Description
This car has had the following work done in our ownership, and we have all bills and a spreadsheet to support.
• Bodywork professionally restored by Classic Customs of Alveley, Shropshire, 3 replacement wings fitted, large areas taken back to bare metal, dents removed from the front panel and boot lid, engine bay stripped and detailed, spare wheel well repaired and the car repainted in the correct Volvo Midnattsbla code 31. (Midnight blue). New boot seal and repair to drip rail. Wheels de-rusted and refinished inside and out.
• Floor pans stripped of all old sound deadening and surface rust, before being professionally rust treated and painted. Modern soundproofing fitted with Bilt Hamber rustproofing treatment to all cavities, box-sections and sills.
• New rubber mats, “Volvo” over-mats, gear lever boot and tread plates and oddments basket from VP Autoparts. New strap hangers made by coach trimmer.
• Steering wheel completely restored by Steering Wheel Restorations with new rim and modern resin coating (See: YouTube video!)
• New Old Stock “Trico” vacuum wiper motor from USA fitted
• Replacement Inlet-exhaust manifold from Harry Hermansson in Sweden to replace cracked original.
• Gearbox overhauled with new layshaft, bearings and synchros by Universal Transmissions.
• New handbrake cables and roll bar drop links
• Replacement 6v coil fitted in Bosch housing for original appearance, distributor overhauled, Powerspark electronic ignition kit with silicone leads fitted for better starting and smoother running.
• Stop/ tail/ side lamp and headlamp bulbs all replaced with LEDs. New Lucas pre-focus headlamps and new rear lamp lenses fitted.
• Replacement Weber downdraught carburettor kit from Scandix fitted, due to wear on original Zenith unit and lack of available parts. Original carburettor, air cleaner and fittings are with the car.
• Replacement of chrome work where available with new/ remanufactured items, including swallow bonnet mascots, hubcap etc. New number plates by Tipper’s of Cornwall.
• Front brake linings upgraded to modern BRN Kevlar compound by Saftek, to improve braking in modern traffic.
• By Previous owner: New stainless steel bumpers, headlining, starter motor, dynamo and a full brake overhaul with copper pipework, new wheel cylinders and master cylinder, 5 new Nankang radial tyres.
To Do List: An honest appraisal of what still needs doing:
• Temperature gauge requires fixing
• 1 Heater control cable needs to be fitted, and heater checked over (we only use the car for shows and club events in summer)
• A small area of rust has appeared on the outside of the spare wheel well (which has been rebuilt once) it is not large, or visible from the inside
This car is a rare sight in the UK, and attracts interest and photographs wherever she goes. You are unlikely to meet another. Although there are some PV544s in the UK we believe there are only six 444s. With the “Gangsterkap” sun visor and 40’s looks, it has presence. Driving is as you would expect from a 1956 car, with 3 speed gearbox and unsynchronised straight-cut first gear, drum brakes, LHD and vacuum wipers. Once you have mastered its ways, it rides extremely well, and will cruise all day long on A and B roads at 45-50 MPH, and we have driven it to the NEC, Fleetwood and Stratford to prove it. Motorways are best avoided. It shows good oil pressure and runs sweetly. Parts are available from Brookhouse, and directly from VP Autoparts in Sweden and Scandix in Germany
