40 years of PV 544

English translation of the story "PV 544 fyller 40 år" in the PV-Entusisten # 3 1998.

By Bengt Andersson

When Volvo introduced the new model PV 444, nicknamed "the little Volvo" in 1944, it faced instant success. Already during the initial exhibition in Kungliga Tennishallen some 2300 contracts were signed. When the production got started in February 1947 a total amount of 8000 cars were planned. But shortly thereafter another 4000 had to be added. And that’s the way it was. PV 444 gained a tremendous popularity among its many loyal customers.
Volvo introduced their new car, the Amazon as it was spelt back then, in August 1956 for their sales-organisation and in early September it was showed to the public. The introduction took place in Örebro and the price was set at 12.600 SEK which was considerably higher than the asking price for a PV 444. The 1956 444K was priced at 9.997 SEK and the special edition, 444 KS, carried a 10.497 SEK price tag. The first Amazons were delivered in February/March 1957, but prior to that, in January, the last edition of PV 444 had been launched. Both the Amazon and the 1957 PV 444 L and LS models were powered by the new 60 bhp B16A-engine. As the production of Amazons increased, the question of what would happen with the PV was raised. The Amazon was a significantly more modern car and its design was considered beautiful. But the PV looked rather old-fashioned or even outdated, and rumours about the end of the PV-model began to circulate.

PV544A
These rumours came to an end when Volvo on August 25, 1958 introduced the new PV 544A. Economy was probably one major reason for keeping the PV-model for a while, because the tools for manufaction were paid long ago. To develop a totally new body would cost some 35.000.000 SEK, as compared to the 3.000.000 SEK now invested in modifying the old tools to suit the new 544 model. Among the major changes were the one-piece windshield which replaced the old two-piece equivalent of the 444 model. And in order to increase visibility further, the side frame assys were diminished and the rear window was enlarged. The rear seat had been made more spacious by incorporating the arm rests in the side panel. Due to that, the car was now allowed to carry four passengers instead of three. Also the leg-room was augmented with 60 millimetres. The hand-break mechanism was put between the front-seats. The interior was totally revised and the padded dash-board of the Amazon found its way into the PV. The characteristic thermometer-like speedometer together with the other instruments made the Amazon family ties obvious. Higher security had also been achieved by making the dash totally flat underneath, and by lowering the hub of the steering-wheel and by making the whole steering mechanism easier to use. Moreover, the 544 was equipped with new "duo servo" brakes (beginning with chassis no 207866). They worked easier with less power applied by the driver and the total active surface was 930 square-centimetres. Additionally the enlarged rear-lights were made of reflecting material and included rear-light, break-light and flasher-light. Although they were not as good-looking as previous ones, they certainly were more practical. Lastly, the front flasher-lights had been moved outwards on the front wings to improve side visibility.

Four different editions in Sweden
On the Swedish market, the PV544A was delivered in four different editions. The cheapest was the standard edition (P54403A). It featured the B16A engine with a 3-speed gearbox. The final drive ratio was 4.56:1. The only choice of colour was black. But if you wanted a better equipped car, special I (P54405A) would be an alternative. It had the same features with the addition of chromed weatherstrips, white-wall tires, cigarette-lighter, more chrome trim on the body sides, dual horns and dual sunshades. Also the rear side windows could be opened and the interior was made from better fabrics. You could choose between svart (black), midnattsblå (dark blue), gyllenbeige (tan) and olivgrön (olive). The most luxurious edition was special II (54404A). With the exceptions of a full-sychro 4-speed gearbox and a 4.10:1 final drive ratio, it was the same car as special I.

