Ron, I think as Eric indicated, there was an error when the plate was originally attached to the PV544. It was also common practice, even in Sweden to easily swap registration plates, until the mid-60s when these were either stamped or printed in a place that was more difficult to tamper with.

I have the definitive PV-KLUBBEN Factabok. The identification plate, used from 1958 until August 1966 most likely belongs to a PV 544 E, built between August 1963 and August 1964 (chassis numbers 395100 - 419299) so this might be a late production E that might have been licensed in the USA as a 1965. Are the wheels, if original silver slotted?

Type 21244 digits are deciphered as:

Typ/Type

First Digit: Biltyp - Car Type

1-Personbil (car)   2-Duett or Amazon Herrgårdsvagn (Estate Station Wagon)

Second Digit: Bilmodell - Car Models

1 - PV544, P210 2 - Amazon 4 door & wagon   3 - Amazon 2 door    4 - 1800 S

Third Digit: Motortyp - Engine Type

1 - B16A or B18A    2 - B16B or B18D    3 - B18B

Fourth Digit: Utforande - Execution (Market)

1 - Chassis    2 - Standard    3 - Special    4 - USA   5 - Norgeut (Norway?)   6 Danmarksut (Denmark?)   9 - Bil packad for montering utomlands (Car packed for assembly abroad; ie Dartmouth/Halifax, Nova Scotia, CANADA)

Fifth Digit: Vaxellada - Gearbox

1 - M30 trevaxlad standardvagn (3-speed touring car)    2 - trevaxlad ((3-speed)   3 - M31 3-speed with overdrive    4 - M40 (4-speed)    5 - M41 4-speed with overdrive    6 - BW35 automatic    7 - M40 overseas

Sixth Digit: Styrning - Control

1 - Vansterstyrning Left Hand Drive   2 - Högerstyrning Right Control

I strongly suspect the person who was stamping the identification plates made an error that was never corrected, so this is a rare plate. Note also that in Europe you can buy reproduction ID plates, so there is a slight chance this might be a reproduction.

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Cam a.k.a. CVOLVO.COM