Volvo PV654 by Editions Atlas

The number fifty-five in the Volvo Collection by Editions Atlas is the Volvo PV654 from 1933. The PV654 was Volvo's first 'luxury' car. It was in fact an upgraded PV653. The PV654 was fitted with an uprated interior, twin fender mounted spare tires, twin chrome plated horns and twin rear lights. Volvo built a modest batch of 361 units between 1933-34 of this car. But this was surprisingly better compared to the base model PV653 which attracted just 230 buyers.
You can see several photos of Volvo PV654 cars on the website swedishbrasscar.com. One photo shows you a PV654 which is fitted with the same paint scheme as proposed on this scale model by Editions Atlas. You may notice on that photo that the mentioned car wears a pretty faded paint.

Source & copyright : Editions Atlas SA, Switzerland

VOLVO Collection :

1. 1945   Volvo PV444
2. 1957   Volvo Amazon 4-door
3. 1964   Volvo P1800
   
4. 1953   Volvo PV455 Duett
   
5. 1950   Volvo PV60
6. 1971   Volvo 144 Overdrive
   
7. 1969   Volvo 164
8. 1971   Volvo P1800ES
   
9. 1956   Volvo P1900
10. 1978   Volvo 262C Bertone
    
11. 1965   Volvo Amazon 2-door
    
12. 1970   Volvo 145 Automatic Estate
    
13. 1938   Volvo PV52
14. 1965   Volvo PV544
15. 1979   Volvo 343
16. 1985   Volvo 480 ES
    
17. 1984   Volvo 740 Turbo
18. 1938   Volvo PV800 Taxi
19. 1978   Volvo 242 GT
    
20. 1939   Volvo PV56
21. 1962   Volvo Amazon break
22. 1936   Volvo PV36 Carioca
23. 1953   Volvo PV455 Duett 'Volvo Service'
24. 1988   Volvo 780 Bertone
25. 1988   Volvo 440
26. 1927   Volvo ÖV4 Jakob
27. 1973   Volvo 142
28. 1992   Volvo 240 Polar
29. 1971   Volvo 145 Express
30. 1975   Volvo 66 GL

• 31.   1992   Volvo 440 Politie (NL)
• 32.   1971   Volvo P1800 ES 'Prince Carl Gustaf'
• 33.   2001   Volvo V40 phase II
• 34.   1988   Volvo 480 Turbo USA
• 35.   1978   Volvo 244 DL 'Blue Star'
• 36.   1994   Volvo 960 GLE
  
• 37.   1978   Volvo 264 TE
  
• 38.   1965   Volvo Amazon Polis (S)
  
• 39.   1966   Volvo P1800 S Volvoville
• 40.   1971   Volvo 145 Express Taxi
• 41.   1992   Volvo ECC
• 42.   1976   Volvo 343 Politie (NL)
• 43.   1995   Volvo 855 T5R
• 44.   1999   Volvo S80
• 45.   1990   Volvo 480 Turbo convertible
  
• 46.   1982   Volvo 265 GLE
• 47.   1967   Volvo Amazon 123 GT
• 48.   1988   Volvo 360 GLE
  
• 49.   1988   Volvo 240 SE estate Polis (S)
• 50.   1968   Volvo P210 Duett 'Tele' (S)
• 51.   1974   Volvo 142 RAC Rally
• 52.   1997   Volvo C70 convertible
• 53.   1976   Volvo 66
• 54.   1981   Volvo 264 TE Landaulet
• 55.   1933   Volvo PV654
• 56.   .....
• 57.   .....
• 58.   .....
• 59.   .....
• 60.   .....

Quote from a short article published by Volvo:

1933 - 1937    PV653-9

The first six-cylinder Volvo car appeared as early as 1929 and developed versions of this car were to follow. In 1933, the PV653 (standard) and the PV654 (de luxe) were introduced. Comfortable, quiet and rugged cars for everyday use with reliable engines in traditional style.

The 654 de luxe version had a very plush interior, twin spare wheels and a reversing light, and it was available in several colours.

The PV655 was the chassis version, suitable for special bodies.

The launch in 1935 of the PV658 and PV659 changed the appearance of the car considerably. The radiator sloped slightly backwards and a grille was fitted in front of the radiator. The very special wheel hubcaps also contributed to the new character. A more powerful version of the 6-cylinder engine was another new feature. It had a displacement of 3.67 litres and developed 80-84 bhp.

