While the air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle gets a lot of credit for having an iconic design, the Volvo PV544 seems like an unsung hero in terms of styling. The combination of American- and European-inspired cues is quite novel, bringing a little bit of a 1940s Ford into a design that clearly had its origins in Europe. The 1964 Volvo PV544 shown here on eBay is offered by an organization that specializes in raising funds with donated vehicles, and bidding is quite cheap at the moment with bids raised to just $1,225 with no reserve.
Unlike most donated vintage cars that haven’t been previously restored, this Volvo PV544 appears to be quite honest and intact. The paint is evenly worn and faded, the chrome is in respectable condition, the lenses and glass intact, and even all four hubcaps are still attached to the wheels. Classic Volvos have a loyal following among Swedish car enthusiasts, but they tend to simply be used and maintained versus kept off the roads and in pristine condition. The fact that the Volvo’s drivetrain, featuring the ridiculously durable B18, was so robust is a big part of the reason why the PV544 often appears in condition similar to the subject car: you can simply keep driving it – for years.
A driving video included in the listing confirms this Volvo runs and drives quite well, and that it is a one-owner car. In fact, the driving video confirms the sentiment above that these things simply do not die, as for a car that hasn’t been used on the road in some time, it seems perfectly content roaming around the seller’s large property with acres of other donated vehicles and boats awaiting their day on eBay. The B18 was always seen as a strong performer with surprisingly good acceleration thanks to 90 b.h.p. and a modest curb weight, making it quicker than some sports cars of the day.
Like most unrestored cars that haven’t lived in southern California, this PV544 does have some rust to content with, and the seller notes the rockers and spare tire well will need some work. Overall, it’s not terrible for a car that has clearly been used and should be a straightforward process to repair for anyone familiar with the model and who has access to some good sheetmetal for the floors. The PV544 is still an endlessly charming entry into vintage car ownership and is equally useful for vintage motorsports events (like ice racing) as it is for simply driving to cars and coffee.
New London, Wis., not sure what takes me back more, the city or the car. On a well traveled 2 lane truck route, Hy. 45, it was the gateway to paper outfits in the north.
My 2nd car, 1st road driven, was a last year 1958 PV444. The “444” badge is mounted on my computer light, to forever remind me. They are simply wonderful cars, and I was lucky to have a 1st car like this. Those jack points/spare tire holder are always trouble spots, and mine was just as grimy underneath. The B18 came out in ’61 for the ’62 544s, and wasn’t really anything to boast about. It was still pretty much the same car. 12volt was a nice upgrade, no need for the 12v battery in the back seat for the tape player, but still resembled a old fashioned 50s American car, and handled/stopped/performed like one. Had a lot of fun in that car, but not sure it was entirely thanks to the Volvo. You better have some stories about your first car, you can’t go back. Great find.
Gee Howard, you never fail to amaze me. I also had a red ’58 444. I sold it to buy a ’62 B18 Sport. They were both wonderful cars and gong through the gears was a real treat. I sold the ’62 to a student who needed wheels to drive to Florida for spring break. The next time I saw it there was road rash all across the passenger side, both mirrors were gone and there was a dent in the roof! I asked what happened and he did a 360 roll driving while somewhat impaired. After he regained his senses, the car started right up and he later drove it back to NY from Florida, one tough car with a moron owner.
Hi Speedo, just a spoke in the wheel here, but it is rather uncanny how many vehicles come through here I, or my brother have had. Mine was black, and could have very well been one of the last 444s, but I treated it like any other $50 beater. I think my brother had a red 544. Guy across the alley had a grey one, we had a White parts car. As mentioned before, foreign cars were a tough sell in Milwaukee back then, they had to be pretty special and considering what was available, VW, Fiat, Morris, Renault, Opel( no Asian stuff yet) the Volvo was best offering, and being Swedish, it didn’t offend USA types. These were actually quite popular.
When I was a kid, I always thought of these as 7/8 scale `47 Ford tudors.
I’ve had a black one I bought on BF 15 years ago. The only requirement for me was to have zero rust but I was lucky to make a very presentable all original driver. It’s my second one since 1980 and a keeper.
This one needs some serious rust work but everything you need is available . And thank you BF !
Amazing that Volvo could sell a car styled like 1944 in 1964 America.
My thoughts exactly. The merits of the car just can’t overcome the fact that it looks like something from a bygone era.
Jeff, what is the location?
New London, WI. Race ya.
To Howard A: MILWAUKEE, you say? My father grew up on Prospect Avenue. I had a great aunt on Cambridge Avenue. My mother grew up in Shoreword (and claimed that she was about the only Gentile there). My cousins lived in Wauwatosa and in Elm Grove. I had relatives in Racine; and out in Genesee, right within about 100 feet of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. I had relatives also in Sheboygan. And I remember a number of radio stations in the Milwaukee area: 540-WFOX; 620-WTMJ; 920-WOKY (“Waukee in Milwaukee”); 1150-WISN; 1250-WEMP; 1340-WRIT(?); 1590 (can’t remember call-letters) in West Allis, an urban station. I was related to the Cudahys (spelling?). My relatives out there drove Detroit Electrics, Pierce Arrows, Packards, and Buicks. As for the Volvo of this type: I saw most of them in the 1950s, back when they had small tail-lights, and I, too, was reminded of a 1947 Ford Tudor. That’s actually what I most LIKED about them. The larger tail-lights rather ruined the effect of a miniaturised 1940s American car. Whenever I think of Volvos, it is these that come to mind.
I’m from Milwaukee and I ought to know,,( Blatz) I grew up on the NW side, near Timmerman Field, went to John Marshall HS, and oh yeah, Brady St. the alternate site, WTOS, WZMF, and WQFM, the lake front, cruisin’ the Ave, the drive ins, Milwaukee was a happenin’ place, and why it was chosen for Happy Days. I sure miss those days.
