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Volvo PV 444 - Hump with long-term effect

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Created on April 11, 2018

Reading time 10min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

Volvo / Werk

Volvo Car Group / Werk

Volvo Car Group Gothenburg

Werk

Archiv

Bruno von Rotz

Volvo / Werk

Volvo Car Group / Werk

Volvo Car Group Gothenburg

Werk

Archiv

118 1

Volvo PV 444 (1956) - die Karosserie zeigt amerikanische Züge

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - fast der schwedische "Volkswagen"

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - wegen dem rundlichen Heck nennt man ihn "Buckel-Volvo"

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - hoch und schmal, wie man damals Autos halt baute

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - ein später gebauter PV 444

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - ein Muster an Übersichtlichkeit ist der Volvo nicht

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - die Motorhaube öffnet nach vorne

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - stabile Konstruktion, aber nichts für niedrige Garagen

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - der Reihenvierzylindermotor war eine damals moderne Konstruktion

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - je nach Vergaserbestückung und Verdichtung liess der Motor vergleichweise hohe Leistungen zu

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - ursprünglich wurden amerikanische Vergaser verwendet, später britische

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - Blick auf den Vergaser

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - auch die amerikanische Elektrik wurde gegen deutsche Komponenten ausgetauscht

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - unverkleidete Elektrik

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - angenehmer Fahrerarbeitsplatz

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - das Cockpit der zweiten Generation

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - komplett instrumentiert

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - Lenkradkranz aus Kunststoff

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - geknickte Frontscheibe

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - Volvo-Schriftzug in der Lenkradnabe

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - Heizungs- und Belüftungsanlage

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - Öldruck-Anzeige und Ampére-Meter

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - Temperatur- und Benzinstands-Anzeige

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - riesiger Schalthebel

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - Türgriff und Fensterkurbel

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - Sitzpolster mit Stoffbezug

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - die Front änderte sich in zwei Jahrzehnten Bauzeit kaum

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - auch diese Kühlerfigur wurde vom "Jet Age" beeinflusst

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - symbolisiert die Möwe, das Markenzeichen von Volvo

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - Motorhaube mit Kühlerfigur

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - Volvo-Schriftzug auf dem Bug

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - der Volvo-Schriftzug auf der Front

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - Raddeckel hatten nur die nobleren Versionen

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - seitliche Verzierung

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - eindeutig beschriftet

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - elegant integrierte Blinker

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - elegant geformter Auspuff

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Volvo PV 444 (1944) - in dieser Tennishalle wurde er einst vorgestellt

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Volvo PV 444 (1944) - der Prototyp bei der Vorstellung

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Volvo PV 444 (1944) - der Prototyp zusammen mit einem Vorgänger (PV 4)

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Volvo PV 444 (1946) - das Reserverad sitzt in einem eigenen Abteil

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Volvo PV 444 (1947) - mit Brezel-Fenster hinten

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Volvo PV 444 (1944) - charmante Präsentation

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Volvo PV 444 (1945) - die selbsttragende Karosserie

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Volvo PV 444 (1946) - frühe Produktionsexemplare

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Volvo PV 444 (1947) - die Serienfertigung

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Volvo PV 444 (1947) - bei der Bemalung in der Lundby Fabrik

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Volvo PV 444 (1947) - die ersten ausgelieferten Fahrzeuge

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Volvo PV 444 (1946) - hoch bauender Motor

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Volvo PV 444 (1946) - noch mit dem zentral angeordneten Tacho und Blumenvase

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Volvo PV 444 (1952) - kleine Änderungen an der Karosserie

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Volvo PV 444 (1946) - Promotionsmaterial

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - auch für den Golfspieler

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Volvo PV 444 (1952) - mit dem berühmten "Kuckuck" auf dem Dach - integrierte Blinkeinheit

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Volvo PV 444 (1948) - zentral angeordneter Tacho

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Volvo PV 444 (1947) - das Armaturenbrett der ersten Ausführung

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Volvo PV 444 (1953) - die Deluxe-Variante, kurz DS

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Volvo PV 444 (1957) - bereits mit dem eleganteren Kühlergrill und dem "V"

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Volvo PV 444 (1957) - L_Version, also luxuriös

