1962 Volvo PV544

I have reluctantly decided to sell my 1962 Volvo PV544 in Volvo Ruby Red. This has taken a lot of soul searching as this was always meant to be “a keeper”, so money and time did not come into it. My first love has always been Saab cars and I have just been seduced by a new Swedish mistress – a Saab Sonett, so with limited space something has to go.
This is my second Volvo PV544. I bought it in 2018 from north Sweden, and drove it back to the UK. It was advertised as “Sweden’s finest”. Well it certainly was not up to my standard, so I have spent the 4 years since purchase on getting it to the standard that it is at now.
There is just not the space to write everything that has been done, but I will try to give a brief synopsis. This PV model is a four speed, twin carb B18 engine with 12 volt electrics, which I think is the best model to have. Every single rubber seal has been replaced on the car, e. g. doors, windows, windscreens, boot, quarter lights etc. The front screen has been replaced with a Sundym one. All panels have been removed and realigned for even panel gaps. Nearly all chrome has been replaced for new old stock. A couple of parts are the best I could get second-hand. A lot of the wiring that was not up to standard has been re-done with new wire, terminals, sleeving, crimped and soldered. All paintwork has been flatted and machine polished. All stainless steel parts are the best I could find and have been machine polished. All chassis parts under the car have been either painted or treated with Dinitrol.
On the inside of the car all areas have been sound-proofed and cavity wax applied. The wheels are wide wheels (4. 5J) from an early P1800 with new hub caps. Every steering and suspension rubber has been changed for polyurethane with new springs and straps and new Gaz adjustable shocks. All wheel bearings are new as are rear drums, shoes, wheel cylinders and flex hoses. Most of the brake pipes have been changed to Cunifer 10. The master cylinder and brake light switch is also new and the front brakes have a very expensive new disc brake conversion. The king pins and bushes are new as is the bush in the idler arm. The rear axle is the quietest of three that were tried and has been fitted with new pinion bearing and oil seal, half shaft bearing and seal kits and re-shimmed. The prop shaft has new UJs and centre bearing. The gearbox was professionally overhauled with all new bearings and oil seals and a modification on the gear lever housing to take the slop out of the gearchange.
The car has a four into one exhaust manifold and new exhaust system based on the Abarth type. New water pump, modified water distributor pipe (no more overheating), new radiator and hoses and clips fitted. The heater matrix is a very good second-hand one. All heater controls and cables work smoothly. The dynamo was overhauled with new bearings and brushes, as was the starter motor. It also has a new 123 electronic distributor and a lightened flywheel. The SU carburettors were completely renovated, new spindles and reamed bushes to fit, new butterflies, new jets, springs and needles. They also have alloy trumpets hidden inside the air cleaners. The air cleaners are the expensive washable cotton type.
All extras work as they should, e. g. spotlights, hand-held light, reversing light, rear screen blower and four speakers and radio.
The interior seat covers and headlining were new when I bought the car but the covers were poorly fitted on broken seat frames, so everything was removed and the frames were repaired and re-sprung and re-foamed and painted.
Also fitted are new grey Volvo rubber carpets and Volvo mats. Black millboard was replaced below back seat and parcel shelf. Door cards are also new. The boot sides and seat back have been lined with black and grey millboard. The boot floor has a fitted carpet and the boot edges and underside of lid have been fitted with black hardura, and as I was fed up with cracking my skull on the boot lid edge I have now fitted two hydraulic struts so the boot lid opens much higher.
That is basically it. I have loads more photos and there are probably many things I have not mentioned, so please ring or email if you would like more information on specifics. I think that the car is probably the best you can ever get and it won the overall Best Kept Volvo award in 2022 at Stratford and has previously won first prize in the Volvo Enthusiasts Club in 2018 and 2019.