Fifty years since
the first PV 445 chassis 
Translation of the story "Femtio år sedan första PV445-chassit"
in PV-Entusiasten # 4 1999, page 13.

By Dan Jansson

On September 9 1949 the first chassis in the series PV 445 was completed. Almost 20 years later, on February 19, 1969, the last Duett was produced. By then almost 100000 cars were built on the chassis without any major changes to the construction.
For many years the Volvo Duett was one of the most desired used cars and no other car has been maintained and restored as much as the Duett.
For it´s 50th anniversary, we take a closer look at the PV 445 chassis.

From the start in 1927 Volvo, besides cars and trucks, sold the different models as separate chassis. The first model, ÖV4/PV4, 27 were sold as chassis.
On the chassis, independent body manufacturers built different kinds of vehicles, like vans, ambulances, trucks, small buses and such. This was in no way unique to Volvo - most car makers offered "commercial chassis" along side the completed cars.
When the production of the PV 444 started after a long delay, there soon was a demand for a separate chassis based on the PV. But since the PV 444 was the first Volvo car with a unibody the company had to design a frame to build on.
On September 9 1949 the first chassis was completed and bookkeeping recorded the cost of it at 10838 Swedish kronor and 27 öre.
The serial production did not start until 1950 and by then the manufacturing cost was estimated at about 3900 Swedish kronor a piece including materiel, labour, paint, shipment costs and petrol.

Many parts from the PV 444
The chassis had the same wheel base as the PV 444. The frame had a fully welded box section and it was enforced with a x-section. The engine, transmission, brakes, electrics, instruments and front suspension was the same as on the PV 444.
The rear axle had semieliptical springs with hydraulic shock absorbers placed diagonally in order to prevent rolling . The rear axle ratio was 5,43:1, making the 445 substantially stronger than the 444, having the ration of 4,56:1
The total weight of the chassis without body was 725 kgs. The highest payload was 500-550 kgs depending on the weight of the body.

Extra rib in the grille
The first 500 chassis, with the designation PV 445 A, had the same forward bumpers and instruments as the PV 444A. They also had 16" wheels.
Later cars had the new dashboard and the flat three piece bumpers that had already been fitted on the PV 444 for a while.
The radiator grille had five horizontal ribs while the PV 444 had four. The extra rib made the difference in distance between the grille and the bumper less obvious. On the PV 445 the bumper is lower on the front than on the PV 444.
The chassis were delivered with front, hood, front fenders, firewall, doorsill and dashboard with instruments.

Change in details
Detail changes introduced on the PV 444 came almost at the same time on the PV 445. For example the chassis had the same grille as the PV 444 K from chassis number 3640. Later came the new grille, on the PV 444 introduced on the PV 444L.
Until 1953 Volvo produced only chassis without bodies. Body manufacturers both in Sweden and abroad built different kinds of bodies, either for their own sales or on order from customers.
Most chassis were sold in Sweden. Among the major customers were the Swedish telephone company, the Swedish railroads, the Swedish road authorities and the Swedish army. The body makers who bought chassis were among others Grantorpets Industrier in Västervik (Grip-kaross) and Valbo Karosserifabrik outside Gävle.

The end of separate frame
Relatively many chassis were exported, mainly to Europe but also to other continents. A large number went to Brazil and Uruguay was a big customer too. A few chassis found their way to the USA.
In 1953 Volvo introduced their own body on the chassis and the car was given the name Duett. Separate chassis were produced until May 17 1962 while the Volvo Duett was produced until 1969. The PV 445-chassis was in production for almost 20 years.

Translation by Dan Jansson, (thanks to Mark Hershoren for assistance)