Thanks a lot! In 1972, my *almost* first car was a 1961 PV544. A friend of the family was willing to cut me a deal on it for $100 ($751.61 in todays money) so it was quite a deal. The car ran great, and in spite of very dead, black paint, there was *0* rust on it. Unfortunately at age 16, I had to have my parents buy the car for me. I had the cash money saved up from my summer job, but my Dad, never having heard of Volvo wanted me to buy an American car. Since there was nothing in my price range available, I had to wait until I was in the Army to buy my first car.
I had a 1966 122S called an Amazon in Sweden. It was an amazing car. Big, strong, solid. It had a B18B engine with dual carbs. I used to love spending a Saturday afternoon adjusting the valves, points, and timing. It loved it when I did that, and rewarded me with some really sweet sounds. I miss being able to do that. I sold parts at a Volvo dealer back in the late seventies, early eighties.
I bought my father's 1961 PV 544 in 1964. Absolutely loved that car and would love to have it back. As a family, we drove from Corvallis to Iowa and discovered the one and only problem the car had. The Swedes apparently couldn't imagine 100 degree temps that happen in the mid-west. As there were no interstates yet, we drove through every little town and found that the temp gauge would rise very quickly unless we opened the hood latch. The extra wind blowing over the engine and through the radiator solved the problem. ' As a college boy I can attest to the fact that it would go 95 mph (by the car's speedometer). With Coni shocks it would corner flat like a sports car, and by adding a cut out for straight pipe it would go just a little faster. Sold the car in 1966 and years later saw the car in Corvallis again (the license number was still the same). Waited and talked to the owner. He had purchased it from a Ford dealer in town when it had 100,000 miles on it. Was told it had been owned by a college professor (true, my father taught at Oregon State University). No mention of how hard it had been driven for 70,000 of those miles by a college boy. It now had over 200,000 miles on it and he was planning a cross country trip to the East Coast. Claimed it only use a quart of oil every 800 miles. In 1961, my father was told that normal use was considered to a quart for every 750 miles. Don't know how his trip went by my bet is that he made it with no problems.
I collected International Scouts. They also had the reversed hood. After my hood latch cable broke on one, I always mounted a second hood release under the car so I wouldn't have to fight to get it open. When I first picked one up I would always carry a couple of wire coat hangers to make a quick under car release until I could install a professional one.
I was ready to give up on this video at the 8:20 mark. He didn't even get it out of 2nd gear. As a former owner of 2 544's, the best part of that car was the super sexy sound when you ran those dual SU's with some gusto. Very deceptive body for its level of performance. One of my roommates in college had the '63 P1800 with overdrive which was essentially the same car but yet so modern looking it could blend in today. The 544, on the other hand, looked like a pre-war throwback from the prohibition era.
5 років тому+2
Old Volvos never die! Well done reviving her, my friend.
Although appearing to be a "ribbon", the speedometers in these cars are made with a tube about 1 1/2' dia. x about a foot long. They are half white and half red in a spirally painted way--similar to a "barbershop post" . As the car accelerates, the tube begins to turn....what you see thru the speedo window is the part of the tube revealed in relation to the speed.
It's true that PV stands for personvagn which means personal wagon. The first Volvo was an ÖV which means öppen vagn or open wagon (=without a roof, not very practical in a country like Sweden, which is probably the reason why they abandonned that quite immediately). And then there were the LV models meaning lastvagn or truck. It's nice to see enthusiasts around the world keeping all those old cars alive. If you want to see old Volvo (or Saab) models being tested under rougher conditions (in Sweden or its neighbor countries), I'd suggest searching for something like 'Volvo rally' or similar in UA-cam. :)
this engine needs attention !!! a bad spark plug or a leaking exhaust valve. I had to recondition many of these engine heads and usually, the seats were worn out and needed an intensive regrind and often I had to install valve seat rings. the short block were very sturdy and unless extremely beaten, they seldom need attention very good engines from Volvo
Nice car 😎👍 We have videos about our 544 on my channel. It is my dads first car in 80s and he sold it in 93-94. About 25 years later we found it and bought it back to us 😎
Mt 1962 pv544 has a trunk lid that's a bit skewed. I'm thinking thinking that someone tried to force it closed incorrectly. Do you know a fix for this type of problem. Thanks
I bought a used 1959 in Dec. 1965 in Maryland, black with red interior. My dad sold it for me in 1966 after I drove it from Ft. Belvoir Va. to Santa Barbara, Ca.
