For Bohdan and Marian Antoniw, cars have never been mere machines. They have been companions to life’s unfolding chapters, silent witnesses to family milestones, long journeys, and everyday routines stitched together over nearly half a century. Now, after 46 years of loyal ownership, their cherished Volvo Amazon 122S has made way for a new era, as the couple step into full electrification with the Volvo EC40.
Their story begins in December 1980, when the Antoniws purchased their four-door Amazon from a retailer in Greenwich, South London. What followed was not simply ownership, but a long companionship between family and car. The Amazon became woven into the fabric of their lives, from everyday errands to deeply personal moments, including bringing their two children home from hospital after birth. It was a car that carried memory as much as it carried passengers.
Over the decades, the Amazon proved itself a steadfast traveller. Carefully maintained and mechanically resilient, it remained a trusted partner for family adventures, including towing a micro-caravan on extended trips across the UK and beyond. Even as automotive eras shifted dramatically around it, the Volvo retained its quiet dignity and reliability, a mechanical constant in a rapidly changing world.
Yet time, as it does, introduced new needs. With plans to travel further afield, including an upcoming journey to Berlin, the Antoniws began considering a vehicle more suited to long-distance comfort and modern efficiency. Their search did not take them far from the brand they had trusted for decades. A visit to their son Thomas in New York proved pivotal; he drives a Volvo himself, and his recommendation carried the weight of lived experience rather than marketing persuasion.
That recommendation ultimately guided them toward the fully electric EC40, a premium coupe-SUV offering up to 345 miles of range and a driving experience aligned with the future of mobility. For the Antoniws, the decision was not about leaving Volvo behind, but about moving forward with it. The transition felt less like replacement and more like continuation, as though the brand’s philosophy had simply evolved alongside their own lives.
At the same time, their beloved Amazon was not destined to fade into obscurity. Volvo Car UK purchased the vehicle for restoration and inclusion in its heritage fleet, ensuring that the car’s story would be preserved and shared. The Amazon, still in good mechanical condition after decades of careful stewardship, will now undergo a sympathetic restoration that respects its originality while safeguarding its legacy.
Nicole Melillo Shaw, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, reflected on the emotional resonance of the story, noting how deeply rooted affection for Volvo runs through families across the UK. She emphasised the continuity of values between past and present, and the pride in welcoming the Amazon into the brand’s heritage collection. For Volvo, the gesture is as much about honouring lived history as it is about celebrating future innovation.
When Bohdan and Marian collected their new EC40 from Donalds Volvo Ipswich, it marked both an ending and a beginning. The familiar comfort of Volvo engineering remained, now expressed through electric propulsion and contemporary design. Bohdan described the bittersweet moment with quiet affection, acknowledging the Amazon’s place in their lives while embracing the transition to electric mobility. He even reflected that if cars possess a spirit, theirs would likely be pleased to see a new generation take its place.
In many ways, the Antoniw family’s journey mirrors Volvo’s own trajectory as it approaches its centenary year. It is a story of continuity rather than rupture, where heritage and innovation do not compete but converse. The Amazon’s next chapter now lives within a curated collection, while the EC40 carries the family forward into quieter, cleaner, and more distant horizons.