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Volvo PV 444 (1957) - L-Version, 60-PS-Motor mit Direktölfilter

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Volvo PV 444 (1952) - Transport der Karosserien von einem Werk ins andere

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Volvo PV 444 (1958) - Prospektillustration

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Volvo PV 544 (1961) - gerne mit sportlichen Leuten präsentiert

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Volvo PV 444 (1953) - genug Platz für Gepäck in der Deluxe-Variante

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Volvo PV 444 (1954) - auf dem Fliessband

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Volvo PV 444 (1954) - Platz für die ganze Familie

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Volvo PV 444 (1954) - zusammen mit einem Borgwart

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Volvo PV 544 (1959) - die durchgehende Frontscheibe enttarnt ihn als Nachfolger des PV 444

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - in den USA sehr beliebt

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - nun mit Gitterkühlergrill als KS-Modell

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Volvo PV 444 (1956) - sportliche Variante

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Volvo PV 444 (1957) - attraktiv präsentiert für die Prospektaufnahmen

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Volvo PV 444 (1957) - elegant in jeder Beziehung

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Volvo PV 444 (1957) - Luxusvariante für die USA

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Volvo PV444 (1956) - das perfekte Strand-Mobil?

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Volvo PV 444 (1958) - als Sportvariante mit 85 SAE-PS

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Volvo PV 444 (1957) - erstmals mit Sicherheitsgurt

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Volvo PV 444 (1957) - Export in ansehnlichen Stückzahlen in die USA

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Volvo PV 444 (1957) - Verschiffung für den Überseeexport

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Volvo PV 444 (1957) - Fliessband-Produktion

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Volvo PV 544 (1959) - für Rosenkavaliere

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Volvo PV 544 (1959) - Lenkrad und Armaturenbrett wie im Amazon

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Volvo PV 544 (1960) - im Profil kaum vom Vorgänger zu unterscheiden

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Volvo PV 544 (1961) - bequemes Einstiegen dank hohem Fahrzeug

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Volvo PV 544 (1961) - erfolgreich wie eh und je

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Volvo PV 544 (1961) - Ersatzrad nun stehend (Kurztest)

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Volvo PV 444 (1953) - frühe Version in sportlicher Ausprägung

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Volvo PV 544 (1961) - modernere Rückleuchten (Kurztest)

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Volvo PV 544 (1961) - mit Sicherheitsgurten an Bord (Kurztest)

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Volvo PV 544 (1961) - mit zwei Vergasern (Kurztest)

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Volvo PV 544 (1961) - trotz älterer Konstruktion im Markt erfolgreich

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Volvo PV 544 (1961) - wirkt damals wie heute sympathisch

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Volvo PV 544 (1962) - Seitenansicht, rechts

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Volvo PV 544 (1965) - die Brüder Singh siegen bei der East African Safari

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Volvo PV 544 Duett (1960) - Kombi auf PV 544 Basis

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Summary

The Volvo PV 444 was the first newly designed post-war vehicle in Europe. It was presented as early as 1944, but was not built in large numbers until 1947, although it was successful and, together with its successor, remained so for around 20 years. The "humpback Volvo" was even convincing in racing, and on the road anyway. This report describes the history of the Volvo PV 444 and shows it in current and many historical pictures, as well as in half a dozen sales brochures.

This article contains the following chapters

On proven but new paths
No shortcuts
Production obstacles
Off to export
Continuous improvements
With a sports engine
Success story
Sporting successes
At the wheel of an icon
Further information

Estimated reading time: 10min

Preview (beginning of the article)

It was presented in the royal tennis halls in September 1944, the first new Volvo after the war and at the same time the first post-war redesign in Europe. It was black and, with a price of 4800 Swedish kronor, even reasonably affordable, without wanting to be a veritable Volkswagen. The Automobil Revue was one of the first magazines in this country to report on the new arrival in January 1945: "It was designed from scratch as a four-seater with a total weight of around 900 kg. Its four-cylinder engine has a displacement of 1.4 liters and produces 42 hp. The three-speed gearbox is equipped with two synchronized gears. The frame and body are largely welded. An aerodynamically favorable design was chosen for the exterior. The ground clearance is relatively high."

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