Old Volvos used to be widely available and dirt cheap. But times have changed—with 50-year-old Volvo models, like a 122S wagon, selling these days for an unthinkable $30,000. In another example, this garage-find 1970 1800E is now offered on eBay for a Buy-It-Now price of $15,750. And who knows how high the bidding will go for this rare 1959 Volvo 445 Duett panel wagon?
The Duett looks much like the 544, and shares many of its mechanical and body parts.
The 445 Duett, which was a commercial vehicle for the European market, was never imported into the US. The dual side-hinged rear doors look quaint now, but were standard issue for panel trucks in the 1950s. Duetts used wood paneling in their cargo beds, and this example has the originals in decent condition.
The original wood paneling is still in place.
Most of the classic Volvos in the US are powered by the legendarily sturdy B18 or bored-out B20 four-cylinder engine, but the 445 used the predecessor 1,583cc B16B with dual SU carbs. Most cars with the B16 had six-volt electrical systems, but this one was usefully converted to 12 volts.
The 445 came with Volvo’s hard-wearing B16 engine.
Volvo Duetts are handsome cars, often with lovely two-tone paint. This one shows very well in shiny red and contrasting white paint, which was applied after a bare-metal stripdown last year. A rare and cool-looking roof rack is in place. There’s no visible rust—always something to watch for on old Volvos—and the interior is tidy, if fairly plain as befits a work truck. The underbody shots look good, too.
The Virginia-based owner says his Duett is “smooth running,” with a new mechanical fuel pump and 12-volt Interstate battery. There’s some work to be done: The fuel and temperature gauges don’t work, the odometer is non-functional, and the glove box is missing.
The Duett used twin side-hinged doors, the usual panel truck practice at the time.
The chassis was repainted with rust-battling POR 15 during the stripdown. The limited chrome is present, straight and not rusty, but needs replating.
The interior of the Duett is rather plain, befitting its commercial use.
Buyers who want to finish this car should have an easy time of it. Suitable parts, many of which are shared with the much-more-numerous 544, are highly obtainable—even though Duetts are few and far between. It’s also eminently possible to upgrade this already 12-volt 445 with the later mechanicals from the 122S or the 1800, including an overdrive transmission. “The few [Duetts] that are found stateside today are the window-wagon variety. I have collected Volvos for 35 years and have never seen a panel version like this one,” the owner says. “It could very well be the only one still on the road in the US.”
Note the rare-as-hens-teeth original roof rack.
We agree with the owner that this rare 445 will get a lot of attention at local car shows. People will crowd around to see such a rare car. It’s also reasonable to expect the price of this Volvo, and others like it, to continue zooming up.
See Volvo 1959 Cars & Trucks for sale on eBay.
