The Volvo 164 was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in october 1968 and first sold as a 1969 model. 46,008 164s were built before the car was succeeded by the 264 in 1975. The 164 was Volvo's first venture into the luxury segment since the end of PV 60 production in 1950, and was the first six-cylinder Volvo since the PV800 last produced in 1958.
Jan wilsgaard designesd what would eventually become the 164 in the late 1950s as a concept car called the P358 and powered by a V8 engine. The front styling was inspired both by the Wolseley 6/99 and also by the Volvo P1900. The V8 engine was replaced by a inline 6 cylinders engine. The 164 was Volvo's answer to the BMW E3 introduced the same year, the Mercedes 250 and the Jaguar XJ6. After some modifications (injection, compression, dash) and a major facelift in 1973, the 164 was succeded by the 264.