1953 Volvo PV444 ES / 95 Photos and 2 Video Running and Driving -- See Links Below!
Serial#66861
Motor#495301 (B4B)
Paint Code #8 (Wine Red)
Interior and Upholstery Code #93
17599 "ES" models produced. The "ES" model was a bit more deluxe than the standard "E", with some extra brightwork, two sun visors, a brighter interior and other niceties.
Beautiful example of an early PV444, built when Volvo was still a smallish Swedish manufacturer concentrating on their home market. It is in very close to stock condition, right down to small details, including the powertrain, which is the original 44 HP B4B motor. One of the few modifications on this car is the Ansa free-flow muffler, a noteworthy upgrade, though a stock muffler and tail pipe come with the car. The car is an older restoration, featuring a respray on the four fenders, while much of the rest of the exterior paint is believed to be original. The very nice interior has the correct (and rare) red rubber floor mats which Volvo fitted to cars with this upholstery color and pattern. Paint and interior trim match the original codes on the firewall VIN data tag. Interior trim is in really nice shape, including instruments, chrome, badges, lenses, and switch gear – every control works, including both blower motors, and even the radiator blind. The headliner is generally nice, with just a couple of small holes, and is thought to be original (though a new headliner comes with the car -- see EXTRA PATRTS below!).
The odometer reads 23,300 kilometers, certainly “rolled over”, and no honest representation can be made as to correct total mileage.
Much recent work has been done to make this a really good driver, reliable for long distance drives at reasonable speeds, and even suitable for daily use. It was driven last summer for the round trip from Minneapolis to the vintage races at Road America, and used around town there for the weekend – about 700 miles driven out and back with no issues.
The car starts quickly and easily, and it drives, steers and stops really well; very fun to drive! Mechanically sound, with a solid body and floors. The left front fender was replaced by a previous owner, but other panels are believed to be all original to the car. There is some rust bubbling on the trailing edge of the left front fender. A genuine NOS Volvo 444 left front fender is included with the sale (where do you find another one of those?) Left door is solid with little corrosion evident, while right door bottom has some rust visible underneath. Repairs to corrosion on the unibody and floors, done years ago by a previous owner, included replacement panels and a somewhat crude box section steel channel at the rearmost end of the right rear chassis outrigger – not pretty, but it works ( please see all photos!) The same could be said for all the rust repairs underneath, where the welding was made to be durable and solid, but it lacks much effort at looking tidy. There is thick undercoat protecting most of the chassis surfaces. Wheel wells and wheel arches are solid, with no patches or filler in evidence. The trunk floor is solid, including the tool well at the rear edge near the opening (which is a notorious rust spot on these cars). There is evident filler in the lower valance panel, beneath the rear bumper. The plywood box around the spare tire is factory original, and the original jack and a toolkit (mostly factory originals?) are included. The trunk lid has never been hit, and it fits and shut perfectly (an area susceptible to damage and repair on these cars).
The engine compartment is clean and nicely detailed. It retains an impressive amount of its original detailing, including the hard-to-source correct air cleaner and fuel filter assemblies for the B4B engine, a fully functional pull-chain operated radiator blind for cold winter mornings, and the neat original honeycomb radiator with date coded badge. The original spec Zenith carb, Autolite distributor and coil, Bosch starter and generator, and 6-volt battery are all in place, ensuring that this machine performs very much like Volvo intended it to in 1953.The chrome valve cover (from a later B16 motor) is in fine shape, and the original green painted valve cover comes with the car if anyone prefers that. Brakes are stock US made Wagner-Lockheed, as fitted at the factory.
Repro stainless steel bumpers have been fitted front and rear, and they look great. The rear bumper includes the neat little central brake light that is part of this early model’s vintage charm. The die-cast metal grille parts (different from 544 stamped items) are in nice shape. Other style features that make this car stand out from later 444 and 544 models are the split windows front AND rear, the low horizontal tail lamps and the high mounted turn signals on the B-pillars. Exterior lighting is all “Euro standard” original, with the front parking lights being auxiliary small lamps that glow within the headlamps, which also have a normal high/low bulb.
The early style instrument gauge panel, which aside from being marked in KM/H, is a direct lift from the 1947 Pontiac. It’s true, check it out! A legacy of US car makers and their suppliers once having assembly plants in Sweden! In fact, there were plenty of American parts fitted to early Volvos in Sweden, including the brakes (Warner-Lockheed), the carburetor (Zenith), ignition (Autolite), both dome lights (Guide, ‘39 Chevy) and more. Finding these details makes sourcing old parts fun, and easier than one might expect.
