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1958 Volvo PV544 Historic Race Car FOR SALE

A rare opportunity to own the one of the longest serving Volvo race cars with genuine period race history. The car was purchased in the United States by it’s original owner John Flannery, a prolific hill climber in Pennsylvania, and was modified and taken to the hills. Included in the sale is a collection of original race programs from events the Volvo took part in dating from 1969-1974. Between these dates the Volvo achieved 5 class records and won the class championship outright in both 1969 and 1970 winning 8 out of 10 events both years. He sold the Volvo in 1992 to another Pennsylvania hill climber Craig Danks. Danks recommissioned the PV and took it back to the hills for another 10 year stint where the car again achieved many class wins.

Fast forward to 2007 and the car was up for sale again. It was imported to the UK and immediately prepared for a new career as a historic touring car. The PV required only a small amount of welding, before we could carry out a very sympathetic paint job. All of the original stickers were retained and carefully masked around. We left the interior as it was to retain the patina that we love so much in a historic racing car. The mechanicals were rebuilt at this time with a new B18 engine to bring the car up to spec. The PV544 has continued its success with class wins at Brands Hatch, an outright win at Snetterton and 3rd overall in the St Mary’s Trophy at the 2008 Goodwood Revival in the hands of Andy Rouse and Shaun Rainford.

This is the perfect opportunity to get your hands on a potential front running car with history. The is available fully prepped with a freshly rebuilt engine. Viewing can be arranged during business hours by contacting Daniel.

01825 733060

info@cckhistoric.com

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Two St. Mary’s Trophy contenders on the market

Goodwood Revival’s St. Mary’s Trophy never fails to entertain and this years running was no different. The 1950’s grid is always eclectic with a varied range of weird and wonderful saloons. Add a handful of BTCC professionals and you have an explosive recipe. For those who wishing to take part selecting the right car is the first step. We currently have two such cars on the market, both of which offer there own unique appeal. The first is a former Goodwood podium Austin A40. The A40’s are known to be a formidable weapon when the setup is right. This car will be available race ready with a freshly rebuilt Swiftune 1293cc engine. The second car we have available is another former Goodwood podium sitter, it is fast and most importantly it is unique and therefore a desirable contender for the top events. The Volvo PV544 has period race history and is the most interesting and formidable Volvo PV544 in the UK. This car will be available race ready with a freshly rebuilt engine. Links to the ads on racecrsdirect.com below.

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/83069/volvo-pv544-historic-race-car

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/57747/austin-a40-mk1

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Volvo PV544 History

Volvo

Over the past couple of months I’ve been researching the history of our Volvo PV544. We knew it was raced in period  and came from the states but we knew little more than that. My quest began by examining the stickers on the dash board. The car has numerous stickers from hill climb events in Pennsylvania USA ranging from 1964-1972. This lead me to the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association and to their inhouse historian Ron Mann who helped me get in touch with the previous owners and  dig up some of the car’s previous results. I also managed to acquire a stack of race programs from the period which show the car to have no less than 5 class records between 1969 and 1974, twice at the Topton hill climb in 1969 and ‘70, at the Duryea hill climb in ‘72, and twice again at the Tuscarora hill climb. The car’s original owner, John Flannery, campaigned the car on the hills of Pennsylvania throughout the 60’s and 70’s.

Volvo

By 1966 Flannery had managed to claim two class victories at Rose Valley and Weatherly hill climbs. His career built from there and in both the 1969 and 1970 seasons John drove the PV544 to win 8 out of 10 races for back to back class championship titles. In the 1972 season John claimed a win at Pine Grove, Pagoda and Camp Shand where he achieved the FTD (fastest time of the day) and the first overall fastest time for a Saturday drive. I believe 1974 was the last season John drove the PV, claiming 3 wins, bettering his class record at Duryea and claiming another FTD.

John Flannery retired the PV544 for a Volvo 142. The car was stored until 1992 when Craig Danks, another Pennsylvania hill climber bought it. Craig carried out some work to the car and continued its hill climbing career for another 10 years achieving yet more wins. Fast forward to 2007 and the car was up for sale again. It was imported to the UK where we bought it and immediately began preparing the car for a new career as a historic touring car. The Volvo required a small amount of welding, where rust had gotten the better of it, before we could carry out a very sympathetic paint job. All of the original stickers were retained and carefully masked around for the exterior paint job. We left the interior as is to retain the patina that we love so much in a historic racing car. The mechanicals were all rebuilt with a new B18 engine to bring the car up to spec. It now puts out a very credible 200bhp and weighs just 920kg. The PV544 has continued its success with class wins at Brands Hatch, an outright win at Snetterton and 3rd overall in the St Mary’s Trophy at the 2008 Goodwood Revival. What is amazing is that we’ve been driving this car for years with no knowledge of its historical successes. Perhaps it’s good luck, perhaps it’s good drivers but either way this Volvo is used to winning and long may it continue to do so.

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Volvo PV544 History

I’ve been researching the history of our Volvo PV544. We knew it was a race car from new and came from the states but we new little more than that. So far I have found out that the car competed as a hill climber in Pennsylvania for most of its life. The earliest sticker on the dash is from the 1964 Hershey Hill Climb. I know that it was driven by John Flannery in the early days and later by Craig Danks. Still trying to find out what it was up to from 1958-1964. The rear bulkhead was signed by Bill Rutan who raced a PV544 in many endurance races in the late 50’s and early 60’s with famous Volvo racer Art Riley. I will keep you posted. Thanks to the Pennsylvania Hill Climb Association for all their help.