If you decide to drive your beauty in the snow, get some studded tires that are narrow. You would be surprised how narrow that snow tires are on rally cars - narrow tires bite into the snow. BTW, todays snow tires do not have big tread blocks, they have relatively thin grooves to hold snow - snow on snow provides better traction than rubber on snow.

A second set of wheels is handy. You only need 3 because you can use an off-season wheel as a spare.

Check the studded tire rules in your state an any you wish ti drive in.

AAA can provide you with a list of laws - I was completely floored when we wanted to visit my daughter in North Carolina and found out how late in he season we could keep our studded tires on.

Bill;

Funny you should question if a car built in the country, a thirds of which is in the Arctic Circle, will be good in snow?...hmmm...I don't think there is much of a question about this, given the 544 renowned rallye success history. But yes, these were expertly driven, and often prepared.

The questionis, do you wish to subject the car to winter condition, including the (higher) risk of damage done by yourself, or others? Also, an large Anti-Sway Bar helps with dry handling, but is not necessarily desirable for snow and conditions of marginal adhesion...always fun, but less forgiving, and requiring increased driver attention...

Reference (PV drifting in snow...it looks quite stock, and yes, you wouldn't deliberately want to be driving around like that [unless you're like me and enjoy the hell out of that!], but showing that the car can be controlled perfectly well under those conditions is the point): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGMJRD-pmhA

PV snow rallye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO-J5NSjLTw

Cheers

Sure it's possible to drive it in the snow. It was designed and manufactured in a country that gets a lot of snow, and there it would have had to do that from new.

However, having compared snow driving in a 122 to a 245 in one of our rare snow "storms", I would suggest you get something more modern and "disposable" for winter driving and safely lock up the PV544 somewhere dry.
The 122 was so much less "fun" to drive in the snow than the 245 that I never did it again. There was a very thin line between being in control and over- or understeering. The 245 just felt much more stable.

I can't imagine the PV544 being much different in that respect to the 122.

I drove my 1958 444 1960-67 while living in Iowa, Chicago, Michigan and Utah. Lots of snow driving. It handled the snow well but by 1965 rust was through the front fenders. By the time I sold it, it was badly rusted. I am back in Iowa and my current 444 stays stored winters.

I would never use a PV as a regular driver in winter - whatever they say about what they use on the roads. The combination of spray, snow, slush build ups, etc. will rust it out in my opinion. The PVs have none of the plastic shielding that I think is a big help in keeping modern cars on the road longer.

In the mid 60's I had a brand-new 544 when I lived in Cincinnati, which gets a few snows every winter, sometimes 6-8 inches. Cincy is fairly hilly too which makes driving in snow even more tricky. You'll definitely want snow tires (with studs if allowed in your area) but the secret is adding some weight over the drive wheels. With a couple hundred pounds of sand-bags in the trunk, you'll be able to go about anywhere. Later, I had a pick-up truck which are notoriously light in the back-end, but with snow tires & 8 or 10 cement blocks in the bed, (secured of course) I could go lots of places other cars couldn't. The main thing is go slow & try to anticipate what the cars in front of you might do. On snow & ice your brakes are pretty much useless.

It is RWD so four snow tires at a minimum. Studded snows are better in heavy snow or mountainous areas. Chains are the best for serious mountain snow.

Sounds idyllic but here is the big BUT...

Where are you relocating? In the Eastern US and Canada a chemical salt combination is used to help melt the ice and maintain traction. Western provinces and states don’t use chemical salt. The salt will eat any car especially an old one with less rust protection than a newer model.

Do you have any snow and ice driving experience? If not and the car is valuable and in good condition you might consider getting a winter beater instead. Driving in snow can be treacherous and nerve wracking.
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Will I buy another Volvo??? We'll see....

Swedish car in a snowy climate - sounds perfect!!
Although if the roads are salted you may want to preserve the 554? O think I would run something disposable.......
Ian F