The period accessory fog lamps, front and back, are vintage originals, and they look super on this car. The old Wagner fog lamp on the front bumper works, but has not yet been wired to a switch – all other lighting performs perfectly. The “Port-A-Wall” wide whitewalls enhance the early 50s look to a tee. A 544 looks like almost like a modern car parked next to this early 444!
Work done to this car in the last twenty-four months includes:
Cylinder Head Refurbished, New Valves, Valve Seats
Replaced Heater Blower Motor
New Coil Springs, Front and Rear
New Shock Absorbers, Front and Rear
New Front Sway Bar and Links
All New Hoses and Belts
New Stainless Bumpers, Front and Rear
New Sender Unit for Fuel Tank
New Tail Lamp Lenses
New Motor Mounts and Transmission Mount
New Exhaust, with Italian Ansa Free-Flow Muffler (factory style muffler and tail pipe included in sale)
Rubber Boot around Shift Lever
Radiator Blind Assembly
Cap / Rotor / Plugs / Wires / Points / Condenser
NEW Parts Not Installed, but INCLUDED in SALE:
Genuine Volvo NOS Front Left Fender for PV444
Headliner
Door Arm Rest Covers
Radiator Support Cross Member, (bolt-on part, no weld required)
6-Volt Bosch Generator
Pressure Plate
Front Windshield Rubber/
Window Channels with Fuzzies
Spark Plugs
Steering Gear Bushings
Copper Intake and Exhaust Gaskets
Also included is a Variety of Good Used Spares and a Car Cover!
This car is ready to jump into, fire up, and drive away. It is comfortable, easy to drive, and fun on the road. It is not a show car, but its patina is honest and beautiful, and it displays very impressively in the garage, at a cars-n-coffee, or other casual get togethers. Volvos of this vintage are rarely seen in North America, which makes it a real surprise to see, and an instant crowd gatherer at shows.
The car can easily be hot-rodded with a powerful B18 or B20 motor and other components from later Volvos, and this can be done “guilt free” as it can returned to stock any time.
Please see all 95 photos, including underneath shots, and watch the two videos; They tell the story best:
Questions happily answered quickly and honestly. Owner can be reached directly at 763-350-5687
Car is in Plymouth, Minnesota, 10 minutes from downtown,Minneapolis, and can be inspected by interested parties.
And don’t forget to read...The Fine Print:
GOOD LUCK! This is a NO RESERVE AUCTION. Please bid to the value this vehicle may hold for you. Please feel free to ask questions or add comments. Please ask questions BEFORE you bid. We will respond quickly and honestly. This vehicle is parked indoors in Plymouth, Minnesota 55441, about ten minutes west of downtown Minneapolis. Inspections are invited and encouraged!
CONDITIONS: Winning this auction constitutes a legal and binding agreement between the Buyer and the Seller. Please bid sincerely and sensibly. Zero-feedback bidders must contact us first before bidding to establish some level of seriousness-of-intent: It's nothing personal, just business: We, and many others, have been stung on eBay Motors by too many dead-beat auction winners. If you do not follow through, we will cancel your bid, and possibly block more bids from you.
Vehicle is sold "As-Is and Where-Is". No warranty is expressed, implied or offered. Seller cannot and will not take any responsibility for this car after it leaves the premises.
PAYMENT: Buyer must make a $300 DEPOSIT within 24 hours of the Auction Close. The Deposit will secure the Deal for both Buyer and Seller. Failure to make Deposit within 24 hours will risk Cancellation of the Sale at Discretion of the Seller. BALANCE MUST BE PAID within 7 BUSINESS DAYS of sale by SECURE PAYMENT. Accepting US FUNDS via WIRE TRANSFER,CERTIFIED BANK CHECK, or CASH at PICK-UP. Deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE except under circumstances deemed fair and appropriate by the Seller.
Deposit will be payable to this eBay Seller, through eBay or via PayPal to qallsam@msn.com, and the final balance will be made directly to the Seller (wire transfer preferred, but certified bank check or cash at pick up isalso acceptable)
THIS CAR has a CURRENT REGISTRATION and CLEAR MINNESOTA TITLE in SELLER'S NAME -- no games, no BS title jumping.
TRANSPORT: Buyer is responsible for all transportation arrangements and costs. This vehicle is garaged in Plymouth, Minnesota 55441 about ten minutes west of downtown Minneapolis. We do not offer quotes on shipping. Fast, competitive shipping quotes are a few keystrokes away on eBay and on Google.
STORAGE: While the Auction Winner sorts out pick-up or transport arrangements, Seller can offer, free of charge, dry indoor storage for up to 30 days after auction termination. Longer periods can be arranged at extra cost if necessary. Seller cannot accept any liability during this storage period.
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