This neat little fastback might have a very American shape, ut it's pure Swedish magic. The Volvo PV-series lasted nearly 20 years in production, ith this 1964 PV544 being the most desirable of the bunch. These cars were popular road rally machines and by the time they went out of production in 1965, he company was running ads exhorting owners not to be angry at them for discontinuing it. This cool little coupe has spent a privileged, -owner (current owner purchased it in '68) southern life.The look is vaguely reminiscent of a pre-war Ford, ith the fastback bodywork and slightly pointed hood, nd when the PV debuted in 1947, t was already dated-looking. On the other hand, t was rugged, eliable, nd a heck of a lot of fun to drive despite its staid appearance. Today, hat appearance is one of the things that make these cars so endearing, nd the simplicity of the look works quite well. Basic black suits the PV just fine, iving it a low-key look that was just right for the times and looks great today. It was repainted in the 1980s, nd it's still shiny and bright with light signs of use and some orange peel that could be largely erased with a professional cut and buff. The stainless and gold anodized trim looks great, ressing the car up a bit and adding contrast where it's most useful: above the wheel openings and along the beltline. Nobody will argue that this isn't a handsome little car.The bright tan interior was new when the car was painted (original interior was red) and it looks fantastic. Sure, here's some Swedish funkiness, ncluding the trapezoidal horn ring, ut other parts are clearly influenced by American tastes: the ribbon-style speedometer, right chrome trim, nd a 4-speed shifter on the floor. The steering wheel has been wrapped in leather, hile the seats offer perforated vinyl, favorite of European automakers for decades and famous for durability and comfort. It's a Volvo, o of course you get seat belts, hich were cutting-edge in 1964, nd everything is quite sensibly laid out. There's an AM radio in the center of the dash and the dark gray carpets offer a great contrast to the bright tan upholstery. There's reasonable space in the back seat and the trunk is well-shaped with a full-sized spare and a rubber mat.The PV was constantly upgraded during its production run, nd in 1962, t received the new 1.8 liter four-cylinder engine. This one is fitted with dual carburetors, hich is how most American versions were built, nd it's a great runner. The engine was rebuilt in the 1980s when the entire car was restored, ut it's been driven sparingly since then, o it doesn't have any bad habits. It starts easily and as its rally history will attest, t's plenty peppy around town. 1962 also saw the electrical system upgraded to 12 volts, nd there's a brand new battery up on top of the engine bay. The big circular housing on the driver's side is the heater fan and core, nd you have to appreciate the look of the twin side-draft carburetors. It's backed by a 4-speed manual transmission and a live axle rear end, nd you'll note that the drive shaft actually runs inside the floor, o the undercarriage is pretty tidy. A single exhaust system gives it a snarky exhaust note and it sits on relatively fat 205/70/15 whitewall radials and original steel wheels.An unusual car with a great history, his neat little Volvo is every bit as fun to drive as you'd expect. If you're a fan of the unusual, his is a great place to start your collection. Call today!