1961 Volvo PV544 Original Rust-Free California Car, Runs Excellent!
1961 Volvo 544
Up for auction is this charming and spirited ‘61 Volvo 544. Original California/Arizona/California car that currently enjoys celebrity in a small southern California town. It’s common to find people of all ages taking pics with it or give a thumbs up as this head-turning classic Volvo goes by.Excellent running condition and excellent body – straight and rust-free. Drive and enjoy NOW as you fix it up, or use it as the solid foundation for a full restoration. Please see photos of the trunk, spare tire well, battery box, under rear seat, and under car that show what a wonderful survivor this car is!
- Rust-free and straight but with scrape – see driver’s side rear fender
- 2 liter 4 cylinder engine (converted to 12 volt) with 2 barrel Weber carb and four speed manual transmission
- Factory red color - see photo of cowl tag/data plate
- Recent new battery (Die Hard)
- Recent new fuel pump, filters and hoses, new sending unit, and boiled out fuel tank
- New brake light switch, brakes were bled
- New amber front signal light lenses. Signals do not currently work. Troubleshooting this problem – ask for update
- Recent new oil and oil filter
- Includes original owner’s manual and other glovebox documentation
The interior is a great and presentable combination of a) newer upgrades such as the door panels and cloth/vinyl seats (very comfortable and in excellent condition) and b) original but worn parts (see driver’s side rubber mating).
As you can see the car retains a great deal of originality. But the paint is sun damaged on the roof (see photo) and less so on other horizontal surfaces. The paint on the vertical surfaces is in much better condition and can be rubbed out to an excellent shine. I have done some of this work already (see photos).
Otherwise, the radio, and speedometer don’t work, the antenna is broken, and there are two chips in the windshield. It will need new rubber seals for the hood, doors, and trunk and the bumpers could use straightening and re-chroming. There is a scrape on the driver’s side rear fender.
There is a dent in the hood (see photo). People ask if it was caused by a bullet. But as the owner before me tells it, a ladder hit the hood when the car was garaged in Arizona (unfortunately this occurred after he bought the car and before he picked it up). But feel free to invent your own cops and robbers story. J
HISTORY – CALIFORNIA, RIGHT BACK WHERE IT STARTED FROM:
The car was sold new to an older gentleman in Walnut Creek California. After some time, he stopped driving it but kept it in the garage. After his death, his family continued to store the car and all told it may have been parked for 20 years. Eventually, a man from Tucson Arizona (a wooden boat restorer/builder) who had noticed the car during trips to California, bought the car and took it home to Arizona.
When the man from Tucson Arizona gave this 544 wings to fly, my friend who was working in Phoenix, saw the ad and had to have it. Eventually he drove the car back to California where the car resides today (but didn’t re-register it – which explains the Arizona plates). The yellow California plate in some photos was only to demonstrate how "Year of Manufacture" plates would look.
THIS IS A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY to drive and enjoy a classic Volvo and carry on a tradition of stewardship that began 55 years ago ...
Please contact me before bidding if you have no or negative bid history.
- Condition: Used
- Make: Volvo
- Model: 544
- Type: Coupe
- Year: 1961
- Mileage: 999,999
- Color: Red
- Engine size: 4 cylinder
- Number of cylinders: 4
- Fuel: Gasoline
- Transmission: Manual
- Drive type: RWD
- Interior color: Gray
- Vehicle Title: Clear Want to buy? Contact seller!
