Volvo PV 544

In 1957 Volvo had made almost 200 000 cars of the old 444 and many people started to think it looked quite unmodern and old-fashioned. The new Amazon (P121, P122) would soon take over as Volvo's volume-car many people thought. The thought wrong...
On August 25 1958 Volvo showed an on many points modernized PV, the 544. It had a whole new interior with a thermometer-like speedometer, one-piece front window, larger side- and rear-windows, larger back-seat and new brakes. The larger rear-lights that looks like a shoe-sole came now.
In 1961 the last big change on the PV came. The car got a 12 volt electric system and a completely new engine, the legendary B18-engine. The B18 was a completely new 1.8-liter engine with a five-bearing crankshaft. And it later showed to be on of the most durable engines ever made in the whole world.
The last PV, with chassis number 440 000, is now at the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg.

It can be quite tricky to recognize the different year-models of the 544 but with the PV-klubben members directory it is no problem.

Pictures