Back in the 60s & 70s these were everywhere. Weird back then, cool now. Funny how taste change.
My dad had this same car, same color. We have a few old pictures of it. Great memories here.
I was very young but can remember sitting in the back seat, and oddly, the smell.
Big kudos to this organization for being honest and taking the time to actually show the entire vehicle, so someone truly knows what they’re getting. And I’m sure it didn’t take long to make a 3 minute video. I’m not sure why a charity is capable of this, but not others.
A great looking car, with an undercarriage in need of lotsa skilled help. If someone can do it, then just buff the paint, clean up the interior, go through the mechanicals and have fun.
To Howard A: I do not recognise any of those call-letters: are they, by any chance F.M. stations??? When I was hanging-out around Milwaukee, all of the popular music action was on A.M., and F.M. stations (what few there might have been) played classical, soft jazz, and mellow background music (what you used to call “elevator” or “Dentist office” anonymous orchestral syrup (for lack of a better description). WRIT-1340 was an “edgier” rock station, appealing more to young males; whereas WOKY-920 served young adults and had more appeal to girls. Then of course, there also was 890-WLS from Chicago, which was local in Milwaukee with their 50,000 watts. ALL of the major Chicago stations also served Milwaukee (unless you only had one of those two-transistor toy radios). The easiest station from Milwaukee to hear in the Albany area of New York, believe it or not, was little WOKY on 920 — sometimes, even in the afternoon! If you were PATIENT, you might catch WTMJ on 620 or WEMP on 1250 very late at night. As for “Happy Days”, I could never quite accept its setting in Milwaukee, because nobody spoke with anything remotely close to a southeastern Wisconsin accent! And “The Fonz”, LaVerne and Shirley, were straight-up New York! NObody in Milwaukee acts or talks like that (unless they are transplants from New York City). Milwaukee is a German city, with Poles and others added later — but they have a definite warm nasal accent which anyone can spot instantly (unless they are from Nilwaukee, and then it simply sounds normal to them). I got charged with having “a wicked accent” whenever I went out there; though people in eastern Michigan or northern Indiana or Ohio never thought so. My one living cousin who left there decades ago, still sounds straight-up Wauwatosa. SOMEone should have taught the producers of “Happy Days” how to have their characters SOUND like Milwaukee-natives!
To Howard A: I do not recognise any of those call-letters: are they, by any chance F.M. stations??? When I was hanging-out around Milwaukee, all of the popular music action was on A.M., and F.M. stations (what few there might have been) played classical, soft jazz, and mellow background music (what you used to call “elevator” or “Dentist office” anonymous orchestral syrup (for lack of a better description). WRIT-1340 was an “edgier” rock station, appealing more to young males; whereas WOKY-920 served young adults and had more appeal to girls. Then of course, there also was 890-WLS from Chicago, which was local in Milwaukee with their 50,000 watts. ALL of the major Chicago stations also served Milwaukee (unless you only had one of those two-transistor toy radios). The easiest station from Milwaukee to hear in the Albany area of New York, believe it or not, was little WOKY on 920 — sometimes, even in the afternoon! If you were PATIENT, you might catch WTMJ on 620 or WEMP on 1250 very late at night. As for “Happy Days”, I could never quite accept its setting in Milwaukee, because nobody spoke with anything remotely close to a southeastern Wisconsin accent! And “The Fonz”, LaVerne and Shirley, were straight-up New York! NObody in Milwaukee acts or talks like that (unless they are transplants from New York City). Milwaukee is a German city, with Poles and others added later — but they have a definite warm nasal accent which anyone can spot instantly (unless they are from Nilwaukee, and then it simply sounds normal to them). I got charged with having “a wicked accent” whenever I went out there; though people in eastern Michigan or northern Indiana or Ohio never thought so. My one living cousin who left there decades ago, still sounds straight-up Wauwatosa. SOMEone should have taught the producers of “Happy Days” how to have their characters SOUND like Milwaukee-natives!
To Howard A: I do not recognise any of those call-letters: are they, by any chance F.M. stations??? When I was hanging-out around Milwaukee, all of the popular music action was on A.M., and F.M. stations (what few there might have been) played classical, soft jazz, and mellow background music (what you used to call “elevator” or “Dentist office” anonymous orchestral syrup (for lack of a better description). WRIT-1340 was an “edgier” rock station, appealing more to young males; whereas WOKY-920 served young adults and had more appeal to girls. Then of course, there also was 890-WLS from Chicago, which was local in Milwaukee with their 50,000 watts. ALL of the major Chicago stations also served Milwaukee (unless you only had one of those two-transistor toy radios). The easiest station from Milwaukee to hear in the Albany area of New York, believe it or not, was little WOKY on 920 — sometimes, even in the afternoon! If you were PATIENT, you might catch WTMJ on 620 or WEMP on 1250 very late at night. As for “Happy Days”, I could never quite accept its setting in Milwaukee, because nobody spoke with anything remotely close to a southeastern Wisconsin accent! And “The Fonz”, LaVerne and Shirley, were straight-up New York! NObody in Milwaukee acts or talks like that (unless they are transplants from New York City). Milwaukee is a German city, with Poles and others added later — but they have a definite warm nasal accent which anyone can spot instantly (unless they are from Nilwaukee, and then it simply sounds normal to them). I got charged with having “a wicked accent” whenever I went out there; though people in eastern Michigan or northern Indiana or Ohio never thought so. My one living cousin who left there decades ago, still sounds straight-up Wauwatosa. SOMEone should have taught the producers of “Happy Days” how to have their characters SOUND like Milwaukee-natives!