Tortoise Style: 1964 Volvo PV544 Sport
I posted that Datsun Sunny B210 the other day and had second thoughts about saying it wasn’t worth the asking price and that it was too slow, but then I stumbled on this Volvo PV544 Sport. It is equally slow, probably slower than the Sunny, but it looks appropriately designed to be driven slowly and these things are legendary for being reliable tanks (unlike stuff that came out of Nissan’s econobox factories in the 70s — the Z and 510 being the exceptions that prove the rule?). And at half the asking price, I think this is a winner. Find this 1964 Volvo PV544 Sport offered for $7500 in Austin, TX via craigslist.
From the seller:
1964 volvo pv544
condition: good
cylinders: 4 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 49549
odometer broken
paint color: blue
title status: clean
transmission: manual
Up for sale is Penelope, My 1964 Volvo PV544 Sport.
I have owned her for about 4 1/2 years and have done a lot of work on her. She was a barn find nearby. She starts right up, drives great and stops. She’s not perfect by any means, but sure is a head turner.
I have put on many new parts: Complete Exhaust, Electronic Distributor, Wires, Bosch Starter, Alternator, Shocks; front and rear, Brake cylinders and shoes, Fuel Pump, Battery, Door Panels, Door Seals, Hoses, Belt, Valve Cover Gasket, and more stuff I’m sure. The carburetors have been rebuilt. New e-brake cable.
She does have some rust in the floor pans, in the trunk and on the passenger side rocker panel. There is some damage to the front passenger side fender. I do have new floor pans for it.
I’d love someone to buy her and do a full-body restoration; shed be a great candidate for it.
She DOES have current registration and new Classic Auto Tags. Blue Texas Title in hand.
Make me an offer!
More pictures:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1C9rg8o5IB4125LTeejWA4EWm7IJAXkQM?usp=sharingVideo of cold start:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bXNPQHcaaTEmsl8Lo2oVzaDiahkIAn2N?usp=sharingSpreadsheet of parts/repairs:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yE5JbD-S75bswHBYuAKYdCl5cbzZLp8X/view?usp=sharing
See a better way to drive a classic? tips@dailyturismo.com
” It is equally slow, probably slower than the Sunny, but it looks appropriately designed to be driven slowly…”
Hey people raced these in trans-am races!
https://www.racingsportscars.com/type/results/Volvo/PV%20544.html
Gee that engine compartment looks just like my tr3.
I always forget that Austin is the most Swedish of all cities in Texas. Like Stockholm but with lots more water slides.
I’m not sure if the problem with Nissans of that era aside from the 510 and 240Z was that they were unreliable, so much as that those were the only ones deemed worthy of preservation. The 210 that I mentioned in the earlier post was one of those cars that would not die no matter how much teenage me wanted it to. It finally was scrapped due to the suspension and chassis being thoroughly shot, with the drivetrain still in good working order (well, for an engine barely more powerful than a large Harbor Freight motor).