The sports engine finally available in Sweden
The largest piece of news however was the top-of-the-line sport edition (P54406A). Until now it had been virtually impossible to buy a car equipped with the 85 bhp B16B sports engine, because those cars were designated for the US market. The reason was that according to US customs regulations, the customs were set in accordance with the highest price on the exporter’s domestic market. Since Volvo wanted to keep their prices as low as possible on the US market, they decided not to sell any sport PVs on the Swedish market. But shortly before the introduction of the PV 544, however, these regulations were adjusted and thus the PV sport was for sale in Sweden too. Apart from the B16B-engine the 4-speed gearbox and the 4.10:1final drive ratio, some more goodies were included for the sporty customer, i e front seat safety-belts, trip odometer, windshield washers, head-lamp flashing and rear mudguards in rubber. The colours were gyllenbeige (tan) or olivgrön (olive). NB that red was not an option on the 544A model. However, some six rubinröda (ruby red) PV 544A sport were produced and at least three of them were evidently racing cars especially assembled for competition.

Export editions
A variety of editions and models were for sale in markets outside Sweden. In some places a PV with B16B sports engine and H6 3-speed gearbox was sold (P54407A). In USA a model equivalent to sport was sold, but with vinyl interior, instruments converted to miles and all texts in English (P54408A). The most obvious exterior difference however, was the chromed arch (amerikabåge) which was added to the bumpers. Moreover, some other editions were sold in the US market, i e P54409A which was the same as -08 but with the 3-speed gearbox. P54402A is equivalent to the Swedish special II. After a while a model equivalent to the Swedish standard edition, but with vinyl interior and a new full-synchro 3-speed gearbox (M30) was sold (P54401A) in USA. That one was only made in svart (black) and pastellgrå (light gray). Since a lot of them were shipped back to Sweden a year later, it is fair to assume that their success was moderate at best. After fitting a new chassis identification plate, Volvo sold them as the brand-new 1960 P544-11121B model. They still featured the American vinyl interior and some of them were pastellgrå - a colour that normally only was available for the special edition in Sweden. Confusion was even worse in the Netherlands, because there a car equivalent to the Swedish special II was sold as special I (P54404A). And vice versa with the special I (P54405A). Today, nobody remembers why this was the case. The Swedish sport edition (P54406A) was sold as Attio fem in the Netherlands. And the P54407A model with B16B engine and 3-speed gearbox was sold as Attio fem II. All in all, some 99435 PV 544A were produced between August 1958 and August 1960. In Sweden, all of them were sold as the 1958 model, regardless which year they actually were assembled.

PV 544B
By August 1960 the time was right for a new model. Sticking to logic, Volvo named the new model PV 544B. Its technical specifications were equivalent to those of PV 544A. Editions were as previously: standard, special I, special II and sport. The prefix system was revised and from now on the prefixes were P544-11121B (standard), P544-11132B (special I), P544-11134 B (special II) and P544-11234B (sport). Some other details were changed too. The interior was revised including less sophisticated rear seat arm rests and a smoother door panel finish. Gearbox alternatives were fully synchronised 3-speed M30 or 4-speed M40 on all models. An unique factory delivered option for the PV 544 B-model was the so-called saxomat automatic clutch. Apart from the standard edition, some new additions to the colour scheme were made too: special I was delivered in svart (black), midnattsblå (dark blue), olivgrön (olive) and pastellgrå (light gray). Special II came in either olivgrön, pastellgrå or skifferblå (light blue) coatings. Sport came in olivgrön or rubinröd (ruby red). The total production number for PV 544B was 34600 between August 1960 and August 1961.

544C with ‘sports’ engine
At the Brussels’ international auto-fair in January 1960, Volvo introduced their new sportscar, the P1800. It received a lot of attention, mainly because it was equipped with a brand-new engine. It was assumed that the car had a B16B fitted but instead an unexpected 100 bhp B18B engine was present. As compared to the B16 engines, the major improvement was the crankshaft with five main bearings, as compared to the three main bearings of the older B4B, B14A and B16 engines. And when the PV 544C model was introduced in August 1961, it was equipped with the new B18 engine. The choice was between either the 75 bhp B18A or the 90 bhp B18D engines. Simultaneously a 12 Volt electrical system replaced the old 6 Volt system. The amount of editions was also cut down. The standard edition was renamed Favorit. In Denmark the same car was sold as quick. The colour range was extended to svart (black) and pastellgrå (light gray). During the year, the Favorit began to come with the body chrome trim of the more expensive editions. Special I was deleted and special II was simply renamed special (P544-11134C). Colours were pastellgrå (light gray), skifferblå (light blue), dovhjortsbrun (brown) and dimgrön (light green). Gradually the "P544" prefix was taken away. During the year 37900 PV 544C were produced between August 1961 to August 1962.

