Description

This 1931 Chevrolet 5-window coupe is a great rebuttal to all the complaints about putting Chevy motors in early Fords. Instead of putting a Ford in your Ford, why not get a Chevy in which to put your Chevy? Far less common but every bit as good looking, this neat coupe is the answer to the Chevy fan's wish for a great early cruiser with a classic look.

Showing just over 5000 miles since it was completed; this tidy coupe is a refreshing change of pace after looking at Model As all the time. Sure, the look is similar, but the Chevy guys did things a little differently and you can see it in the many wonderful details that are unique to the Bowtie models. It's covered in handsome burgundy paint that captures the elegance of these old cars, but puts a modern spin on it with a bit of metallic and a monochromatic look that works quite well. All the features that charm us on these old cars are still here, including the graceful fenders, neat visor over the windshield, and a rear-mounted spare, which carries a custom metal cover that's been color-matched to the bodywork. Nothing has been chopped or radically altered, and it even includes original-style bumpers and a handsome hood ornament atop the shiny chrome radiator shell. Fit and finish are very, very good, particularly for a car of this vintage that isn't a fiberglass reproduction, and attention to detail means that it'll always attract a crowd when you park it.

The interior is equally well finished. Clever use of modern components gives it an updated functionality, including the leather bucket seats with power adjustments for the driver. There's also under-dash A/C that's subtly installed, a polished tilt column with a wood-rimmed steering wheel, and a column shifter that frees up valuable floor space in the compact coupe. Beautiful VDO gauges are fitted to a custom instrument panel that's in the middle of the dash, just as they were in 1931. For cruising comfort, a Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo was installed to the driver's left, with speakers hidden throughout the passenger compartment. Custom door panels offer a simple look with nicely integrated arm rests and a bowtie emblem and the trunk is fully upholstered.

As I mentioned, this Chevy has traditional Chevy V8 power in the form of a nicely detailed small block 350. A few chrome dress-up items add some sparkle under the louvered hood, and traditional Chevy Orange paint seems like the right choice. It has a few performance-enhancing upgrades like a Comp Cams camshaft inside and an Edelbrock 4-barrel up top, along with a custom dual exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers. The front suspension is a Mustang II setup with A-arms, coil-over shocks, and rack-and-pinion steering, plus power front disc brakes. In back, a Ford 8-inch is suspended by leaf springs with modern tube shocks, so this vintage coupe feels far more up-to-date than it looks, which is entirely the point. The undercarriage was made for driving, so it's not super shiny or detailed, but it also means that you'll never think twice about turning the key and heading out on the road. And those handsome 15-inch Cragars look suitably vintage, particularly with fat 215/75/15 front and 225/75/15 rear Kumho radials that fill the fenders perfectly.

This great little Chevy does everything well and stands out because it's not cut from the same cloth as all the other '31 coupes out there. After all, what's more appropriate than a Chevy with a Chevy in it? Call today!