1584cc 4 cylinder
4 Speed Manual
Front Engined Rear Wheel Drive
Hydraulic Drum Brakes
88 bhp 87 Ft-Lb
Exterior Black Interior Red
As World War 2 was coming to a close, Volvo decided that with the effects of the war on supply chains, a smaller, lighter, more economical car was needed and so the PV444 was designed. Even though Sweden remained neutral during the war, limits to their access to fuel and steel slowed the full production of the PV444 until 1947. In 1958, the PV444 was replaced by an updated version in the form of the PV544, like this car. The two cars shared appearance in most ways with minor changes like a curved one piece windscreen, larger tail lights, and the introduction of a 4 speed transmission. The PV544 series continued with the use of the Volvo B16 1.6 liter series of engines for much of its production until the B18 replaced it in 1962, along with a switch from 6 volts to 12 volts, and the car was finally phased out in 1965, 18 years after the PV444 entered production. For much of its production it was Volvo’s primary product and was loved enough in Sweden for it to continue to be manufactured alongside the Volvo Amazon which served much the same market segment with a much more up-to-date looking car.
My Volvo PV544 was purchased from a collector along with a couple of other cars, before which it served as a daily driver for a different car collector in California. Though certainly more of a driver-level car than a showpiece, it had been very well cared for, with me having to do little other than maintenance, and it has proven to be incredibly versatile and reliable. Still fitted with its original B16B 1.6 liter engine with twin SU carburettors and 6 volt electrics, It never fails to start and run and the car performs well enough even in modern traffic, that it could easily serve as a daily driver again. The lack of an overdriven gear makes it a better back roads and town car, though it certainly could maintain highway speeds if it were pushed to do so. Driving the car is quite enjoyable and it is easy to see why this otherwise pretty dated car continued through production for as long as it did, as well as why it was as successful in rally racing as it proved to be. The car is simple with very utiliatarian features, but incredibly solidly built, making it an exceptionally solid car of the people for the late 1950s.