Sir, are you sure about the camshaft? The 1968 Volvo 120 series I've worked on had a B18A engine with an overhead cam. Only some 65 horses, one carburettor btw. Had the ribbon speedometer too, that feature lasted well into my parents 144 and 145. The first PV 444 was introduced in 1944, it was the model that turned Volvo into a car maker of importance.
That's pretty cool, could be useful during the really cold winters in sweden. If you're still looking for a fuel pump I would recommend vp-autoparts.com. They ship worldwide.
the first OHC Volvo engine was the B21 that appears at the end of the first year of the 240 series The very first 240 were equipped with the B20 engine ( overbored version of the B18 engine ).
These beauties were built to be driven very angrily on small windy gravel dirt roads in the woods. And you need to drive them like that once in a while to blow the soot out of the system. So don't be afraid to drive it like a madman, the engine can take it. ua-cam.com/video/vJv1CYxZhPo/v-deo.html
Thanks a lot! In 1972, my *almost* first car was a 1961 PV544. A friend of the family was willing to cut me a deal on it for $100 ($751.61 in todays money) so it was quite a deal. The car ran great, and in spite of very dead, black paint, there was *0* rust on it. Unfortunately at age 16, I had to have my parents buy the car for me. I had the cash money saved up from my summer job, but my Dad, never having heard of Volvo wanted me to buy an American car. Since there was nothing in my price range available, I had to wait until I was in the Army to buy my first car.
The PV stands for Personvagn = Passenger Car for those interested :)
At one time, these were all over the streets of Los Angeles... nowadays, it is rare to see one outside of a museum!
I had a 1966 122S called an Amazon in Sweden. It was an amazing car. Big, strong, solid. It had a B18B engine with dual carbs. I used to love spending a Saturday afternoon adjusting the valves, points, and timing. It loved it when I did that, and rewarded me with some really sweet sounds. I miss being able to do that.
I sold parts at a Volvo dealer back in the late seventies, early eighties.
I bought my father's 1961 PV 544 in 1964. Absolutely loved that car and would love to have it back. As a family, we drove from Corvallis to Iowa and discovered the one and only problem the car had. The Swedes apparently couldn't imagine 100 degree temps that happen in the mid-west. As there were no interstates yet, we drove through every little town and found that the temp gauge would rise very quickly unless we opened the hood latch. The extra wind blowing over the engine and through the radiator solved the problem.
'
As a college boy I can attest to the fact that it would go 95 mph (by the car's speedometer). With Coni shocks it would corner flat like a sports car, and by adding a cut out for straight pipe it would go just a little faster.
Sold the car in 1966 and years later saw the car in Corvallis again (the license number was still the same). Waited and talked to the owner. He had purchased it from a Ford dealer in town when it had 100,000 miles on it. Was told it had been owned by a college professor (true, my father taught at Oregon State University). No mention of how hard it had been driven for 70,000 of those miles by a college boy. It now had over 200,000 miles on it and he was planning a cross country trip to the East Coast. Claimed it only use a quart of oil every 800 miles. In 1961, my father was told that normal use was considered to a quart for every 750 miles. Don't know how his trip went by my bet is that he made it with no problems.
I collected International Scouts. They also had the reversed hood. After my hood latch cable broke on one, I always mounted a second hood release under the car so I wouldn't have to fight to get it open. When I first picked one up I would always carry a couple of wire coat hangers to make a quick under car release until I could install a professional one.
I was ready to give up on this video at the 8:20 mark. He didn't even get it out of 2nd gear. As a former owner of 2 544's, the best part of that car was the super sexy sound when you ran those dual SU's with some gusto. Very deceptive body for its level of performance. One of my roommates in college had the '63 P1800 with overdrive which was essentially the same car but yet so modern looking it could blend in today. The 544, on the other hand, looked like a pre-war throwback from the prohibition era.
Old Volvos never die! Well done reviving her, my friend.
Takes me back to my Army days in 1968 when I had a friend with a similar Volvo.
Although appearing to be a "ribbon", the speedometers in these cars are made with a tube about 1 1/2' dia. x about a foot long. They are half white and half red in a spirally painted way--similar to a "barbershop post" . As the car accelerates, the tube begins to turn....what you see thru the speedo window is the part of the tube revealed in relation to the speed.
My 1963 PV544 has seat belts and so does the model in the video.(1:33)
This has always been my favourite generation Volvo cars.
