Volvo is a manufacturer that I have complete respect for. Their cars seem to be long-lived and capable of surprising levels of performance. In Scandinavian countries cars like our feature car continue to compete successfully in both rallying and rallycross. You will find this Volvo listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, it is offered with a clear title. The seller has set a BIN of $2,400 with the option to make an offer.
I wonder who “Sunny The Clown” is or was. Certainly Sunny chose a mode of transport that was distinctive. This car has literally just been pulled out of a barn and we have no idea how long it resided there. The seller states that the car is 99% rut-free, and certainly the supplied photos don’t seem to indicate any major problems. There is are spots on a couple of the bolt-on panels where they meet the main body structure and a bit appearing under the front trim on the driver’s side, but none of these seem to be too bad. Due to the environment that they were designed to operate in, Volvos don’t tend to be prone to major rust issues. There are a couple of badges that are missing and the lenses on the tail-lights will need replacing, but everything else appears to be present. The front bumper which is not attached does come with the car.
The interior is going to require complete restoration. The door trims are in the trunk, but looking at them suggests that they are beyond help. The dash pad has deteriorated badly, but the dash appears to be largely intact. There is a radio/cassette fitted with a graphic equalized under the dash, so Sunny The Clown must’ve liked the music loud. There are covers on the seats, but we can see that what is peaking through appears to be pretty sad. I’m not sure, but I think that there is evidence that the Volvo may have been a home for rodents at some stage, so there may be some issues with the electrical system to deal with.
1962 marked the introduction of the B18 engine into the 544 range. Available in two versions, this one is the more powerful B18D which was the more common engine for the 544 in the USA. This is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. The seller states that the engine turns over by hand, but that it doesn’t run. These B18 engines are also very robust, so it may not be a big job to get it running. It could well be that the rodent invasion that I speculated about may have resulted in issues with the ignition wiring. This was also the first year that Volvo introduced a 12 volt electrical system into the 544 range, meaning that the car tended to be easier to start in colder climates where the 6 volt system could be found wanting.
I’m sure that wherever Sunny The Clown is, he or she is hoping that someone will be willing to revive this 544. The price for this example is really competitive compared to cars in a similar state. In good condition these are realizing prices in the vicinity of $12,000 plus. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if some tinkering brought the engine back to life. I really think that this is a viable project, and when restored these are a really satisfying car to own and drive.
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