The first time I noticed a 544 was here in Fairbanks back in the 80s. I thought it looked cool and, being of Swedish extraction, there was some genetic appeal there too. A couple years ago a decent project specimen appeared for sale and I snatched it for $650. The summers are short here, and I don't have a garage, so I built a big shed to house it last summer, thinking I'd start on it in the winter. Well, that didn't happen, but I do hope to yank the engine in the next couple weeks and get started. If I can do that and the brakes and suspension, I'll drive the ugly version for a year or two and then get on to the body and interior. Then I'll be able to let you know my experience, but I can say that I've seen a few Amazons up here too and people do drive them. I would expect Anchorage region (known here in the Interior as the banana belt) wouldn't be much of a problem, since it's at about the same latitude as Stockholm. I lived down there a couple years in the 70s and the climate is much warmer. In my opinion, Alaska needs more old Volvos, so come on up!

Victor Johanson