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HISTORY
The
444/544 Volvo's were the last cars to carry the PV tag and as
these models were the first Volvo's built in any numbers they
are now referred to as the PV models. ( the designation PV,
personvagn actually goes back to 1927 and many different PV
models were built along with OV's, TR's and LV's).
1964 Tom Trana
European Rally Champion |
1965 Singh's East African Safari winner |
1965 Singh's |
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While
the earlier cars were built in runs of a few hundred to a couple
of thousand the PV 444/544's production came to over 530,000
between 1944 and 1969. This was Volvo's first small car and
subject to a lot of development including proposals for front
wheel drive, a X8 two stroke motor behind the rear seat and in
front of the rear axle, fully independent suspension etc. What
appeared in 1944 was a well thought out but conservative little
car with a 1414cc overhead valve engine, 3 speed gearbox and a
well located live rear axle. The body was one piece while the
Duett (van, station wagon ,pickup and basis of some
convertibles) had a separate chassis, the wheelbase of 2.6m was
to be carried over to the Amazon and the 144. A sign of things
to come was the two piece laminated windscreen. Production
started in 1947 and soon lots of small changes where made, power
was increased from 40hp to 44hp then 70hp for the USA market,
this was Volvo's first major export model and Americans loved
it. The 70hp motor and suspension found its way into the P1900
sports car. A one piece rear window and larger front glass came
in 56, In 57 the motor became a 1600 of 60hp or 85hp using twin
SU's, again mainly for the Americans. PV444 styling changes were
minor, just the bumpers and grill and for some reason the rear
lights were constantly moved around, one year the indicators
were mounted on the roof! This was called the cuckcuck which
probably says it all.
In
1958 a one piece curved front windscreen, a bigger (but still
small ) rear screen and an interior similar to the Amazon were
added to make the PV544, a four speed gearbox as well as
overdrive became optional. In 1961 a new motor, the B18 (1800cc)
was fitted which also powered the P1800, the Amazon and later
the 144, power was up to 75 or 90 hp but still with drum brakes,
discs were homologated for competition purposes but never fitted
to production cars. The saloons stopped production in 1965 while
the Duett continued on to 1969. No right hand drive cars where
made which is a little surprising considering the Swedes drove
on the same side of the road as we do until 1967, apparently
they expected to swap over "any minute" from the
1920's.
440,000
saloons were built and as they were well constructed with decent
steel lots survive, only a few made it to New Zealand however
including a 1957 444 which was imported new. We know of six at
the moment but only one actually goes.
COMPETITION
In
the USA, where small cars had no factory support, the PV was a
winner from day one, the first 1414ce car imported was
successfully raced and dominated the under 1500cc production
sedan class. The PV444 was not just the fastest little sedan
around but could compete on equal terms with Alfa Guilietta
Sprints, MGA's and Porsche 1500 speedsters. Following this
racing success Volvo sold 11,000 in the first year on the west
coast alone. In 1957 444's filled the first five places in the
Sports Car Club of America's endurance race at Lime Rock. They
won in 58 and again in 61.
In
Europe Volvo's track record would be brief but the cars'
toughness made it a natural for rallying, the B14 brought class
wins including the team prize in the 56 Marathon de la Route, a
road race through Europe including the mountains of France and
Italy as well as Yugoslavia. The pace required was such that if
a car needed servicing it ran out of time, the event was so
tough that the team prize was rarely awarded. One Volvo came in
8th beaten by the likes of Mercedes Benz 300SL's.
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1958 Swedish motor magazine with former motorcycle rider
Basse Hvem in front of a Volvo PV Sport B16.
(Courtesy Tage Johansson)
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Swedish
driver Tom Trana (R) and co-driver Gunnar Thermaenius
after winning the Acropolis rally 1964 on the front page
of Motorsport magazine.
(Courtesy Tage Johansson)
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With
the arrival of the B16 the 444 began winning major rallies
outright. Gunnar Andersson got involved at this point, first as
a privateer then with factory backing, in 1958 he won the
European Championship and with a change of senior management in
the company he was put in charge of the competitions department.
The 544 was used in 59, one of the team was the most glamorous
rally driver ever, Ewy Rosqvist who picked up the ladies
championship that year. The next few years saw the works cars,
sometimes 544's sometimes Amazon's at or near the top of
European rallying. The 544 winning among others, the Acropolis
and the RAC back to back in 63/64, Tom Trana used one to win the
64 Championship.
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Nürnburgring
Six Hours 1963.
