In the midst of a burning world war, a new Volvo car. 80 years ago this year
Then Volvo launched its brand new car model, the PV 444. It took place on September 1, 1944, at Volvo's own car exhibition in the Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm. Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson and Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf were among the invited premiere visitors.
The Volvo PV 444 that was on display was, however, only a prototype that was not drivable. It would not be until 1947 before production began.
The price was revealed, which was described as “cheap” and maybe it was, 4800 kronor.
The PV 444 became one of Volvo's great sales successes. During the exhibition alone, which lasted 10 days, 2,300 people signed a purchase contract. A total of 196,005 copies of the PV 444 were produced.
Volvo's marketing of the car highlighted its spacious trunk, improved rust protection, the fact that it could be converted into a bed, and Volvo's service program.
Click here to see the selection of images of Volvo PV.
Just in time for the 80th anniversary, a new book about the Volvo PV 444/544 is coming out. Fredrik Nyblad's new book "Volvo PV 444/544 - Folkhemmets modell" tells the story of how the PV 444/544 was developed and developed year by year. There are chapters on motorsport, accessories and the PV as a toy car. The book also tells the story of the PV as a car safety pioneer and a converted youth car. It is richly illustrated with advertising images from Volvo and reportage photographs from Sweden and the world. The book is 136 pages long. Each chapter has summaries in English.
“Volvo PV 444/544 – Folkhemmets model” is written by motor journalist Fredrik Nyblad. He is an editor at Klassiker magazine and editor-in-chief of Klassiker's special edition Volvo-Klassiker. The book is published by Trafik-Nostalgiska Förlaget, which has now published ten books by Fredrik Nyblad, mainly about different Volvo models.
The images in the slideshow are those that Fredrik selected from my image archive to publish in the book. Beautiful narrative images about a car that many Swedes have memories of, either from the front seat or the back seat...
