The need for speed drives us to do many things. They are rarely easy or make much sense, financially or otherwise. The seller of this 1960 Volvo PV544 has done a bang-up job of reminding us what is possible when we decide that the big OEMs are never going to make a car we actually want to buy. It combines a lot of things, and while Volvo is known for safety, this is one Swedish steed that chucks caution to the wind. Find it here on Facebook Marketplace for $24,900 with a built Jaguar 4.2L DOHC inline-six engine up front.
The PV544 always had a bit of a reputation for being a hot rod in disguise. It mainly had to do with the design of the hindquarters which closely resembled that of many Fords and Chevys of the era, which were obviously used for custom hot rod builds. While the Volvo was a surprisingly robust competitor in early SCCA and rally-cross-type events, it was not known for being a desirable candidate for high horsepower swaps. It’s not to say it wasn’t possible, but there were far easier options if you wanted to go fast. The builder of this car decided it was time to change that, and went with a custom chassis built by Neal Hough.
It makes use of plenty of components that came right off the shelf from domestic automakers. A GM Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission with manual valve body apparently bolts up nicely to the Jaguar powerplant, and a GM rear axle with Positraction is utilized to get the power down as cleanly as possible. The seller estimates that the Jaguar engine produces around 310 b.h.p. and likely sounds incredible thanks to the triple Weber carburetors. A custom side-exit exhaust provides the bark a car like this needs.
Inside, a comfortable interior was retained, seemingly providing the occupants with sufficient restraint systems and standard bucket seats, along with a full dash with instrumentation. In case you needed something German in the mix, a Mercedes grill was sourced for the bling factor. Overall, it looks like a well-executed build, but certainly one you’ll want to drive to be sure it’s what you’re looking for. We love seeing oddball creations like these that throw caution to the wind and keep multiple classic cars and parts alive. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Jack M. for the find.
This looker should provide many years of trouble-free service and user-friendly practicality. With such a low entry fee, what’s not to like?
Hey, weren’t Howard’s neighbours looking for a used car?
This is what you buy if you’re just trying to anger your neighbors.