I'm actively looking for a nice example of these cars. I'd like to have the B-18 engine. A very good friend bought one new in 1965 and it was a great car. His Brother still owns it, and it has made the trek from Washington State to Nashville several times, but he won't sell it. I would appreciate any leads to finding a nice one. I'm a certified Brick Nut, but I've always kicked myself for not grabbing a 544 when they were new.

Bill

Check on eBay, there's a continual trickle of 544's going through there. Some nice, some not, some indeterminate. Also check on the IPDUSA website fee classifieds. As well as the classifieds here.

It's a bit scary to buy a car long distance sight unseen, so if the seller doesn't make you comfortable then don't send them money. I bought my 245 from halfway across the country and was put at ease by the seller both providing lots of very nice pictures (inside and out, even underneath) and also agreeing to not require a deposit and letting me see the car in person before laying down dollar 1.

Of course, that did require a road trip to pick up the car, instead of $1200 to ship it here. I think that would be far scarier, because no sane seller would ship a car off without full payment, and once you get it and don't like it at all (those little eBay pics can be pretty misleading sometimes) then it a lot harder to back out of the transaction, even if the seller is willing you've got shipment of the car both ways to deal with.
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'63 PV544 rat rod, '93 Classic #1141 245 +t

How about looking for a "sort-of-nice" one and fixing it up? Granted, it's not the most economically intelligent decision, but your pool of potential purchases increases (making it easier to find a car), and it's infinitely more rewarding....

I bought a structurally sound car (if not the prettiest in the world), made it mechanically sound, and then moved on to the body and paint. The exterior looks great now, and the interior is about the only thing I have left to do. Granted, it's taken me 9 years and counting, but the sooner you get it finished, the sooner you have to start trying to talk your wife into letting you get another project....

--E.
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'64 PVMoneypit

Another project is the least of my worries. The wife is as motivated as am I about projects. She drives a Mustang GT Convertible with a 347 stroker motor, and we have an old 245 for a parts chaser. We love fast boats, and faster cars. I have always liked the 444/544 cause they looked so much like a miniature version of the old ford tudors. I would eventually like to put a small block ford into one of these. I used to do this to 3000 Austin Healeys until they became so valuable.

Bill

Howdy Stickbuilder,

I met this young fellow briefly at the Texas VCOA meeting last fall that installed a narrow V6 with a cool FI setup. He has put a lot of time and money into it. You may want to contact him for pitfalls, etc.

Here is a journal he keeps:
http://volvology.livejournal.com/

Also use 'frankenvolvo' to search Google and YouTube.
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Mr. Shannon DeWolfe -- I've taken to using mister because my name misleads folks on the WWW. I am a 52 year old fat man.

There is a very solid 57 444 for sale in Boulder Colorado. The body was a little rougher than I wanted (I wanted something that I could turnaround quickly), but thought it was a good starting point for somebody.

http://denver.craigslist.org/car/692054147.html

Where are you located?

Paul

Right in the Center of the Sunshine State.

Bill

You should have lots of options, then. Many of the nicer old Volvos around here (Seattle) were purchased there and brought up.....
Oh, and if you think Healy prices have gotten crazy, you should take a look at where Vincent prices have gotten in the last couple of years. I've always wanted one, and was already planning on settling for a Comet, but now they're getting $20K+ for those, as well....anything with two cylinders is $40k+ if it's in any kind of decent condition....
Ethan

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'64 PVMoneypit

Tell me about it. I had a Black Shadow with the Lightning cams and Brooklands equipment several years ago. Best as I can remember, I sold it for under $1000.00. Sold a Velocette Thruxton, a Matchless G-80-CS and a BSA Gold Star for scrap prices at the same time. Who knew?

Bill