1958 Volvo PV444

Description for Volvo PV444 1958

This is a 1958 Volvo PV444. I have owned this car since 2009 and done numerous improvements upon it. It was a California car that is solid, rust-free and I have not driven it in the rain since owning it to keep it that way. It has a new water pump and heater valve. The generator was replaced with an alternator but I will include the working generator with the car if you wish to return to all original. I also updated the fuses to modern fuses but will include the original fuse block if you want that. All gauges work, signal lights, head and tail lights all function correctly, wipers work. The electrical system is 6 volt. The 6 volt system works well so I see no reason to convert to 12. The door seals were all replaced along with the vent window seals, rear window seal and trunk seal. The door window channels and fuzzies were replaced along with the window elevators. The air filters are hand machined aluminum by the late Dave Gard of the now closed SU-filters web-site. They use permanent oiled-foam filters. He also made the screw-on oil filter adapter on this engine. I will include the original canister cover if you prefer to go back to the old style canister filters. This car has a B16B engine with a 3 speed transmission with non-synchro for first gear and reverse. New motor mounts were installed last year. The exhaust system was installed soon after I purchased the car. The speedo cable was broken when I received the car so the mileage is not accurate. The cable has since been replaced and the speedo/odometer now function correctly.
Brakes work well. They are all drum.
The interior upholstery is original and in pretty nice condition.
Now the cons. The car needs a new headliner. The original was removed and I never got around to replacing it, but I did purchase the new headliner. This and the bows, which will come with the car.
The car is currently doing some intermittent bucking at low speeds in lower gears. On the highway, it runs smoothly and seems very happy at 55mph. I suspect it's a carb issue since it seems to run richer after a longer drive.
There are some small cosmetic issues such as some missing fender welt and a ding in the corner of the grill. (This was a replacement grill that had better chrome than the original but came with the ding.) The beautiful banjo steering wheel has cracks in the old composite material. This is to be expected with a car this old.
I am fond of this car and think it has the potential to be a really great car but I have too many other projects going to devote the necessary time to make this car show quality. It's a head turner and gets lots of "thumbs ups" when I take it out for a drive.
I will include the parts previously mentioned along with a correct jack, and a CD of the repair manual that also has exploded views, parts lists and a wealth of other information. I'll also include a reprint of the owner's manual for this car.
Please note that I am also offering a second engine complete with a 4 speed transmission for an extra $250. I do not know the condition of this engine but it turns freely. I had plans of rebuilding this engine and installing it along with the 4 speed into this car but like I said, I have too many other irons in the fire at the moment so I'm selling it all.
Please be ready to buy when you click. A non refundable $500 deposit is due at purchase and final payment within 7 days. Balance is to be paid by a certified bank cashier’s check or, of course, good ol' cash. Check will need to clear before the vehicle will be released and registration is sent. If you can't pay, don't buy. All non-payers will be reported to EBay. There is no title. NY State uses transferable registrations for cars this old which is basically the same as a title.
This car is being sold as is. If you are not sure about something please ask! Do not assume anything. People have different opinions and expectations of old cars. It is your responsibility to inspect the vehicle or send a third party inspector for your satisfaction. Remember this is a 58 year old vehicle. It is up to the buyer to arrange for transport. I will be glad to assist in getting the car on to the transport you provide. If you should decide to also purchase the extra engine/transmission, other arrangements will need to be made separately since it usually can't ship with the car.