Volvo produced the PV444/544 from 1944 through 1966 though series production did not begin until 1947. This was the company's first unit body car and the first Volvo in nearly 2 decades to be fitted with a four-cylinder engine.
The 1959 Volvo PV544 was given many updates including a larger, one-piece windshield replacing the prior year's split-window example. The new window was slimmer and slightly curved. In the back, the windows became wider and deeper. The tail lamps also became larger. In the front, the rectangular grille opening had a tight crosshatch pattern. Power was from an overhead-valve four-cylinder engine displacing 97 cubic inches and offering 85 horsepower. They had a four-speed manual gearbox with an optional 3-speed unit available.
The Volvo PV544 was given more powerful brakes which used lower pedal pressure, a hand brake lever located between the seats, new turn signals and a new steering system, and a new nozzle for the windshield washer. Safety belt attachments could now be found in the rear seat, along with new color and upholstery combinations.
During the 1950s and early 1960s, the Swedish marque earned an impressive resume at rallies around the world, where many Volvo PV544 two-door fastbacks dominated the scene. Renowned racers, including Gunnar Andersson, Art Riley, Bill Rutan, Jo Bonnier, and Tom Trana, owned and regularly competed (often winning) in the European Rally Championship, the Argentine road races, the East African Safari Rally, the Acropolis Rally, and other difficult events.
by Dan Vaughan