1951 Chevrolet Deluxe

Description

As many hobbyists have discovered, one of the best ways to get the cool old car of your dreams is to buy someone else's finished project. This 1951 Chevy coupe, for example, was completed in 1993, and includes all the goodies from A/C to a thumping stereo system. And it looks great, to boot! So why waste months or years building yours when this one is available for a bargain price? Put your own spin on it and get out there and start having fun!

You're in luck with this Chevy, because the work was quite well done, which means very clean sheetmetal that has a classic early '50s look that still hadn't joined the jet age. A few body tweaks make it look unique, from the peaked front fenders with headlight hoods from a '55, to all the shaved trim, it definitely shows the work of a talented craftsman. The finish is quite good, with a depth and shine that comes from careful prep and plenty of time invested on the back side with color sanding, buffing, and plenty of TLC since it was finished. The hood was louvered and has a pair of cool side vents that are cleverly integrated into the sheetmetal itself and those are 1941 Studebaker taillights for a very smooth, very unique look. And, of course, all the trim was painted to match, giving the car a monochromatic look that is broken up by a few well-chosen pieces of brightwork, including the stainless window frames and beltline trim.

The gray tweed interior was stitched up by the experts at Bitchin' Stitchin' in North Carolina. It offers a nice contrast to the bright purple bodywork, and nobody can argue that it doesn't look great and wear like iron. Custom bucket seats front and rear offer great comfort and support for long hauls, and they flank a full-length center console that stretches all the way to the rear package shelf. Even the dashboard got smothered in a layer of the fabric, with the instruments framed in a black panel that looks modern and OEM in execution. The center stack houses the A/C controls and the AM/FM/CD stereo head unit and a LaCarrera leather-wrapped steering wheel manages the helm. Pop the trunk and you'll find a fully upholstered cargo bay, complete with a pair of subwoofers in their own enclosure, a CD changer, and a full-sized spare, suggesting that this car was built for the road.

Plenty of power is on tap, courtesy of a 1967-vintage 327 cubic inch V8, and that's horsepower that'll never go out of style. Lots of chrome, an Edelbrock intake and Holley carb, and a set of Butler long-tube headers are all performance-enhancing goodies that work as well today as they ever have. Smooth inner fenders and firewall provide a great backdrop for the engine itself, and someone obviously spent some time making the plumbing and wiring look neat. The undercarriage is clean, anchored by a TH350 3-speed automatic and a Ford Granada rear, and a Fat Man Fabrications front suspension includes power rack-and-pinion steering and disc brakes. Shiny billet aluminum wheels with 205/60/15 front and 225/60/15 rear Goodyear tires add just a bit of rake that looks perfect.

A fun, reliable cruiser that has a ton of eyeball appeal. It's also affordable and ready to go. Why wait, call today!