posted at the Cohort pbell56000
It’s one of my unfulfilled desires: A ’49-’52 Chevy fastback. 261 six out of a truck. Three on the tree. This condition is just about right. More patina is even better. A low restriction truck muffler. That’s about it.
I’d be tempted to call the number, but there’s no area code. Just as well…
I love that style
just love it
Try 903
Is that supposed to mean something to somebody?
For the area code… (Paul mentioned the number didn’t have an area code.)
It reminds me of an article on Hemmings blog about various artists who imagined what if Chevrolet had continued the Fleetline for the 1953-54 models in 3D fanarts or in resin kit.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2013/11/27/what-a-difference-a-roofline-makes
https://web.archive.org/web/20160324113450/http://mcwautomotivefinishes.com/resin/54chevfb.jpg
One guy had gone a step further to imagine a 1957 Chevy fastback. http://cs.scaleautomag.com/sca/modeling_subjects/f/35/t/76993.aspx
Looks like Robinson Reliable Drives in Waco, Texas – with an area code of 254.
Good detective work! However, I am not near as efficient as Joseph Dennis so I don’t have an exact date I took those photos, but near as I can recall they are about three years old. I know the car is no longer there, and I don’t think the dealership is either.
There is still a Facebook page for the dealership and if you scroll down their Facebook site this car is shown with a notation of “Sold”. This post is from July 2018.
Yup, And the ’51 is just right. Tail lights on the blade of the fender to emphasize width, simpler grill than the ’52, but the 51-52 dashboard which is my favorite. I love those heater control buttons sliding up and down the center chrome slots.
Much more handsome than they’re given credit for.
I know many readers here like “period correct” modifications, but I’d still like to see more old straight-6 GM classics with an GM Atlas I-6 dropped in. You would get all the modern drive-ability benefits but it would still be more interesting than a SBC.
Nice, but probably more fun to think about than actually do it, especially if you already have an older vehicle to take care of.
The VW bus my daughter was keeping tabs on is apparently for sale now, but we decided we would not inquire and keep thinking.
Beauty! ’49-’52 Fleetlines are also high on my list, although I slightly prefer the rear quarters of the ’49-’50 to the ’51-’52. I think my dream Fleetline would be a ’50 in dark blue. I’m sure it’s been bandied about here, but some people think that the Bentley Continental R (!) might have been influenced by the Fleetline. It seems plausible, but it almost smacks of cultural heresy. 🙂
“might have been”… How obvious does it have to be?
But I’d be quite happy with the imitation too. 🙂
Well, people tend to be sensitive about issues of class, so I wanted to throw in a nice, noncommittal “might have been” to smooth over the hurt feelings. 🙂
And hey, RR/Bentley did start using GM transmissions soon afterward, so you have to start cribbing GM somewhere! 🙂
Agree with Aaron65.
From the rear 3/4 angle the 4 door version of this car resembles the same generation Rolls-Royce.
This Chevy was a comfortable, high quality control, well built car … in desperate need of a transplanted #SBC V8 engine.
If I didn’t already have my ’57 Handyman, I’d be interested in this car. Have always had a soft spot for these Fleetlines and the cars themselves were quite good. The front suspension completely unbolts so it would be an easy upgrade, for example.
Beautiful cars. A widow down the street from us when I was a child in the late 1950’s had one of these in light blue. It was of course very old-fashioned even then but it was so immaculate, and driven at such a stately pace around town, that it seemed almost more limo-like than a Cadillac.
Of course there was a Cadillac version.
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/automobiles/collectibles/v-8-expats-roll-into-england.html
If pressed I would opt for a 52 because the front fender trim on the 51 always seemed to me a styling misstep. But all in all these may be the best looking inexpensive car of 1951. I would happily adopt one of these.
Like it and its a body style we didnt get four door was all they offered here and the occasional ute from OZ.
CC-in-scale again. AMT didn’t quite capture the lines right with this model, but it’s a shape I’ve always loved. Four door sedans and utes only in Australia, of course. When I was a kid the doctor two doors down had a ’50 sedan. American cars weren’t common here in the immediate postwar years, something to do with currency.
When I won the lottery one of these beauties is going to get the full restomod treatment and driven regularly!
*win* dammit.
This is the first of my parent’s cars that I can remember. I was 4 or 5 when it was replaced by a 53 Ford. In the days before child locks on doors, my parents bought 2 doors. No 4 doors until I was 11. I love the lines of these.
My parents (Mom) were the same way. 49 Chevy, 55 Chevy Bel-Air 62 Plymouth Belvedere all 2-doors. I was 9 years old when dad brought home a 64 Plymouth Fury 4-door!
Hofmeister kink
In 08 lost my job 64 Impala sold to guy in LA, 55 Belair 2 dr post went to Holland. Bought my ’50 Fleetline 2Dr sedan at Pomona from original owner. Paid 4k a lil high but not one spot of rust and only a couple dents with gorgeous original paint patina.Replaced the seized original motor with a 235 redid mechanical brakes , shocks , gas tank radiator and drove it all over, including 4 hrs desert drive to Vegas , pretty original 3 on the tree.
When I finally blew the 6 I put in a V8, th350, Camaro rear, Mustang II style front end and lots else including disc’s all the way around.
Its been everywhere and is a runner. Six hours to Lake Havasu and back no problems.
I love this car. I always wanted a Fleetline, but when I lived back east they were all rusted away 28 yrs when I could afford a car
I may get others ,but I’ll never sell this!