Chevrolet would produce nearly one million automobiles in 1936, reclaiming the number one sales position for the year. Two major series were offered, the Standard and the Master Deluxe, the latter wearing a four-inch longer wheelbase than its junior partner. The seller offers a 1936 Chevrolet but doesn’t tell us which model it is, and I’m leaning toward the Master Deluxe. It appears to be a solid car with a stuck engine, awaiting a restoration. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this vintage Bow-Tie is available here on craigslist for $7,000. Thanks for another cool tip, T.J!
The 1936 Chevies were reworked versions of the 1935 Chevies. But there were a few changes, such as no more frontal “suicide” doors, the use of steel disc wheels, and a larger fuel tank being a few of them. The Standard Series employed a 109-inch wheelbase platform, while the Master Deluxe was treated to a 113-inch wheelbase. So, the senior cars not only had some more goodies they also should have ridden a little better. All Chevies, regardless of series, used a 207 cubic inch inline-6 that produced 79 horsepower with a 3-speed manual transmission. Gadzooks, the power!
We gather from some of the photos the seller found this car in a deep, dark garage and brought it home to either restore or resell. We get the impression the Chevy has been sitting for some time, enough for half of the valves in the motor to become stuck. Though the automobile rolls, the clutch is stiff so leaving it in neutral would be a good idea. Somewhere along the way, someone converted the car from a 6-volt to a 12-volt electrical system.
Overall, the body looks fine and wears red primer in most places. A couple of spots have previously been patched up with some filler that the buyer may want to revisit. There is some extra glass to remedy the lack of a windshield or back glass and the back seat is still there, but without upholstery (just a frame). The headliner is long gone, but where wood was used, it’s not bad for the age. That part suggests this could be a Master Deluxe. At 60,000 miles with a clean title, this old girl is waiting for the next step back to the real world.
What a great street cruiser this old guy would make.
My first car was a 1936 Chevy Standard two-door. The Masters featured chrome headlight buckets and chrome trim along the hood louvres. The car in question does not have chrome headlight buckets but appears to have the chrome louvre trim. My Standard lacked these features and did not have a temperature gauge. In 1936 Chevy offered both independent front suspension (which Chevy called “knee action”) and a straight front axle. My Standard had the latter, and my Dad told me I was lucky for that.
Aunt had a ’36 Master Deluxe, when I was 10, in 1951, she was driving it daily, it was pointed out to me that it was a great car: no structural wood as in the ’34’s and earlier, metalic brown paint, two tail lights (cheap model just had one), two sun visors, very tough mohair uphholstery, it was still fine at that point, vent windows, front and rear, crank controlled, a GM feature for decades , and if in overdrive, would do 60 all day. In 1951, in New England, there were not many roads where going more than 60 all day was possible so that was enough. I never got to drive it, she traded it in in 1954 on a ’51 Chevy which I did get to drive.
The 1936 Chevies still had some wood used in their manufacture. It might have been confined to the doors.
There was no overdrive Transmission for Chevrolet until 1955.
I like the sign two stoned guys and a garage
Whoever winds up with this one has a blank slate to make a real gem out of it.
Looks pretty solid, in today’s market, maybe $3500.00, be neat to make it a driver or a hot rod.