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Right:
carnage just after the start of the 2.0 litre class,
Volvos everywhere, left on the photo the winners
Neerpasch and Skogh's 122S Amazon |
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During
62 and 63 Volvo strongly supported racing and the PV dominated
touring car and endurance events such as the 6 and 12 hours at
the Nurburgring in both the 1600 and 2 litre classes.
Success
in motor sport created demand for similar performance on the
road. Attracting private racing and rally drivers was the task
of local importers and wasn't controlled from Gothenburg.
Team Volvo 64
Acropolis Rally |
Carburettor
set
Solex type 45 |
2 Litre 170hp
set |
2.2 Litre 180hp
set |
In
1965 the 544 went out of production and the factory stopped
rallying it, the car was still competitive with a suspension
system better than most and 4 wheel discs homologated in 61
along with 130hp at the rear wheels from the twin Weber B18 but
Volvo obviously didn't need publicity. However the PV retired
with a florish, the works cars sent to Kenya in 64 had crashed
and one was sold to Joginder & Jaswant Singh who rebuilt the
car and led the 65 East African Safari from start to finish, the
PV's most famous victory. Today the PV is a popular car for
classic racing and rallying in Europe and America.
USA 1964 |
Netherlands |
Australia |
Sweden - Customised |
DRIVING
IMPRESSIONS
Its
a fun car, the handling is neutral with the engine set back
further in the chassis than more modern vehicles. Power is more
than enough in 100kph NZ conditions and more than the drum
brakes can really handle, I've seen 150kph and it felt the same
as 100kph. Good aerodynamics means the rear window always stays
clean but stability in side winds is poor. The seats and rear
vision are appalling while there is a surprising amount of room
in the back seat and boot. Maintenance is quite simple and for a
car that was never sold closer than California you can get a
surprising number of parts locally while Volvo only stopped
making panels in 1995. Driving this car makes you want to smile
and everyone smiles back at you.
SUCCESS IN RALLYING and RACES
1957 - first, Rally of
Sweden, T.Jansson, PV444
1957 - first, Midnight Sun Rally, T.Jansson, PV444
1957 - first and second, Viking Rally, Sweden, Grondal /
Bernsten, PV544
1957 - first 5 places in Little Le Mans at Lime Rock,
Connecticut, Art Riley / Bill Rutan, PV444
1958 - first, Rally of Sweden, G.Andersson, PV444
1958 - class win, Daily Express Silverstone, Jo Bonnier, PV544
1958 - first, Little Le Mans at Lime Rock, Connecticut, Art
Riley / Bill Rutan, PV444
1958 - first, Midnight Sun Rally, G.Andersson, PV444
1958 - third, Acropolis Rally, G.Andersson, PV444
1958 - second, 1000 Lakes Finland, Nils Carlsson / Gunnar
Carlsson PV444
1958 - third, 1000 Lakes Finland, Hans Ingier / Bjorn Gundersen
PV444
1958 - first, European Rally Championship, G.Andersson, PV444
1959 - first and second, 1000 Lakes Finland, G.Calbo /
V.Nurminaa, PV544
1959 - first, Rally of Norway, Hans Ingier, PV444
1959 - first, European Ladies Rally Championship, Ewy
Rosqvist, PV544
1960 - first, Rally of Sweden, G.Andersson / Lohmander, PV544
1960 - first, Argentine Road Race, G.Andersson, PV544
1960 - first, German Rally, G.Andersson, PV544
1960 - first, Rally of Norway, Hans Ingier, PV444
1961 - second, Acropolis Rally, G.Andersson / Lohmander, PV544
1961 - first, Little Le Mans at Lime Rock, Connecticut, Art
Riley / Bill Rutan, PV444
1963 - second, 1000 Lakes Finland, T.Trana / G.Andersson, PV544
1963 - first, RAC Rally, T.Trana / S.Lindstrom, PV544
1963 - second class, Nurburging, Eng. Herrrmuth / D.Wilhelm
PV544
1964 - first, RAC Rally, T.Trana / G.Thamaenius, PV544
1964 - second, 1000 Lakes Finland, T.Trana / G.Thamaenius, PV544
1964 - first, Acropolis Rally, T.Trana / G.Thamaenius, PV544
1964 - first, Rally of Sweden, T.Trana / G.Thamaenius, PV544
1964 - first, European Rally Championship, T.Trana, PV544
1965 - first, Rally of Sweden, T.Trana / G.Thamaenius, PV544
1965 - first, East African Safari Rally, J.Singh / J.Singh,
PV544
Hans-Peter
Rombouts
Email:
elmwood@clear.net.nz
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