Description
The distinctive Volvo PV544 was introduced in 1958 as a development of the outgoing PV444, and soon gained a reputation for being a ruggedly reliable choice of long-distance rally car.
The Swedish marque set up its competition department in 1959, and the following year Gunnar Andersson won the 4620km Gran Premio Internacional in Argentina. The PV544’s most famous victory, however, came in 1965, when Joginder Singh and his brother Jaswant dominated the gruelling Kenyan Safari Rally.
With such an impressive pedigree, it’s little wonder that the Volvo PV544 has become a popular choice for historic rallying – and the car being offered for sale here is particularly well known thanks to a successful competition career spanning more than 20 years.
‘GAS 685’ was acquired in 2002 by the current owners, who set about converting the PV544 into a rally car, and its debut came on the 2003 Regis Rally.
Since then, the car has enjoyed huge success, and in addition to numerous class wins, it took overall victory on the 2008 Tour Britannia. The Volvo has also done several Rally of the Tests, Le Jog, and an event in Iceland – as well as having regular outings on HRCR championship events and many 12-car rallies.
Along the way, ‘GAS 685’ has proved itself to be immensely reliable and has acted as a testbed for many engine and chassis upgrades. The original B16 engine, for example, has been replaced with a later high-compression B18 unit. Running on twin SU carburettors and with a high-lift camshaft that was made specially for the car, it will rev to 7000rpm, but its impressive torque band means that it’s tractable from 2000rpm.
The suspension has been uprated with road rally springs fitted and now features Bilstein dampers all round, with a twin-damper front conversion that gets deals with the infamous ‘PV bob’. The front end of the car now working in combination with a 4. 56:1 final drive ratio and Quaife ATB limited-slip differential gives this car impressively direct ‘point and shoot’ handing.
The usual rally upgrades are all well done; Under body protection is installed, a rear roll cage, safety harnesses and co-driver equipment such as trip meters, timers and map lights.
The full specification though is almost too long to list, but all steps have been measured and thought through to develop a car that has proved to be more than capable in the classic rally world.
Now being offered for sale, this celebrated Volvo PV544 is an extremely competitive, well prepared historic rally car, which has proven itself at the highest level after being built, maintained and campaigned by passionate marque experts.
The car is currently with Rally Preparation Services sister Company, the RPS storage facility and available for inspection. All viewings and test drives welcomed through direct contact with Rally Preparation Services.
All viewings and test drives welcomed by appointment at Rally Preparation Services.
All enquiries please contact us on using the button below or telephone +44(0)the details below
