Volvo PV650 Series
Encyclopedia
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.
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 it’s crankshaft
was supported by seven main bearing
s. 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 brake
s. 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.
Total production of PV651/652: 2,176 cars
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 the 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 tire
s, twin chrome plated
horns and twin rear lights.
The passenger cars were superseded by the Volvo PV51 in 1936, while the commercial chassis version soldiered on for one more year.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufactured by Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
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 ÖV4Volvo ÖV 4
Volvo ÖV 4 is the first car built by Volvo. The designation ÖV4 stands for , "Öppen Vagn 4 cylindrar" in Swedish, which means Open Carriage 4 cylinders. The model ÖV4 was often referred to as "Jakob" but that was just a name for one of the 10 pre-series ÖV4 that was ready on July 25 Jakob's name-day...
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
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
to cope with the more powerful engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
. 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 it’s crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
was supported by seven main bearing
Main bearing
In a piston engine, the main bearings are the bearings on which the crankshaft rotates, usually plain or journal bearings.All engines have a minimum of two main bearings, one at each end of the crankshaft, and they may have as many as one more than the number of crank pins...
s. 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
Dashboard
A dashboard is a control panel placed in front of the driver of an automobile, housing instrumentation and controls for operation of the vehicle....
. The engine had a new carburettor but the main improvement was the introduction of hydraulic brake
Hydraulic brake
The hydraulic brake is an arrangement of braking mechanism which uses brake fluid, typically containing ethylene glycol, to transfer pressure from the controlling unit, which is usually near the operator of the vehicle, to the actual brake mechanism, which is usually at or near the wheel of the...
s. 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-
Light commercial vehicle
Light commercial vehicles is a commercial carrier vehicles with a Gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. The formal term within the European Union is Light commercial vehicles. Vehicles which qualify in this category are pickup trucks, vans and 3 wheelers all commercially based goods or...
, ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
or hearse
Hearse
A hearse is a funerary vehicle used to carry a coffin from a church or funeral home to a cemetery. In the funeral trade, hearses are often called funeral coaches.-History:...
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 brakeHydraulic brakeThe hydraulic brake is an arrangement of braking mechanism which uses brake fluid, typically containing ethylene glycol, to transfer pressure from the controlling unit, which is usually near the operator of the vehicle, to the actual brake mechanism, which is usually at or near the wheel of the...
s
Total production of PV651/652: 2,176 cars
PV653-655
In the autumn of 1933 the six cylinder Volvo cars were uppdated with a new, stronger chassis with an X-shaped cross member support, smaller 17 inch rimsRim (wheel)
The rim of a wheel is the outer circular design of the metal on which the inside edge of the tire is mounted on vehicles such as automobiles. For example, on a bicycle wheel the rim is a large hoop attached to the outer ends of the spokes of the wheel that holds the tire and tube.In the 1st...
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
Fender (vehicle)
Fender is the US English term for the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames a wheel well . Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids, and other road spray from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire. Fenders are typically rigid and can be...
and the windshield
Windshield
The windshield or windscreen of an aircraft, car, bus, motorbike or tram is the front window. Modern windshields are generally made of laminated safety glass, a type of treated glass, which consists of two curved sheets of glass with a plastic layer laminated between them for safety, and are glued...
and the radiator grille
Grille
A grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive...
were slightly tilted to improve the aerodynamics
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
. 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 tire
Spare tire
A spare tire is an additional tire carried in a motor vehicle as a replacement for one that goes flat, a blowout, or other emergency...
s, twin chrome plated
Chrome plating
Chrome plating, often referred to simply as chrome, is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness.-Process:A component to be chrome plated will...
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 3550 mm (139.8 in)
- PV658: 1935-36, 301 cars built, base model
- PV659: 1935-36, 170 cars built, de luxe model