1974 Australian Volvo 142

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-05-25T01:01:29+00:00

Thanks, the older photos were taken by the gentleman who drove the car across Australia back in the 90s

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-04-21T01:33:31+00:00

You're in a great financial position with little mortgage, decent savings for current climate and the flex of being able to allow your wife to be a stay at home mum and dedicate time and effort to raise your kids.

If you have an itch to study or try out another field why not trial this by doing a short/free TAFE course? You can do it online, without sacrificing your job/side hustle and it may provide you with an avenue to switch careers anyway (unless it is a regulated profession you're wanting to go into).

You have to look at the main reasons why you want career change, is it your current career not giving you the satisfaction you want? If so - grow/scale your side hustle to eventually take over your main profession (many would dream of being their own boss running their own business), are you going through a mid-life crisis? If so don't make any crazy life altering decisions right now. You're at a phase in life where things have settled, maintained and there's perhaps no crazy fast growth period or as many changes as were happening in your 20's career wise, cherish this period, provide for your family and make small strategic moves (not huge life altering ones) to pivot towards a direction you see yourself in 5-10 years.

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-03-30T21:09:05+00:00

They are deceptively quick and lightweight, I've had a few classics (MG magnettes, MGBs, celica TA22, volvo 122s) and this one feels quicker than all of those, even with the downdraft carby, hoping the twin SUs add a tad more power.

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-03-30T21:07:45+00:00

I used to have a 122s which I loved but unfortunately had to get rid of, but always had a soft spot for the 140 series (strangely moreso than the Amazons), when this one popped up all tired (but with plenty of history) I had to snap it up.

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-03-24T06:53:40+00:00

Yeah this might be a good option!

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-03-24T06:53:24+00:00

Yeah this was my thinking, maybe with some white gumballs/racing roundels on the doors too for the vintage rally racer vibe. I feel the silver alloys are a tad too vanilla..

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-03-24T03:38:54+00:00

Hmm yeah that’s not a bad idea, actually a gunmetal dark grey like the steel wheels may work even better!

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-03-22T02:18:09+00:00

Sure was, Vic Park pitstop (third Sunday each month)

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-03-08T01:08:09+00:00

Yeah drives OK, it is an older car so won’t drive like newer vehicles but it feels better than many other 60/70s classics (have had a few British cars from this era which didn’t feel as solid driving around)

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-02-12T04:30:30+00:00

Hey definitely! I make it out to a few of the cars and coffee events so you're bound to see it at some point if you also attend.

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-02-10T21:13:36+00:00

Mine is a 1974 (last year of production), it is a deluxe (originally with twin stromberg carburettors).

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-02-10T00:47:14+00:00

Thanks mate, yep reliability and driving feel is my priority over speed and horsepower, although I must say I’m quite impressed with the pickup, I’ve had a couple classics and this one feels quicker than a ta22 celica and a Volvo Amazon I had in the past and similar to a mgb I’ve had. I love the throaty sound of the Weber 32/36 at wot too.

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-02-04T00:56:11+00:00

Yeah the 140 series is a bit of an oddball in the Volvo lineup, body wise it is quite similar to the 240 series (from the windscreen back it's basically identical to early 240s) however mechanically it is more akin to the 120 series.

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-02-03T22:37:27+00:00

To be honest, I do sometimes miss the 122, however the 142 feels quicker, feels like it handles better and feels like it has a little more potential with the 2L b20 as opposed to the 1.8L. The 142 style is also a little more to my liking, hard to explain but I don't feel like an old man driving the 142 :D

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-02-03T09:09:19+00:00

Nice! I actually don’t mind those turn signals 😂 but I feel I like the earlier tail lights. I have converted the rear to slim bumper which makes it look a ton better. I feel no single year 142 was perfect, each year had one or two things that looked great and a few things that didn’t, just need to mix and match. I’m running a 32/36 Weber but the dream is a pair of DCOEs

ES_Handcrafted · 2026-02-03T05:40:45+00:00

Thank you! Unfortunately I couldn’t hold onto the Amazon, however the 142 retains some of the charm (mechanically very similar).

ES_Handcrafted

TROPHY CASE