1953 Volvo PV444

Personvagen Coupe

4 - Cyl.

Manual

55700

Gasoline

1953 Volvo PV444 Rare in the US B20 - M41 drivertrain California ownership Up for bids is this rare Volvo 444 "Person Vagen".  Volvo didn't officially start importing cars into the US until 1956, this PV444 is a home market car with instrumentation in Swedish.  The car was brought into the US in the 60's and has had long term California ownership since.  The drivetrain of this car has been upgraded from the 40hp 1400 motor to the powerful and bulletproof combination of a B20 engine with a M41 overdrive transmission.  Not only does this combo make the car eminently usable, but really makes this lightweight PV scoot.  Click to enlarge any of the photos below, a link to a slideshow of all the enlarged images is available to view at the bottom of the page. As you can see in the photos, the car presents very well for its age.  An older restoration, the paint is of driver quality, it looks sharp running down the road but is not quite ready for the lawn at Pebble Beach.  Expect to find some small flaws here and there, as well as a slight mismatch of color at the passenger side door.  The paint application itself was good, you'll find no overspray, crazing, or fisheye.  The driver's side rear fender shows a little orange peel otherwise the rest of the paintwork is smooth and flat to the touch.  The chrome and all trim on the car is in good, driver quality condition.  Panel gaps are good throughout and the car exhibits no rust issues anywhere.  No blistering, no bubbling, no problems. Looking at the 4 photos below you can see how this paint color appears to change under different lighting conditions.  Most times it's actually closer to the pale blue of photos 3 and 4, than the gray of photos 1 and 2.  It definitely tricked my camera, I shoot with a NIkon D2x which has super accurate color rendering.  But it's true, this color really does seem to change dramatically under different light. All of the glass in the car are original Sunex pieces, all in good shape.  The windshield has 2 tiny stars, barely noticeable, outside of the field of view.  The windshield gasket is weak, the rear window gaskets appear to have been replaced recently.  All lights and signals on the car operate correctly, including the distinctive side mounted turn signals. The interior is in excellent condtion, having been redone with correct materials.  There's one small mended tear on the passenger seat, otherwise it's like stepping back in time to Stockholm in 1953. Excellent back seat area, door hardware, original sill plates. The headliner is original to the car and in remarkable condition for its age, showing just one area of staining near the back window.  The plate on the sunvisor displays a record of the first owner's name and hometown. All dash components work correctly; heater, fan, wiper, lights, horn, etc. The B20 motor really transforms this car, providing it with a surprising amount of power.  Hills and freeway onramps are no longer a problem for this 444, the car actually bolts off the line.  The M41 gearbox shifts smoothly throughout all gears, and the overdrive makes freeway travel a realistic undertaking.  That said, the ride and decibel level is going to be a little different than what you're used to in your Lexus, but the point is that this Volvo is ready for the road.  The motor pulls strongly with no smoke, idles well and really doesn't leak a drop.  It starts readily right off the key but does like to warm up a bit before getting underway when cold.  The car tracks straight, brakes well and runs cool. One nice design element of the PV cars is the excellent access to the engine bay. This car has been converted to 12V and features electronic ignition.  The 4th photo below is one I took (quickly) while driving, all gauges are working and show good readings. Clean and dry undercarriage shows no sign of accident history or repair. Click here for a slideshow of all of the enlarged images. About the Reserve Price: The reserve is held in confidence, please just bid at the level that you are comfortable paying.  This auction ends Wednesday, 11-9-11 at at 12 Noon Pacific Time , 2 PM Central , 3 PM Eastern, 7 PM GMT. About Payment: I will contact the winning bidder via email within 3 hours of auction completion.  I would like a $500 deposit (paypal, money order or bank check) within 2 days.  Balance is due (bank check or bank wire transfer only) within 7 calendar days of auction end. The car will be securely garaged until pickup. About this auction: This auction process is a legally binding contract into which you enter when you click "confirm" on your bid.   Please have finances in order before you decide to bid and please ask all questions before you decide to bid.   Basically, please only bid if you are ready to purchase this car.  Car is sold as-is with no warranties express or implied.  License plate is not included unless the winning bidder is an Oregon resident.  Any disputes regarding the sale of this vehicle shall be resolved through binding arbitration exclusively in Multnomah County, Oregon under applicable state laws.  By bidding you agree to these terms. About me: Please check my feedback, I take customer satisfaction very seriously and am a licensed, bonded and insured dealer in the State of Oregon.  I own this car outright and the pictures were taken last week.  You and/or your representative are welcome and encouraged to inspect the car in person before the close of auction. I can be reached at 503-891-7702 between the hours of 9-5.  Previously sold inventory is available to view at www.cascadiaclassic.com Post Auction details: The transport cost is the responsiblity of the winning bidder, although I can certainly help with logistics.  I have a wholesale account with a transport booking service and can help you find a reasonable shipping rate.   Overseas bidders may contact any of these international shippers for a quote: Schumacher Cargo Horizon Auto Services California Shipping Thanks for looking! On Nov-05-11 at 22:48:43 PDT, seller added the following information:Due to the end of Daylight Savings Time, please be advised that this auction ends at 11AM Pacific Time, not 12PM as previously stated in the description. I also wanted to mention that the original owner's manual (in Swedish) is included with the car, as well as a workshop manual.