I can't wait to get a 544!
mine had the drivers door bondoed shut.....I loved the car....bucket list for another
Mine is PV 444 from 1958 with B16 engine, I am reviving her right now.
Nice !
One of my favorite cars!
It's true that PV stands for personvagn which means personal wagon. The first Volvo was an ÖV which means öppen vagn or open wagon (=without a roof, not very practical in a country like Sweden, which is probably the reason why they abandonned that quite immediately). And then there were the LV models meaning lastvagn or truck. It's nice to see enthusiasts around the world keeping all those old cars alive. If you want to see old Volvo (or Saab) models being tested under rougher conditions (in Sweden or its neighbor countries), I'd suggest searching for something like 'Volvo rally' or similar in UA-cam. :)
this engine needs attention !!! a bad spark plug or a leaking exhaust valve.
I had to recondition many of these engine heads and usually, the seats were worn out and needed an intensive regrind and often I had to install valve seat rings.
the short block were very sturdy and unless extremely beaten, they seldom need attention
very good engines from Volvo
Love the 544,s
Me too
Volvo's are the best!
PV stand for "Person Vagn"! in english that means : passenger car/carriage! "Person Vagn" is in swedish! it comes from my homeland Sweden :)
Nice car! Thank you!
Nice car 😎👍 We have videos about our 544 on my channel. It is my dads first car in 80s and he sold it in 93-94. About 25 years later we found it and bought it back to us 😎
jostaa syystä eksyin sun videoiden kautta kans tähä videoo:D
Twin SUs or Twin Strombergs, as on my 1967 145S wagon ?
For us in Sweden the very, very cool, and expensive detail, are the US style bumpers with the arches, was only meant for US export at the time.....
Mt 1962 pv544 has a trunk lid that's a bit skewed. I'm thinking thinking that someone tried to force it closed incorrectly. Do you know a fix for this type of problem.
Thanks
Hi, I have a question, I am looking for a dashboard for a volvo pv 544, year 1959, can you help me find where to buy?
My first car. 1959 PV544.
I bought a used 1959 in Dec. 1965 in Maryland, black with red interior. My dad sold it for me in 1966 after I drove it from Ft. Belvoir Va. to Santa Barbara, Ca.
I need a 1965 pv544 put back together, can you help?
That thermometer speedometer is sure something!
Tks a lot for the info
Is it the original Sport version????
Hey Mark, thanks for another interesting car. I had a '71 144 that had the ribbon speedometer too.
Notice the truck was a Volvo? ;)
+Keith Johnson you are right.....the truck was Volvo !
Where are you?
Sir, are you sure about the camshaft? The 1968 Volvo 120 series I've worked on had a B18A engine with an overhead cam. Only some 65 horses, one carburettor btw. Had the ribbon speedometer too, that feature lasted well into my parents 144 and 145. The first PV 444 was introduced in 1944, it was the model that turned Volvo into a car maker of importance.
+Daniel Noest I'm sure. no overhead cam on this one.
Well, I looked into this. Turns out that you are right, the B18 Volvo engine has no overhead camshaft. I don't know where my mistake comes from.
PV stands for "personvagn" in Swedish. "Person wagon" or something like that in English.
Have to get one..had 4 Amazon
the first ar with seatbelts. have one myself
👍 👍 👍!!!
Mine is a B16 Pv544 1960 had a curtain in front of the radiator.
Looking for an original fuel pump
That's pretty cool, could be useful during the really cold winters in sweden. If you're still looking for a fuel pump I would recommend vp-autoparts.com. They ship worldwide.
fix it so it go an all cylinders! best car u can get!
Personvagn, close to the Wolksvagen but at a lot more useful and better
that is a volvo b18 engine and it is a pushrod engine
the first OHC Volvo engine was the B21 that appears at the end of the first year of the 240 series
The very first 240 were equipped with the B20 engine ( overbored version of the B18 engine ).
Hey do you have a Facebook page. I can send some Volvo Cars Ads if you want
These beauties were built to be driven very angrily on small windy gravel dirt roads in the woods.
And you need to drive them like that once in a while to blow the soot out of the system.
So don't be afraid to drive it like a madman, the engine can take it.
ua-cam.com/video/vJv1CYxZhPo/v-deo.html
"resuurection" ??
You've some work to do with the car/engine as it shouldn't sound as loud as it does now....
PV = personvagn in Swedish. "Person car"
P ersonal V agon