1967 Volvo 123GT

Owning a true GT car from the ’60s is something everyone should experience, if not for the image or the feel then just for the fun

by Dave Kinney

Owning a 123GT is nothing short of a blast.

When you think of collectible sports and GT cars from the 1960s, a number of British, German, Italian and even French marques may come to mind. But a Swedish Volvo? Sure, we remember the P1800 sports car, yet Volvo made a rally car suitable for the street as well, the largely forgotten 123GT. The Volvo 120 series (120, 121, 122) that birthed the 123GT was a staple of rallies and touring car races from the late 1950s through the 1960s. In 1963 alone, race-prepped 122s racked up class wins at the 6- and 12-hour races at Nűrburgring, a class victory in the 6 hours at Brands Hatch, and a first place in the European Rally Championship, among many others. The following season saw an overall victory earned in the Shell 4000 Rally in Canada, and 1965 brought a first place in the Shell 4000, the RAC European Touring Car Championship, the World Championship for Manufacturers, the Acropolis Rally and the Syd Rally in Sweden. Not a bad showing for a car known mostly...