Volvo built this budget PV51 by bolting a cheaper, simplified cabin onto the rear bodywork of its pricier PV36 Carioca — new face, familiar back end, lower price.
Lead trim: PV51/PV52 3.7 EC I6
Volvo PV51-PV56PV51 · 1936–1938
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Volvo PV51-PV56 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactVolvo built this budget PV51 by bolting a cheaper, simplified cabin onto the rear bodywork of its pricier PV36 Carioca — new face, familiar back end, lower price.
The Volvo PV51 was introduced in December 1936 as the answer to Volvo dealers' request for a smaller, less expensive model, since Volvo's cars were expensive next to imported competitors: the rear of the body was similar to the Carioca, but the front was new and the interior simplified, and it had to make do with a live front axle. The de luxe PV52 followed in early 1937 with twin sun visors, twin windscreen wipers, a watch, a heater and armrests on all four doors, and in March 1938 the PV51 Special and PV52 Special moved the spare wheel to the boot floor with an expanded boot. Built: PV51 1936–1938, 1,754 cars; PV52 1937–1938, 1,046; PV51 ch (commercial chassis) 205. The 3,670 cc (3.7 L) EC six drove through a 3-speed manual with optional overdrive; wheelbase 113.4 in, curb weight 3,395 lb.
Collectors Spotted in the Volvo PV51-PV56 Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Volvo PV51-PV56 yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PV51/PV52 3.7 EC I6 | 1936–1938 | 3.7 L Inline-6 | 80 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Wartime fuel shortages forced some PV53-56s onto wood power — cars towed a wood-gas generator on a trailer behind them, the engine converted to run without a drop of petrol.
Volvo built this budget PV51 by bolting a cheaper, simplified cabin onto the rear bodywork of its pricier PV36 Carioca — new face, familiar back end, lower price.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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