Wheeler Dealer’d: 1962 Volvo PV544 Sport
If you spend any time watching the automotive themed television these days, you might have seen a show called Wheeler Dealers on Velocity — where two chaps from Britain spend an hour (or two) saving some modern classic from the crusher and making a few quid while they are at it. The dollars per hour that Mike, Edd and their crew make per “flip” is a tuppence of reality show capital ‘D’ Drama (holds back of hand to forehead, rolls eyes upward, swoons slightly) because they aren’t in the business of car flipping, they are in the entertainment business — they could easily give away each car at the end of the episode and still pay the bills. Regardless, each episode starts with Mike Brewer buying a car from some bloke, Edd fixes it up (with the help of few occasionally on camera lackeys), and finally they sell it to a new owner for a small profit — here is your opportunity to be that new owner. Find this 1962 Volvo PV544 Sport from Wheeler Dealers offered for $14,500 in Huntington Beach, CA via craigslist.
Wheeler Dealers airs on Wednesdays at 9pm (8pm central) on the Velocity channel, which is an automotive focused channel (aimed at the “upscale male“) that was spun off from the Discovery Channel. The show is now in it’s 12th series (or perhaps 13th…) and the boys now use a garage in Huntington Beach, CA for their US based projects (saving the time/expense of a cross Atlantic trip). This means that if you want to be the guy who shows up in the last 5 minutes of the episode and cautiously looks over the car while Mike breaks the 4th wall, and finally haggles for price — it is easy as showing up with cash and smiling as Mike says “hold out your hand, you’ve just bought a Volvo PV544!”
To be perfectly honest, I’ve seen many of the episodes (and they aren’t paying me to say this), but I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a car from the wheeler dealers — particularly because they are in it for the entertainment value instead of the last dollar, but most of all they have a valued reputation for doing a reasonably decent restoration. Do they keep calm and carry on from time to time with a can of spray paint — sure, but they are honest about it and have done enough of these light restorations to do a good job.
The car looks great in the pictures, but the seller “Gregg” (who is likely a show producer…which in Hollywood is code word for anybody who doesn’t have a guild job but still needs to get paid) states that the photos seen here are from progress and don’t depict the final product. However, with the recent Edd China restoration (new gaskets, seals, belts, hoses, brakes, bushings, shocks, steering, carpets, sound, rebuilt carbs, re-cored radiator, new exhaust,) this thing looks like a good deal if you ask me.
See a better way to buy a car and get on a TV show? Send it here: tips@dailyturismo.com
I'd buy it in a heartbeat just to hear Mike say 'hold out your hand'. i wouldn't hesitate to buy one from them.
concur – i'd totally buy one of their cars – i would want to be the guy who haggled just a little bit – there's fact they have a reputation to maintain – but also that Edd the mechanic comes across with so much confidence i just refuse to believe is merely scripted – i would think they would really hold resale value too, since you could show the next buyer the video of the work and you making the deal – frankly, i'm surprised these ever make it to getting posted on Craigslist, would figure it's word-of-mouth
Now, instead if this was a 1987 190e 2.3-16 or an e30 m3, I'd be on the first flight out there.
Very nice Volvo. I'd better fire up the DVR to record this episode.
Probably won't be shown here in the States until the fall, given the lag between when they air in the UK and here.
This is a good color and having a black one like it, I would probably take this over mine for the color.
Sanden compressor.
So ancient Volvo, Benz 4.5, or buzz-bomb late Fiat for similar $$$ ?
Me, I lean Benz. I'd lean even further for a 6.3. I'd probably fall over for a 6.3.
Hang on, let me get this straight…I get a sweet Volvo PV544, be on a TV show, and hang out with Mike Brewer?
[img] troll.me/images/shut-up-and-take-my-money/somebody-shut-up-and-take-my-my-money-thumb.jpg[/img]
Truly an all-time iconic car.
Only the pretty, gutsy and lovely 122-S Wagon tickles me more. Have owned literally dozens of these cars. They are engineering marvels! Seriously one of the best cars ever made.
Agreed on the consensus on Mike and Edd. Everything you read about these guys say they are nice people and straight up car guys. Mike owns a fairly large late model used car dealership in the UK.
It gets high ratings for price and service. Good to know.
I hate it when the list the costs of repair and leave out time and labor as if those are not costs. If they make that number then they made a profit, and if more, they made a bonus.
The whole premise of the show is to show that a bloke can buy a cheap, interesting car with needs for cheap, fix it up and then not lose your shirt when you sell it on. Edd isn't portrayed as a professional in a professional garage – he doesn't have a hipster beard, tatts and doesn't yell about manufactured crises and throw things.
Interesting, craigslisting has been deleted by author — anyone here want to fess up to buying this thing? -Vince