1962 Volvo 544

This car runs and looks great.  I drive it all over Orlando at least twice a week and on the toll roads from one end of the city to the other without any fears of breakdown.  The car will keep up with traffic. but you feel its 50 year age.  The brakes work correctly. but don't tailgate a modern car!  This car is a very nice looking reliable runner.  Suitable for drive ins. small shows. or. like me. just driving around.  It handles correctly. like a trucky old sport sedan.  It leans and goes where you point it with a lot of fun.  For me. it is the most fun at about 50 mph on curvy roads.  It is quick for a 50 year old European car. maybe one of the higher powered European family sedans of its time.  However. at about 110 horsepower with modifications. it is fun. not fast.  It starts right up and runs well and idles well without smoke. hesitation. overheating. or any other issues. The clutch. transmission and overdrive work without problems. The imperfections and modifications noted below make it a very fun personal car. rather than a sure show winner.  
I believe this car was built in 1961 with a B16 engine and titled as a 1962.  That was done by import car manufacturers back then.  I purchased this car in Orlando four years ago.  I do not know the real mileage.  EBay required a number. so I listed what is on the odometer. It is not likely the total mileage as it is a 5 digit gauge.  The previous owner did a lot of powertrain work including swapping in a B18 engine with some B20 components and. I was told. a hotter camshaft.  It has a Weber 2 bbl downdraft carburetor (cleaned and rebuilt now). alternator. M41 4 speed with overdrive. headers. oversized exhaust system. and a claimed higher numerical ratio rear axle than stock.  The Weber works smoothly and reliably.  I wouldn't doubt that new SU's are better. but old SU's with worn throttle shafts are trouble. and that what is mostly out there.  I had the brakes redone including shoes. master cylinder. and all wheel cylinders; rebuilt the idler arm; new lower A-arm bushings; new rear axle limiting straps; and rewired many items including the overdrive unit. adding a second fuse panel.   The radiator was cleaned and fitted with a Volvo coolant recovery bottle from a later car. The gas tank was removed. cleaned. and coated with POR15 gas tank sealer.  The car has new 3 point seat belts up front using the original Volvo mounting in the "B" pillar and seat belts in back.  The tires have about 2000 miles on them. but they are about 5 years old without any cracking.  
Before it was professionally painted. I removed the interior. all windows and trim. and painted the floors and other areas with POR15. The car had only a few quarter sized rust holes under the back seat floor. one in the right door. and a few in the trunk back panel area. The floors. sills. and all structural areas are solid and never rusted.  I had the car painted 2008 VW R32 metalic dark gray; I owned one at the time.  I covered about 50 square feet with Dynamat.  and put everything back together with new front and rear window seals. side rear pivoting window seals. new fuzzies on the front doors. and new front vent window seals.  The front window has some fogging in the lower left corner.  The rear windows are all tinted with film.  The floors are covered with Dynamat. dense foam. vinal roll material. and thick rubber floor mats.  The trunk has the original Volvo trunk liner. spare with an old tire. and correct jack.  The stainless is in good condition. but the bumpers show light pitting yet they are still shiny.  The panel fits are very good except for the hood-to-back of the front fender fit. which is the same on both sides. but about 3/8 inch wider than it should be.  The paint job has an amazing depth and shine using clear coat on base coat.  Lots of clear coat.  The door jams and inside window sills were painted. as was the inside trunk lid.  The inside hood nor engine compartment were repainted the new color.  The engine compartment is neat and clean. but has several shades of gray and a little black going on.  There are some paint imperfections. the worst of which is on the roof where it was not prepared correctly. Nobody who has looked at the car has noticed this spot. the size of a hand.  I can't photograph it because the paint is so shiny. all I get is the sky or my garage interior as a reflection.  This shows in certain light close up.  From a few feet away. the paint job looks better than most factory jobs and is way shinier.  The upholstery is in good condition in two shades of blue with new door panels that are simple. flat. and blue-gray vinyl on eighth inch plastic sheet.   The dash has a new cap in the original style.  The headliner is new. but the installation has wrinkles or pulls at all of the bows and is funky around the aftermarket interior light and sun visors.  The seat are too tight in their adjuster rails. so they do not adjust easily.    
The transmission leaks half dollar sized globs of oil every day. so I have a tray under it.  Only SAE 30 engine oil can be used in this transmission without sealers or additives.  The gages. lights. signals. wipers. and horn all work. but no "parking lights only" function or dimmer for the gages.  I couldn't figure out that wiring at the fuse box.  The speedometer seems to be about 15% low in its reading. but functions smoothly.    
My modifications include eliminating the heater and defroster setup.  I wanted a cleaner hot rod looking engine compartment and have no intention of driving it in bad weather.  Another major modification is the elimination of the fender welting for a cleaner look.  Still another major modification is the addition of the 3 gages in place of the radio.  These are AutoMeter antique style gages. The next modification is elimination of the ash tray and replacing it with a toggle for the overdrive. a green LED (eeeks!) indicator light for the overdrive. and a toggle for the washers.  The mechanical fuel pump is augmented by an electric pump on an intermittent toggle switch for easy start up without prolonged cranking after the car sits unused for weeks.   
No Buy it Now price.  The car is a very good value to the buyer at $7500.  At more money. whatever it is. I'm happy.  I know a terrific shipping broker.  I'll give you his number if you would like and I will be there to load the car whoever your shipper is.  Sales only in the lower 48 states.  You pay shipping. of course.  Deposit required. $1000 on PayPal.  Loss of deposit is full payment is not made in 7 days.  A wire transfer to my bank account is preferred.  It is the safest and least hassle.  

Also published at eBay.com

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