On June 19 1938 the movie ”With the people for the motherland ” was shown on the movie theater ”Skandia” in Stockholm. This we can learn from the diary for this Volvo PV51, taken out on a long trip from its hometown Falkenberg. After 84 years of ownership in the same family business, this unique example of Swedish automotive history is up for bidding.
The price was 5 213 Swedish crowns and 60 öre at delivery from the Volvo dealer Erik Dock in Laholm in May 5 1937. The buyer was AB Dan. Lundgrens Läderfabrik, a leather company in the West Coast town of Falkenberg. The same family business owns the car today, but under the name Falk-Läder.
Volvo PV51 was in 1937 a completely new model from the 10 year old Swedish car company Volvo in Gothenburg. It had been presented in December 1936 as the first step for Volvo towards a car for the bigger public. Up until then Volvo had been a quite expensive brand.
PV51 had an in-line 6-cylinder engine, developing 86 horsepower through a 3-speed manual gearbox.
Already the day after the delivery, May 6, the run-in of the new car started with a trip to Jönköping, dutifully noted in the diary. A couple of days later the destination was Uddevalla, Trollhättan and Linköping, now driven by the company chauffeur Simon Hallberg.
The diary continues to tell us about the whereabouts of the PV51 through the decades, with notes about the price of petrol ( 27 öre per liter in 1938), visits to movie theaters and dentists, the Swedish state confiscating the tires during WWII, and a road inspection by the state police in Halmstad in 1957. ”No defects found”. This diary creates an unique and beautiful intimacy with the car.
In 1963 the car was deregistered with just over 20 000 kilometers on the clock, becoming a sleeping beauty for more the 40 years. It woke up in 2004 and the notes in the diary started again.
N 3514, which was the original registration number for the PV51 has never been subject to any major repairs and the black paint is original. A few dents and scratches can be seen, but only adds to the overall authenticity. Under a seat cover, put in place in 1955, the original upholstery from 1937 can be found, and in the trunk lies snow chains in case of driving in tough winter conditions - and why not?
Prior to the net auction on February 24, the PV51 has been given a thorough overhaul and service and can be driven without problems.
Bilweb Auctions estimates the value of the car to between 160 000 and 200 000 SEK and the reservation price is already met.
To the auction
23 FEB 15:45 MATHIAS BJÖRKMAN
Swedish automotive history for sale: untouched 1937 Volvo PV51 with unique documentation
On June 19 1938 the movie ”With the people for the motherland ” was shown on the movie theater ”Skandia” in Stockholm. This we can learn from the diary for this Volvo PV51, taken out on a long trip from its hometown Falkenberg. After 84 years of ownership in the same family business, this unique example of Swedish automotive history is up for bidding.