544D
The C-model was succeeded by the PV 544D resulting only in minor changes such as new hub-caps of the same type as used on the Amazon. The fuel pump and the interior door-handles were changed too. Some new colours were introduced, pärlvit (white) replaced pastellgrå (grey) on the Favorit beginning with chassis no 376668. The special edition had pärlvit and grafitgrå (dark grey) as new choices and pastellgrå was no longer an option. Sport was delivered in körsbärsröd (cherry red), skifferblå (light blue), pärlvit and grafitgrå. 27100 PV 544D were produced between August 1962 and August 1963.

544E
Next model to surface was 544E and only minor changes were at hand, as a new camshaft cover which had the oil filler cap in its front. The tyre size was changed to 6.00-15 and the white walls were diminished to the new thin ‘ribbon’ look. Also, a new vinyl ceiling and some other minor changes were introduced. Grafitgrå (dark gray) was a new colour for the Favorit edition, special now also came in gyllengul (yellow) and blågrön (bluish green). Dovhjortsbrun and dimgrön were deleted. Sport was now delivered in five colors: körsbärsröd (red), skifferblå (light blue), pärlvit (white), gyllengul (yellow) and blågrön (bluish green). The last colour was short-lived however, because already after the first 5000 PV 544E the colour was withdrawn. Of the PV 544E 24200 cars were produced between August 1963 and August 1964.

544F
Some exterior changes came with PV 544F. As opposed to the previous wheels who always had the same colour as the body of the car, new silver-coloured ventilated wheels were introduced including new smaller hub-caps. Chrome trim for the wheels and white decorations were no longer available. A new "544" insigna on the firewall side replaced the old bonnet insigna. The radiator blind was removed and all models were fitted with dual horns. A new, leaner sort of interior handles were introduced too. Regarding colours, special added ljusblå (light blue) and mörkblå (dark blue) to the program. Those preferring a sport could choose between körsbärsröd, pärlvit, ljusblå and mörkblå. The F model included 17300 cars produced between August 1964 and August 1965.

544G - the last in line
In August 1965 the 1966 PV 544G model was introduced and it became the last in the PV544-series. Few alterations were made. The most significant, and appreciated, one was that the B18D sport engine now produced 95 bhp instead of 90. The sport also received 165-15 tyres of the so-called S specification. They had a lower profile and provided better traction than the ones used previously. Colours were the same as in 1965. Very few Favorit were produced, mainly in the pärlvit (white) colour and a few black ones were delivered too, but no grafitgrå (dark gray). Special came in last year’s colours, although mörkblå (dark blue) was very rare. Sport came in körsbärsröd or pärlvit. A small amount of grafitgrå and ljusblå sports were produced too but none in mörkblå. The US edition (11244G) came in the same colours plus black. The very last PV that came off the production line at 3 pm, October 20 1965 was a black 11234G sport with chassis no 444000. PV 544G was the most short-lived of all PV models. Between August and October 1965 only 3401 PV 544G were assembled.

PV644
PVs successor was Amzon Favorit, a low-priced edition of Amazon. It was powered by the 75 bhp B18A engine with a M30 3-speed gearbox. The price reduction was achieved by less chrome trim, a single sunshade and no cigarette lighter. Initially it only came in black, but later in white too. The interior was red. However a not too serious attempt to revive the PV model was made and a third design was studied. Today it looks pretty ugly. The front was similar to the grille trim that later came on Volvo 164. The rear fenders were extended and incorporated into the body. This trick was used to make the car look like a regular sedan when seen from the rear. The ‘hunchback’ design was tackled by extending the side windows. Notwithstanding, this project never came further than the initial clay study. In August 1966 Volvo launched their new model, the Volvo 140 series and with that a new era began.

Original story by Bengt Andersson, facts supplied by Stefan Ljungberg.

Translation by John Boija