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Volvo PV 544 C Sport B18 — 1961

Restored PV Sport in a rare green color. Only two owners since new. Updated with a limited-slip differential, mildly tuned engine, sport gauges, and U.S.-style bumpers.

Mathias Casserlund
Besiktningsman
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Rebecca R Bengtsson
Case manager
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"During the test drive, we noticed that the ignition needs a slight adjustment. Otherwise, it ran very well on the road, and you can feel the engine’s strong power. It has been thoroughly rebuilt to withstand regular use."

Bidding starts 30:th of May
LOT NUMBER
LOCATION
18026
ARVIKA
ESTIMATED VALUE
RESERVE PRICE
200 - 220 000 SEK
Not reached
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Mathias Casserlund
Inspector
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Rebecca R Bengtsson
Case manager
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"During the test drive, we noticed that the ignition needs a slight adjustment. Otherwise, it ran very well on the road, and you can feel the engine’s strong power. It has been thoroughly rebuilt to withstand regular use."

Description

This PV Sport has a fascinating history that speaks to human determination and the spirit of never giving up on one’s dreams.

The car was purchased new from Volvo dealer AB Gunnar Gustavsson in Arvika. The buyer was engineer Rune Persson, who took delivery on February 3, 1962. We conclude that he was very satisfied with his sporty car, as he kept it until 1989 when it passed to his daughter.

In 1991, a truck driver named Egon bought the car. His dream was to fully restore the PV Sport. He began collecting new parts and storing them on shelves. As always, time flew by. Busy running his business, Egon planned to restore the car after retirement. But even in retirement, his time remained limited. Then came the news: his time was limited. Egon was diagnosed with cancer and underwent tough medical treatment. Instead of giving up, he resolved to finish the car. He worked persistently, letting his daily condition dictate how many hours he could spend in the garage. Egon passed away in 2024, having fulfilled his goal of a fully restored and roadworthy PV Sport. It is an impressive achievement considering the challenges posed by his health.

Egon’s philosophy was that it didn’t matter if the car showed signs of a previous life—he intentionally left a small dent on the driver’s door near the window and reused the original grille surround as a tribute to the car’s history.

The family has now decided to part with the PV Sport, believing it has fulfilled its purpose and hoping a new enthusiast will take over the care of the car.

About the restoration:
The dual carburetors need synchronization and the ignition requires adjustment. The doors could also benefit from some fine-tuning, which Egon was unable to complete before his passing. The original interior code specifies nougat-beige upholstery, but Egon found that dull and instead installed black upholstery from 1965.

The PV has been completely disassembled, rust-repaired, and fully painted. The restoration was extensive and well-documented, with photos included. The car was roadworthy and inspected in 2019, with ongoing improvements until a couple of years ago.

The interior is all new, including upholstery, side panels, carpets, trunk lining, headliner—everything. The engine was fully rebuilt with new pistons, bearings, water pump, oil pump, steel gears, etc. It is mildly tuned, though the exact modifications are unknown—likely a ported head, larger valves, and a changed camshaft (original head included separately). The SU carburetors have been rebuilt. The engine is the original B18 sport motor delivered with the car in 1962, verified against the delivery certificate.

A limited-slip differential is fitted on the rear axle with original gearing. Disc brakes at the front. An electric fuel pump is mounted underneath the rear of the car. Most replaceable parts are new: spindles, wheel bearings, brakes, rubber seals, emblems, indicators, tail lights, U.S. bumpers, parking lights, control arms, wiring looms, and steering rack seals. New VDO gauges and a Grant steering wheel have been installed. The original steering wheel and instruments are included separately—see photos.

Regarding the odometer: The original speedometer shows 60,945 km, which matches the accompanying inspection report (likely 160,945 km). During restoration, a new VDO speedometer was installed, showing 51,200 km—reflecting the distance driven after restoration.

The car comes with a folder containing receipts, older inspection reports, the owner’s manual, delivery certificate, and warranty booklet.

Technical data

  • Year
    1961/1961 
  • Registration date
    1962-02-09 
  • Mileage
    05123 km 
  • Registration Number
    DUA613 
  • Chassis Number
    340108 
  • Kw / hp
    66 / 90 
  • Fuel Type
    Petrol 
  • Transmission
    Manual 
  • Interior finish
    Svart kod 53-511 
  • Colour
    Green 

Condition

  • Mechanical condition:

    Fully rebuilt B18 engine with matching numbers. Four-speed M40 gearbox. Rebuilt carburetors. Alternator, extractor manifold, and larger exhaust system. Rear axle with limited-slip differential and front disc brakes. Carburetors and ignition require adjustment, and the choke control is not connected. See description for more details.

  • Interior condition:

    All upholstery, carpets, headliner, and more were replaced with new items during the restoration. New retractable seat belts were also installed at the same time. The original steering wheel and instruments are included separately.

  • Exterior condition:

    The car was completely disassembled and painted in the cradle. The late owner took pride in doing all the restoration work himself, including painting and prep work, which isn’t flawless but certainly holds up well at car meets. There is a small rust bubble on the lower edge of the hood side and some stone chips, mainly on the right side behind the front fender. The left jack point has a slight dent. The wheels are Barzetta Classic Rally with 195/60-15 tires.

  • General condition:

    Restored PV Sport that has been extensively upgraded and is especially charming with the rare color offered in 1961–62. A few minor deviations from strict originality were made during the restoration.

MOT (tech. insp.)

Fordonsstatus: Itrafik 2019-04-08
Ursprungsbesiktning: 1962-02-09 (typbes)
Datum i trafik första gången: 1962-02-09
Senast godkända besiktning: 2019-04-11
Besiktningsbefriad: Ja
Skattebefriad: Ja
Körförbud: Nej
Antal ägare: 3

Facts about the model

The PV is without a doubt the model that has had the greatest impact on Volvo’s passenger car production. Volvo PV 444 began production in 1947, and the last PV 544 rolled off the assembly line in 1965, with a total of 440,000 units produced.

The first PV Sport arrived in 1958, shortly after the introduction of the PV 544. The more powerful engine, featuring dual carburetors, was initially intended solely for the U.S. market. However, by late 1958, it became clear that it could also be sold domestically in Sweden without increasing U.S. import duties.

The earliest models sold were equipped with the B16B engine producing 85 hp, but in August 1961 this was replaced by the new five-bearing B18 engine. The PV 544 Sport received the B18D engine with 90 hp. In August 1965, the Sport’s power was increased to 95 hp, but only a few months later, Volvo announced that the model would be discontinued by the end of October 1965.

The very last PV produced was a black PV 544 Sport.

Location and viewing Information

Location: Arvika

For viewing the vehicle, contact the inspector/case manager:

Mathias Casserlund

mathias.casserlund@bilwebauctions.se

Pick up

Collection must take place before: 2025-06-19.

NOTE! Payment (deposit to our account) must be made within 5 days and before collection.

Auction information

General information about the condition of the vehicles .
  • At this auction, many vehicles have been included in car collections and have been stored (mothballed) for a long time. For this reason, they are described from a collector's perspective and may need technical reviews and maintenance service - oil, battery replacement, new tires, brake review, etc. - before they can be used. .
  • During the auction days information about a vehicle may be updated up to the day before the auction ends. When you bid at the end of the auction period - and also if you have made an earlier bid - we therefore ask you to read the descriptions carefully, in case something has been changed due to new information.
Important to know before placing your bids!
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