Technical Specifications Model: PV653-9
Variants: PV 653 Standard, PV 654 Luxury, PV 655 Chassis, variant of PV 653/654, PV 656 Chassis, PV 657 Standard, PV 658 Luxury, PV 659 with glass division
Produced: 1933 (PV653-5), 1935 (PV656-9), 1935 (PV653-5), 1937 (PV656-9)
Volume: 653 (PV653-5), 542 (PV656-9)
Body: Saloon
Engine: 653-5: In-line, 6-cyl, side valves; 3,266 cc; 79.4x110 mm; 65 bhp at 3,200 rpm. 658-659: In-line 6-cyl, side valves; 3,670 cc; 84.14x110 mm; 8084 bhp at 3,300 rpm.
Transmission: 3-speed with free wheel, floor lever.
Brakes: Hydraulic on all wheels.
Dimensions: Wheelbase 2,950 or 3,550 mm.
Misc: 230 PV653s and 361 PV654s were built between 1933 and 1935.

Source & copyright: volvocars.com/intl/about/our-company/heritage/heritage-models/4-pv653-9

Quote from Wikipedia:

Volvo PV650 Series

The Volvo PV650 Series is an automobile manufactured by Volvo between 1929 and 1937. The model name stand for PersonVagn ("passenger car"), 6 cylinders, 5 seats; the third digit indicates the version.


PV650-652
Volvo had started planning for a larger successor for its first car, the ÖV4 in 1926, even before the little four-cylinder car was introduced. The Swedish car market was dominated by American manufacturers and Volvo needed a large six-cylinder car to be competitive.

Volvo PV651 was introduced in April 1929. The new car had a stronger chassis to cope with the more powerful engine. The bodywork was manufactured in the traditional way, with a wooden frame covered with steel plates. The 3010 cc DB engine was very robust and its crankshaft was supported by seven main bearings. The gearbox was a non-syncromesh 3-speed box.

In the spring of 1930 the car was succeeded by the PV652, with modified interior and dashboard. The engine had a new carburettor but the main improvement was the introduction of hydraulic brakes. In 1931 the car got a 4-speed non-syncromesh gearbox. In January 1932 the PV652 was updated with the larger capacity 3366 cc EB engine and a new 3-speed gearbox with synchronized 2nd and 3rd gear.

Volvo also built commercial chassis versions of the car. Most of them got light truck-, ambulance or hearse bodies, but a small number of the PV650 Series chassises were clothed in more flamboyant two-door open or closed bodies.

Versions

• PV650: 1929-34, 206 cars built, commercial chassis
• PV651: 1929-30, mechanical brakes
• PV652: 1930-33, hydraulic brakes

Total production of PV651/652: 2,176 cars.


PV653-655
In the autumn of 1933 the six-cylinder Volvo cars were updated with a new, stronger chassis with an X-shaped cross member support, smaller 17-inch rims and an all-steel body, without the wooden frame. The centre roof section was still covered with a leatherette insertion. The body had new fenders and the windshield and radiator grille were slightly tilted to improve the aerodynamics. The mechanical parts were left unchanged.

Volvo offered two versions: the PV653 base model and the PV654 de luxe model. The PV654 luxury equipment included an uprated interior, twin fender mounted spare tires, twin chrome plated horns and twin rear lights.

Versions

• PV653: 1933-34, 230 cars built, base model
• PV654: 1933-34, 361 cars built, de luxe model
• PV655: 1933-35, 62 cars built, commercial chassis

PV656-659

In 1935 the PV650 Series design looked quite old fashioned. The body was basically the same as in 1929. Still, Volvo updated the cars once more. The new PV658/PV659 got the larger capacity 3670 cc EC engine and a V-shaped radiator grille.

The passenger cars were superseded by the Volvo PV51 in 1936, while the commercial chassis version soldiered on for one more year.

Versions

• PV656: 1935-36, 16 cars built, commercial chassis
• PV657: 1935-37, 55 cars built, commercial chassis with wheelbase 3,550 mm (139.8 in)
• PV658: 1935-36, 301 cars built, base model
• PV659: 1935-36, 170 cars built, de luxe model

References

• Volvo Personvagnar-från 20-tal till 80-tal by Björn-Eric Lindh, 1984. ISBN 91-86442-06-6 (Swedish)

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Source & copyright: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_PV650_Series