Volvo PV544 Project – Intro

EDITOR’S NOTE: As this project has undergone many starts and stops and periodic build updates (out of context), we have decided to start the build series again.

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Overview / A Bit of Volvo History / Some Funky Old Volvo Stuff

You may be aware that, right here, at Canadian Rodder (.com), we coined the phrase “Rodding Has No Borders”.  Well, we’re definitely going abroad with this project car.  In fact, we have been (going) for quite a few years now including a HUGE mothball period caused by another project.

As some of you know, I’ve been a ’32 Ford guy (and still am) since I was about 12 years old. However, what you may not know is that in a very long line of cars that I’ve owned, a 1959 Volvo PV544 B16 was my second car (after a Mini Cooper). My third car, a perfect 1962 PV544 from British Columbia, Canada, was t-boned by a Ford Galaxie wagon.  Then, about a decade or so later, I acquired another PV544 (short lived project as it turned out to be not suitable for resto).  A couple of other PV’s have slipped through my hands.  However, a good friend let this 1961 donor car go – to a good home – mine.

What originally attracted me to the PV544 was it’s late 40’s look, although in 3/4 scale!

I happen to feel that the PV 444/544 series (PV stands for personvagnar in Swedish / dir. trans. Person Wagon) is a great candidate for hot rodding. Globally, it’s been an incredibly popular car since its introduction in 1947 through to the final year in 1965. This isn’t the first time it’s been hot rodded and will likely not be the last but, to my knowledge, there will be some uniqueness to our approach.

So, I hope you enjoy the build.  But first:

Some Volvo History
If you’re not familiar with Volvo, the Volvo PV544 and it’s predecessor the PV 444, you might be interested in this historical stuff.  In a historical Volvo Public Relations document they say about the PV 444 and 544:

“1944 – The introduction of a new and, to some extent, revolutionary car model which had been designed during the war years. The PV444 became an immediate success and was to prove itself as one of the greatest Volvo successes.  It was introduced, for example, on the American market and marks the definite breakthrough of Volvo products in the USA.”

“1965 – The last of the 444/544 series was driven off the assembly line. 440,000 of these cars had been produced during the 21 years of production.  More than 164,000 cars have been exported…”

Other Basic Information
PV 444 1944-58 (Versions A, B, C, D, E, H,K,L)
A four-seater car with a short-stroke 40 horsepower engine. Maximum speed 125 k.ph.
Integral construction body. The engine output of the A-model was later increased to 44 horsepower.
B: roof-mounted, stalked traffic indicator flashers, nicknamed the “Cuckoo”, new dashboard, new steering wheel and combined ignition key and starter switch.
C: 15″ wheels.
D: Side-mounted traffic indicator flashers and new steering gear.
E: New heater system.
H: Larger windscreen, one-piece rear window and larger relocated rear lights.
K: New engine developing 51 horsepower.
L: New engine developing 60 horsepower, new carburetter, air cleaner and oil filter, new exhaust system, new gearbox, rear traffic indicator flashers combined with tail and brake lights,
electrically driven windscreen wipers.

PV 544 1958-65 (Versions A, B, C, D, E, F, G)
The A version which was a development of the earlier model, was available with two types of engines developing 60 and 85 horsepower respectively with a three or four-speed gearbox for the 60 horsepower engine and four-speed gearbox for the 85 horsepower unit. Front seat safety belts were included as standard equipment.
C: Engine output was increased to 75 and 90 horsepower respectively. Asymmetrical headlights and a 12 volt electrical system were introduced.
G: The output of the sports engine was increased to 95 horsepower.

Enjoy the photos!
Next Update: The Project Car As it Arrived

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