This 1962 Volvo PV544 is said to have been sold new in Fayetteville, North Carolina and relocated to California shortly thereafter, where it was acquired by the seller in 2008. Power is from a rebuilt 1.8-liter inline-four featuring .040″-over pistons, an Isky D-grind camshaft, and steel timing gears. Additional equipment consists of a four-speed manual transmission, a 4.10:1 rear end, updated suspension with IPD sway bars, period 15″ Chrysler wheels and hubcaps, and a retrimmed red interior with leather seats. Maintenance in the last year included replacement of engine and transmission seals, the clutch, cooling and ignition components, and more. This 544 is offered with service records dating to 1989, a collection of Volvo magazines and framed promotional literature, a Volvo-branded gas can, black California license plates, spare parts, and a clean California title in the seller’s name.
Exterior equipment includes chrome bumper bars and overriders, white and yellow driving lights, and a Hirschmann red-tip antenna. The seller notes dents, scratches, burned paint, and other imperfections throughout the body, and states that the right rear fender has been replaced under his ownership. The trunk is lockable, though no key is supplied for the doors.
Period 15″ Mopar wheels with Chrysler hubcaps wear Vredestein Classic tires sized 165/15 up front and 185/70 out back. The suspension has been rebuilt under current ownership and incorporates IPD sway bars front and rear.
The front seats were reupholstered in red leather with quilted inserts in 2009, while matching vinyl was applied to the rear seats and door and side panels. New carpets were installed in 2013 and have been protected by coco floor mats, which are included in the sale. The seller has also replaced the headliner and windlacing as well as applying sound deadening material to the cabin. A replacement dash pad was fitted in 2011 but has acquired several cracks since. New pivot shafts and sleeves for the brake and clutch pedals were fitted in 2019.
A stock steering wheel with a horn ring frames replacement instrumentation including a ribbon speedometer, an inoperable coolant temperature gauge, and a five-digit odometer showing 94k miles. Approximately 48k miles have been driven under current ownership, and actual mileage is unknown. A period Volvo-Blaupunkt AM/FM radio is mounted in the dash, and the transmission tunnel features an aftermarket cupholder basket.
The 1.8-liter B18 inline-four is said to have been rebuilt 30k miles ago with .040″-over pistons, an Isky D-grind camshaft, and steel B30 timing gears. Induction is from dual SU carburetors, and an alternator conversion has been carried out. An April 2019 service included replacement of engine and transmission seals, the thermostat housing, the radiator, and distributor components as well as adjustment of the carburetors and choke cables. The seller points out a removable engine compartment light with a clear PV544 turn signal lens.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission and a 4.10:1 rear end. A new clutch was fitted during the 2019 work. The seller states that he wire-brushed the undercarriage and painted it semi-gloss black in 2008, later adding a coating of grease. Corrosion is noted in the spare wheel well.
The car is supplied with a binder of service records dating to 1989, a spreadsheet of maintenance costs incurred under current ownership, a collection of marque magazines and framed promotional literature, a Volvo-branded gas can for the spare wheel well, a period service kit, and black California license plates as well as new and used spare parts including a rear bumper and a left rear fender. Driving and walkaround videos are shown below.