1944 Volvo PV544

The reason the Volvo PV544 is in higher demand lies in its engine bay, it’s powered by the Volvo B18D engine producing 90 bhp thanks to performance upgrades including twin SU carburetors. It may not sound like much today but power-wise it was on-par with the Porsche 356 of its era.

The Volvo PV series of cars was developed by the Swedish automaker during the Second World War, taking some inspiration from American automobile design from earlier in the 1940s. The Volvo PV444 was unveiled in 1944 and orders flooded in from across Sweden and Scandinavia, however production wouldn’t begin until 1947.

The Volvo PV444 was a relatively simple car, with a unibody shell, independent front suspension and a live axle rear. Power was provided initially by a 1.4 liter inline-four cylinder engine which was upgraded over time to a more powerful 1.8 liter unit.

The Volvo PV544 appeared in 1958 and it included numerous upgrades, engine power continued to grow and the vehicle’s reputation for toughness proved well-founded as it won a slew of rallies including the Safari Rally in 1965.

In August 1958, the Volvo PV544, a more modern version of the PV444, was introduced. The changes were the most extensive since the PV444 had been presented in 1944.The body was given a larger, convex windscreen together with a larger rear window to improve visibility. The interior featured a new dashboard with a padded upper half to improve interior safety. The speedometer was the “thermometer” type; a red strip showed the speed. The rear seat was remodelled to improve the level of comfort and provide space for an additional person compared to its predecessor, the PV444.

In technical terms, this model was also updated. The Volvo PV444 was (apart from in North America) only available with one engine alternative. With the arrival of the PV544, a second version was added. A 4-speed manual gearbox was also made available for the first time.

Under the skin, the PV544 was continuously updated. The major change took place in 1961, when the famous ‘B18’ engine was installed under the bonnet, at the same time as the electrical system received 12V current.
Technical Specifications

Model: PV 544
Variants: Special I, II and Sport (mainly called) PV 544 A PV 544 B PV 544 C PV 544 D PV 544 E PV 544 F PV 544 G
Produced: 1958 – 1965
Volume: 243990
Body: 2-door saloon
Engine: 4-cylinder, in-line, overhead valves, 1,583 cc, 79.37 x 80 mm, 60 bhp at 4,500 rpm or 85 bhp at 3,500 rpm. 1961: 1,778 cc, 75 bhp at 4,500 rpm or 90 bhp at 5,000 rpm, later increased to 95 bhp
Transmission: 3 or 4-speed manual, floor mounted gear lever
Brakes: Hydraulic drums on all wheels.
Dimensions
Misc: The Volvo PV544 became one of the most successful rally cars at the end of the 1950s and beginning of the 1960s.

Volvo cars