| Production | |
|---|---|
| Model Year: | 1969 |
| Production Years: | 1968 - 1974 discontinued in 1974 |
The Volvo 164, produced between 1968 and 1974, is a classic luxury sedan that marked an important evolution in Volvo's lineup during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Introduced officially as a 1969 model, the Volvo 164 was designed to offer a larger, more powerful alternative to Volvo’s smaller sedans, blending Scandinavian engineering with refined comfort and practicality. Its body style is a traditional three-box sedan, emphasizing both passenger comfort and cargo space.
Dimensionally, the Volvo 164 is notable for its generous size, providing ample room for occupants and luggage, fitting well into the large sedan category of its era. Although exact factory dimensions are scarce, the 164 typically measures around 4.8 meters (approximately 189 inches) in length. This length was significant for its class at the time, enabling a spacious rear cabin and a large trunk. The width and height of the 164 were designed to optimize interior space, offering both a comfortable seating position and good headroom and shoulder room across the cabin.
The Volvo 164 came equipped with a powerful inline-six engine, a first for Volvo, which boosted its appeal as a luxury and performance vehicle. The combination of size and engine capacity made it a favorable choice among clients seeking a reliable, roomy, and more prestigious Volvo sedan option.
Its construction demonstrated Volvo's hallmark focus on durability and safety, with a robust chassis and advanced safety features for its time.
Overall, the Volvo 164 (1968-1974) remains an iconic large luxury sedan of the late 20th century. Its classic styling, solid build quality, and spacious interior make it an important reference point in car size comparison studies, illustrating Volvo's transition from practical family cars to upscale vehicles in the luxury segment.
Discover the standout features that make the 1969 Volvo 164 a leader in its class
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The Volvo 164 sedan produced between 1968 and 1974 has the following exterior dimensions: its length measures approximately 4,800 mm (189 inches), width is about 1,800 mm (71 inches), and height comes in at roughly 1,420 mm (56 inches). These dimensions contribute to the car's stately sedan profile, balancing a spacious interior with exterior road presence typical of late 1960s and early 1970s executive cars.
The Volvo 164 features a wheelbase of around 2,700 mm (106 inches), which is relatively long for its era. This extended wheelbase translates into more legroom and shoulder room for both front and rear passengers, enhancing comfort during longer trips. Additionally, the longer wheelbase contributes to improved ride stability and smoothness over uneven road surfaces, making it well suited as a luxury-oriented sedan.
The curb weight of the Volvo 164 is approximately 1,600 kg to 1,700 kg (3,527 to 3,748 lbs), depending on the specific model variant and equipment. This weight is moderate for its size and period, helping the car deliver a solid and stable driving experience. While the weight somewhat limits rapid acceleration by modern standards, it contributes positively to ride quality and perceived build solidity.
Yes, the Volvo 164 sedan is designed to comfortably accommodate five passengers, with spacious seating due to its extended wheelbase and overall dimensions. The cabin is well-appointed for a car of its time, providing good headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The trunk offers an ample cargo area for daily family needs and luggage during trips, making the 164 practical as well as comfortable.
The Volvo 164 is equipped with a fuel tank capacity of around 65 liters (approximately 17.2 US gallons). Given the vehicle's size, weight, and engine configuration—a 2.8-liter inline-six—the fuel consumption is generally in the range of 11 to 14 liters per 100 km (21 to 17 mpg US) depending on driving conditions and maintenance. While not economical by modern standards, it was typical for a large luxury sedan of its era.
The Volvo 164, with its length of roughly 4.8 meters (15.7 feet), width of 1.8 meters (5.9 feet), and height of 1.42 meters (4.65 feet), generally fits comfortably in a standard residential garage. Standard garages typically have a width of about 2.4 to 2.7 meters (8 to 9 feet) and length of 5.5 to 6 meters (18 to 20 feet), which provides adequate clearance for the 164, allowing easy parking while leaving space to open doors and move around the vehicle.
The Volvo 164 did not have a direct predecessor within the Volvo lineup as it was introduced to fill a new niche: an executive six-cylinder sedan positioned above the popular Volvo 140 series. In comparison to the Volvo 140 series, the 164 was longer, wider, and offered more luxurious appointments. This made the 164 stand out as a more premium alternative with increased dimensions to enhance passenger comfort and road presence.
Compared to contemporaries such as the BMW E3 3.0Si, Mercedes-Benz W108, and Jaguar XJ6, the Volvo 164 is similarly sized but generally a bit more conservative in styling. Its length of roughly 4.8 meters (15.7 feet) puts it in close range with these competitors, while its width and height may be slightly less or comparable, depending on the exact model. The Volvo focused more on robustness and safety, while the German and British rivals sometimes leaned more heavily into luxury or sportiness.
The Volvo 164 sedan from 1968 to 1974 is recognized for its classic, understated design, featuring a formal three-box silhouette with a long hood and spacious cabin. It was equipped with a robust 2.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine, providing smooth power delivery. Safety was a hallmark for Volvo, and the 164 included advanced features for the time such as crumple zones and three-point seat belts. Its build quality and reliability have also earned it lasting respect as a luxury executive car of its era.
The Volvo 164 was powered primarily by a 2.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine, delivering about 145 horsepower, mated to either a 4-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided smooth and reliable performance, favoring torque over outright speed, aligned with the car's comfortable and stately driving dynamics. While it was not a high-performance vehicle by modern standards, the 164 was well-regarded for refinement and durability.
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