Ep 2. 1963 Volvo PV544

Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead are back for another season of Wheeler Dealers, and they're kicking things off with a classic 1963 Volvo PV544. This Swedish car was produced from 1958-1965 and is often referred to as the "Swedish Corvette."

In this episode, Mike heads to Norway to track down a Volvo PV544 that's been sitting in a barn for over 25 years. The car has definitely seen better days, but Mike sees the potential in the classic vehicle. The car's owner, Terje, is looking to sell, and Mike manages to negotiate a price that's within their budget.

Once the car arrives in the UK, Ant gets to work on restoring it. The first step is to strip the car down to its bare bones and assess the damage. It's clear that the car's been in a few collisions over the years, which means Ant has some work to do.

The bodywork is the biggest job on this car, with rust and corrosion eating away at the metal. Ant has to replace the entire floorpan and the passenger side panel to get the car back into shape. He also replaces the bonnet and boot to really give it that fresh out of the factory look.

With the bodywork complete, Ant moves onto the engine. The PV544 came with a B18 engine, which has proven to be incredibly reliable over the years. However, this particular car has been sitting for a quarter of a century, so there's a lot of work to be done. Ant starts by replacing all the gaskets and seals, but then runs into some issues with the carburettor.

Fortunately, Ant is able to make a couple of modifications to the carb and get the car running smoothly again. He also replaces the clutch, gearbox, and driveshaft to make sure the car is roadworthy.

Once the car is mechanically sound, Ant turns his attention to the interior. The seats and carpets were both beyond saving, so Ant replaces them with new ones that are period correct. He also adds some extra soundproofing to make the car a bit quieter on the road.

Finally, it's time to give the car a new paint job. Ant starts by applying a coat of primer, followed by a few layers of Volvo's signature dark green paint. He then adds a few coats of lacquer to give it that extra sheen.

The finished product is a stunning 1963 Volvo PV544 that looks like it just rolled off the factory floor. Mike takes the car out for a spin and is thoroughly impressed with Ant's work. He's also pleased with the final price – they managed to get the car back on the road for less than £15,000.

Overall, this episode of Wheeler Dealers is a great start to the new season. The PV544 is a classic car that will definitely appeal to fans of vintage vehicles, and it's great to see Ant and Mike take on such a challenging restoration project. With plenty of drama and expert craftsmanship, this episode is a must-watch for petrolheads everywhere.