The first time I saw a Duett I fell in love. These were quite uncommon in the US, and I’d already fallen in love with my brother’s best friend’s PV544 hunchback sedan. But I’ve got a thing for roomy cars, big enough to sleep in and even live in, as I was (still am, somewhat) a nomadic soul. When I encountered that Duett, I was shocked, because I did not know it existed, which was a rather rare occurrence for me back then.
So when I ran into this fine example at the Cohort, posted by mncarspotter, I fell in love again. I’d love to take it home with me.
Although it’s obviously based on the PV444/544, the PV445 Duett is a bit different under the skin, as it has a full frame, to make it suitable to carry heavy loads and also be configured as a pickup and such. It was a very common commercial vehicle in Sweden, widely used by various fleets such as the phone company and such. And of course it appealed to tradesmen and others needing a roomy vehicle.
We have a much more detailed article on the Duett written by Ingvar Hallstrom, who is Swedish.
You should definitely do it – get one, that is – before all that remain are either destroyed by modding (making them look like 1940s hot rods is common) or by being turned into museum pieces that will never see a dirty road again.
I think these are best when simply cleaned up and then kept on the road in all of their near-agricultural-implement finest. Parts are still reasonably available and as you probably know they’re bone simple to work on. Welding and metalworking skills will be required.
Here’s the images gallery link for 444/544 over at Brickboard. There are a few Duetts scattered in there, although the number of users owning and posting about them has decreased substantially over the years. Not surprisingly, it does seem that the majority of Duetts still running around in the US are out there on the West coast…where the climate is probably much nicer to them than anywhere else in this country.
https://www.brickboard.com/GALLERY/index.htm?page=4&pix_type=CARS&model=444-544
Regularly driven Duetts have just disappeared off the roads in my part of California in the last 10-15 years. I too find them very appealing. A moderately tuned B20, 4 speed, front disks and a 12v conversion if needed, and it should be a fine hauler. Though I haven’t driven a 544 for almost 50 years so I may find it a bit … old 😀.
You are not the only one who has lusted after these vehicles.
Perhaps that explains my purchase of a ’67 122s station wagon years ago, or my current daily drive, a Ford Transit Connect cargo van.
The latter, with rear barn doors, 6 foot external height and similar interior dimensions, renders the same quirky utility.
Unfortunately, with front wheel drive, a sealed transmission and an excess of electronics, it is not as user-friendly to the shade tree mechanic.
However, its back-up vehicle (foreground below) mostly is.
My father had one until 2015 I think, it was a black one. It was a little lowered and had 80’s (possibly ATS?) wheels on it. Not sure about the engine but it’s not unlikely it had a later Amazon engine in it. He had a green 70’s Saab 96 V4 too when I was about 6 years old. I remember trying to climb on the fastback roof but I didn’t manage to get on it. My 20 year old sister at the time did it effortlessly, I was a little jealous.
This is not strictly a 445, which was based on the PV444. This is based on the later PV544 (apart from the Duett’s body-on-frame construction). I think the correct designation is 210. (Volvo’s numbering system doesn’t always seem logical!)
My dad visited Manhattan Auto in Bethesda, MD in 1962, and returned driving a 1959 Duett in dark blue with grey above the belt line. We had that wonderful Volvo for about a year until a strange thing happened;
Dad was taking a vehicle load of Cub Scouts to a den meeting, with several boys riding in the back area. One of the boys was leaning against the back doors as dad pulled away from a stop sign and into traffic. About 1/2 way thru the turn, the back doors suddenly opened and out spilled a Cub Scout onto the road.
Quick thinking on the part of a C&P Telephone truck driver made sure no oncoming traffic hit the boy, because he swerved his green Chevy truck into the traffic. The boy wasn’t hurt, and they all made it to the den meeting on time. Dad checked the door latches and found the latches holding the #2 door in place at the roof and floor didn’t hold well, and when the outer door handle was pulled hard, the doors would open together.
The next day Dad drove the Duett back to Manhattan Auto and traded it in on a 1960 Peugeot 403 Familial, similar to the Duett in body style, but the 403 was equipped with a set of folding jump seats and a back seat placed over the rear axle, so the car had 3 rows of seating for 6 to 7 people. Plus, it had a single opening rear door that no matter how hard he pulled on the handle, it wouldn’t open unless the button was pressed.
Dad kept the Peugeot until late 1967 when he took delivery of a new Plymouth Fury III station wagon [for mom], so he didn’t need the 403 ‘wagon’ anymore. He took the 403 to Manhattan auto and to my 16 year old delight, he bought a brand new white 1968 Porsche 912 with a 5-speed [which I was NOT allowed to drive].
Great story Bill! Manhattan Auto….I remember it well as the Bethesda (DC-area) origin point of all manner of euro-goodness back in those days.
Additional points for the C&P Telephone reference (a term I’ve not had cross my mind for many a year).
What was the American vehicle (minivan?) from much more recent times that had issues with accidentally opening rear hatches? I remember it as an problem that got attention, but I can’t remember the exact vehicle.