Drive ‘Em Home And Get To Work: 1964 Volvo 544 vs 1970 Ford Ranchero

Welcome back! For day two of our search for a project car, we’re looking at two cars that both run and drive just fine, but aren’t what you’d call lookers. If body and interior work are your thing, these are the projects for you.

Yesterday’s choices both looked all right, but needed a tow home. I think we all agreed that the Crosley is adorable, and it would certainly take up less space in the garage, but once it’s up and running, I get the feeling it wouldn’t be much fun to actually drive. It’s so tiny, and so slow, that its usefulness, even as that word applies to classic cars, would be too limited. The Toyota could at least be used as a grocery-getter when the spirit moved you, and road trips aren’t out of the question.

Reader Autonerdery pointed out that the seller seems to have the year wrong, however. It has features like side-marker lights and headrests on the seats that weren’t required in 1965, and it’s unlikely someone would have added them after the fact, so this car is more likely a 1968-69 model. Those details should have tipped me off, but I didn’t notice the side-marker lights until after publication, and by then it was too late. Thanks for keeping me honest, and I’m sorry I didn’t catch it in time.

All right, let’s move on to today’s choices. Picking a project car that runs and drives can save you a lot of headaches getting it home, though it isn’t always a guarantee. My own MGB GT “ran and drove” when I bought it, but it blew the radiator six miles into an eighteen-mile trip home, and we had to call a tow truck. But I digress. These two both sound like they’re actually roadworthy and ready to go – straight to the body shop to get them looking better. Let’s check them out.

1964 Volvo PV544 – $3,500

Engine/drivetrain: 1.8-liter overhead valve inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD

Location: Placerville, CA

Odometer reading: 85,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

It still floors me that something that looks like this was a brand-new car in 1964. Volvo was always about a decade behind styling trends, which ironically is about how far ahead it was in terms of safety engineering. Still, it would have taken a certain kind of car buyer to choose this nerdy, out-of-style machine over something like the new-for-’64 Chevy Malibu.

Volvo did update the 544’s mechanicals over the years, though. By 1964 it was powered by the same B18 engine as the P1800, and its electrical system had been upgraded to 12 volts. This 544’s engine was overhauled about 30,000 miles ago, and the seller says it runs well. It is equipped with a Weber downdraft carb, a common mod for both old Volvos and old British cars, if someone doesn’t feel like dealing with SUs. The original carbs, and a whole lot more, are included in a huge parts lot that comes with the car – including a whole other 544 parts car.

The inside is mostly gutted, and some much newer seats have been fitted. I don’t know what they’re from, but if anyone does, please feel free to enlighten me. The door cards and headliner are available from reproduction outfits, or you could find an upholstery shop to make custom ones for you.

The outside doesn’t look rusty, but it doesn’t look great either. Most of the trim is intact, at least, and the rest of it is probably in that pile of parts. But you’ll have to take it apart and do some bodywork if you want to make it all pretty and shiny again. Or you can embrace the patina and just leave it how it is.

1970 Ford Ranchero – $3,900

Engine/drivetrain: 351 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD

Location: Costa Mesa, CA

Odometer reading: 58,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives “excellent”

The idea of sticking a storage bed on the back of a car chassis dates way back to the beginning of the automobile. But how to accomplish it? Do you build a specific cab and removable/replaceable bed onto a chassis, or do you chop off the back end of a car’s bodywork to make an open area? That’s the fundamental difference between a pickup truck, which has always been more popular in America, and a coupe utility, or “ute,” which is how the Australians prefer to do it. But utes had their heyday in America as well, with models like this 1970 Ford Ranchero.

The Ranchero was based on a few different Ford platforms over the years. In 1970, it was based on the freshly-restyled mid-sized Torino. A bunch of different engines were available; this one has a 351 Cleveland V8 with a two-barrel carbuetor, and a three-speed automatic. The seller claims the 58,000 miles shown on the odometer are accurate, and that the car runs and drives great. But it’s being sold by a dealership, so take all that with a grain of salt.

It could definitely use some work inside. The seat upholstery is shot, the dash is cracked, and the door panels are coming apart. Restoration parts for this aren’t as easy to come by as some other classics, but there is always the modern bucket seats option, if you want.

Outside, it’s definitely got some rust to contend with, especially in the tailgate, but a couple of underside photos in the ad look encouraging. This isn’t the sort of rustbucket you’d find for sale in the Midwest. You could, of course, choose to leave this one how it is too – but if you chose to restore it and repaint it, you’d be required to keep the same color. It’s a law; all Fords of this era must be painted in this pea green.

There’s no reason a project car can’t be something you can drive while you work on it. And starting out with something that already runs well does make things easier. For either of these, however, you’ll have to either come to terms with how they look as-is, or be willing to dive into some bodywork. Which one are you willing to tackle?

(Image credits: sellers)