164's.
(1969 currently,1970,1971 and 1974). I really like all of them except the '74. It was too heavy to get out of its own way. I think the carburettor versions '69 through '71 are the best Volvos ever built. I'll never part with the one I have, unless a drunken lady driver demolishes it while it's parked, like the two women did on separate occasions to my '70 and '71.
Can anyone tell me how big the drivers seat is? I'm 6'1 and 200 pounds, will I fit? I just fit okay in my 740, but will I feel like a sardine in a 164?
I have a 1975 164E, with the engine out of a 1972 164E. The BW35 transmission can be a bit sluggish at slow speeds, but loves the highway. Power much better now with the 175hp power plant. A luxury to drive, modern technology can't replicate it. A luxury to look at, much more desirable than the 240. A luxury all the way around, leather seats, air conditioning, power windows and great speakers. Eat your heart out Mercedes.
Yes, you will definitely fit into a 1975 164e. I also drive a 1987 Turbo wagon during the winter, but I'm getting a complete restoration done on my 1975 164e, primarily because I'm 6'6' 250 lb.s, with a 36+ inseam, and there's still enough headroom for me to wear a Walton Walker felt hat (the kind Jack Ruby wore standing next to Oswald) and still have headroom to spare. Four wheel discs, four speed w/ OD, and if you oh so slightly shave the head, you'll replicate the eurospecs for this car.
FYI.
Jerry Brodish
jerry@strap-on.com
I bought a 1971 164, and it was a great car. Drove it everywhere in Iowa summers and winters. Had to get rid of it at about 150,000 miles, when the rust caught up with it. I have often dreamed of having another one to use in my retirement years.
The seats were the best that I have ever had in a car. Wonderful leather and the capacity of the trunk and passenger room was second to none.
Bought my first 1974 164 e 2 years ago. Love the car to death. Had to replace the transmission because of sitting for 8 years down in Florida. Was once owned by a friend of Arnold Palmer. It is my first car (I'm 18) and I hope to have the car till the day I die. Never thought that I would ever own a Volvo, but dreams can come true. The body is in great shape, just needs some new paint.
Interior looks good.
The seats are starting to look kinda poor, but what do you expect for a 32 year old car?
Best car ever built!!! Now I'm just hoping Volvo will do a remake of the great old classic 164 e.
-- Thanks for reading -- have a nice day!!!
I had a 1971 164, burgundy red. I loved that car. Best ride ever. An idiot, speeding teenager crashed into it while it was parked, but the damage was not too bad. He had to tow his crumpled car after hitting that tank. I had to sell it because I was moving to the US, but now I'm looking for another one. Has to be 1971, though. Loved those classic door handles that Volvo got rid of in 1972. Decent gas mileage for a 6 cylinder. Had to pull that choke every morning when starting it. :-) Now I'm making ends meet with a 1993 Volvo 940. Big fan of those fine machines.
I recently purchased a 1974 Volvo 164 E for about 600$ > So far I’ve put about 1500 into it. The engine has 88,000 mils in it and I must say it is a dream on the highway to drive. Very solid, pleasantly rigid, and hold the road extremely well. Unfortunately as I was driving the windshield wiper on the passengers side popped up and the assemble under the dash is pushing the dash up like squirming animal in a box. Has anyone out there replaced or fixed a faulty wiper and how difficult is it? Please email me @ petersibilia@gmail.com.
I own a 1972 164e. I've had it for a year now and I love it. I'm planning on a paint job this year, I'll be going back to the original color of gold. The car drives great partly because I have an old 240 transmission in it. There will be no worries about it going out. I think the 164 is the fastest vintage Volvo ever made.
I own a 1972 Volvo 164...love it! Although it's sluggish trying to get past 50 MPH. Yes, it does have a lot of torque and horsepower... it almost satisfies my little "need for speed" :-) Otherwise, I love the car because of it's class, compared to other cars today. I would like to replace the engine with something better, faster, and with better gas mileage. Anyone got ideas? Well, I'm me at allhailcaesar16!
I have recently been trying to sell a 1971 164 Volvo. It is my Step Father's Dad's car. It has 102K. If anyone knows any neat facts about this make and model it would be appreciated. Or if you know anyone looking for one. They really are great cars.
I am eyeing a 164E, the fuel injected model. Do you know if this engine has better mileage than the carburated engines? Any of you owners care to take a guess at the mpg?
Thx.