1964' Volvo Pv 544

For sale is my much admired 1964 Volvo PV544 Special 2 in Graphite Grey. The 1964 PV544 had the larger B18 engine and also had 12 volt electrics. The Special 2 had the all synchromesh 4 speed gearbox, a higher final drive ratio, opening rear windows with chrome trim, chrome trim around front and rear windscreens, 2 sun visors and a cigarette lighter.
In 1964 Volvo also added some wax injection to box sections. Production of the PV544 stopped in 1965. So this is definitely the most useable PV to buy and most would consider it the most desirable. Engine and gearbox parts are the same as later Volvo Amazons and P1800s. They were all left hand drive.
I bought this car and drove it back from Sweden 5 years ago. The gentleman who owned it had run a Volvo garage all his life and this was his nearing retirement project. He had saved all the best parts over a period of time and put them on this car. It was stripped down to a bare shell, which can be seen in the photos, and the steel wings widened by 2 inches to accommodate the American 6.5J chrome Cragar wheels, with genuine whitewall tyres. It was then re-sprayed in two-pack the correct Volvo colour of Graphite Grey.
There is absolutely no rust on this car anywhere. I have had the whole interior and door cards out, adding extra wax injection inside the doors and in any body cavities I could find. I have paid particular attention to panel, doors, boot, and bonnet areas of fitment to make them perfect. As can be seen by the bare metal photos all body and wing trim holes were welded up to eliminate all potential rust traps. It has had new front seat covers fitted and the interior and headlining is in superb condition with original Volvo rubber mats. Most external rubber parts have been changed on the car – inner and outer door rubbers, quarter light rubbers, front windscreen rubber with new front windscreen, rubber stoneguards etc. All suspension bushes and joints have been changed. This includes kingpins, steering idler box bushes, all front suspension steering arms, front wishbones, rear trailing arms, Panhard rod and the large back axle torque arm blocks have all been polybushed. Some of these had to be imported from America, as they were not available in the UK or Sweden at the time. It also has the larger IPD American anti-roll bars fitted front and rear. As the PV does not have a rear anti-roll bar as standard, plates have to be welded under the back seat to re-inforce the floor when fitting the rear IPD anti-roll bar. The brakes have been completely overhauled with new master cylinder, new flex hoses, new wheel cylinders, new brake shoes, springs and adjusters. The gear lever has had work done to remove all the play. There are no transmission noises from the gearbox or back axle. The radiator and heater matrix have been removed and chemically flushed. The engine has new C camshaft and followers with new water pump and a general decoke and valve grind and electronic ignition. The exhaust system is also fairly new. OK there is probably plenty I have forgotten. In one of the photos the many prizes can be seen that the car has won in my ownership. The condition and stance that this wide-bodied PV has, is totally unique and has been universally admired. Most people not realising that it has been modified.
I have been in a dilemma this past year, having now got into Volvos (I am a Saab man too). I have hankered for a standard car, so have managed to find and buy four new standard wings and wheels. But most people feel that I could do all that work and then find it has devalued the car. Added to that as my wife is not keen on grey we have bought another PV to replace it – hence the sale.
I have looked at most of the PVs for sale in the UK, and regardless of price (including the more expensive replacement I have bought), none have been anywhere near as good as the PV I am selling. I realise this is not a good time of year to sell, so want a very reasonable £13,000. If I store it over winter and advertise in the spring the sale price will be higher. I have many more photos, just ask.