Hooray for Chevrolet! The Ford Model A has a tendency to suck all of the air out of the room when late twenties automotive matters come into play. And for good reason, Ford nailed it with the “A”. But Chevrolet was a player too and here’s a perfect example of their 1929 model line-up, what appears to be a “Coach” model, two-door sedan. Not encountered as often as the Model A, we need to take a close look at this Chevy. It is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $3,600, two bids tendered as of this writing.
I reference this car as “what appears” to be a Coach model because the seller has this Chevy listed as a Standard but research indicates that the Standard Model didn’t commence production until 1933. Any late 20’s Chevrolet aficionados who can shed some light on model identification are encouraged to comment. Ford won the sales contest in ’29 with 1.7 M vehicles sold, but Chevrolet was no shrinking violet with corresponding figures of 1.3 M vehicles.
For 1929, Chevrolet was rockin’ it with its first year 194 CI, 50 HP, in-line six-cylinder engine compared to Ford’s 201 CI, 40 HP four-cylinder job. Admittedly, Ford threw down the gauntlet in ’32 with the flathead V8 but that was still three years away. Speaking of this Chevrolet’s engine, it turns over but appears to be a non-runner.
This Chevy has a very light listing description, it is described as a barn find that has not run since the early ’80s and has been in the possession of its current seller for one year. It is still wearing its original finish and it looks like it. It’s rough but what does one expect with 91-year-old paint? Most importantly, the body appears to be sound with no indication of corrosion or crash damage though a deep dive on the underside is warranted. The trim, running boards, lights, etc. are all present so this is a pretty complete example.
The interior is another matter, it’s a mess, and the seller states, “interior needs work”. That may be the understatement of the year! There are two images but a complete redo will be necessary. Interestingly, the back seat is worse than the front seats and the headliner and its stuffing are all earthbound.
So the logical question is, what to do with this Chevy? It’s too original IMHO to hotrod or restomod, it’s just too complete and unmolested, with the interior being the worst of it. The exterior needs to be refinished but any substantial metalwork would seem to be unnecessary. The fact that the engine is not seized is a great start towards getting this car operational again. The major elements of a very original 1929 Chevrolet, a notable car lost in a sea of Ford Model “A”s, is wrapped up here in one convenient package. What is your suggestion, how would you bring this Chevy back to life (and please don’t suggest putting a Ford V8 under its hood)?
As a lover of the old sedan street cruisers it would be hard for me not to rebuild the frame and body and then put a full Chevy running gear under it.
This Chevy seams to be a very solid car,only a full original restoration would be nice for the car.
Now there’s a car that looks like it honestly earned it’s dirt.
To many unknowns when these old engines don’t run. Know nothing of the cooling system, nothing about engine internals, nothing about transmission, clutch assembly etc. etc. my pockets aren’t deep enough for this project, but sure hope someone who does will bring it back to factory specs.
God bless America
College Town in North western Wisconsin. Nice enough place if you don’t mind the whole winter thing. Probably more DUIs on Ski Doos than any other place on the planet. Pass the Linenkugel.
We had our very first drunk Public Scooter rider arrested in Ottawa Canada this week for driving whilst inebriated on alcohol. We have not had any arrests for marijuana imbibing riders yet.
Rental Scooters are going to be problematic IMHO.
Bob
At least snowmobiles and scooters are motorized. The Ontario Provincial Police busted people for floating down a river on rafts!
https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/police-beat/floaters-get-dinged-with-liquor-charges-on-beaver-river-2660986
50 horse power is far too little IMHO. Have to dump a small block in for the extra HPs.
Horse hair interior has to go.
May as well resto-mod the car IMHO.
Bob
You sound like you’re speaking from experience…
I think I am with Jim on this one… I would return it to a presentable and safe to drive condition while trying to remain authentic. I would not want to over-restore it. Yet, I would not modify it in any way.
The issue is going to be finding parts.
Unlike the Model A where parts are everywhere, this may be a little more difficult to source parts. I read an article about a woman that restored one and the body on wood framing might be the most intimidating aspect.
I hope the resto-mod folks don’t mess this one up… :-)
When I was in high school I had one friend with the identical Chevy and another with a Model A four door. Due to testosterone poisoning, the two were required to face off several times. The Chevy had plenty of speed when shifted at its limit and handily beat the Model A every time (of course my ’27 Hudson humiliated both of them).
The Chevy’s original drive train would be absolutely comfortable around town and on Blue highways. I think parts are not that hard to find either. There are a lot of overhead valve, six cylinder Chevys out there.
Might be worth fitting a later six that uses big-end shells, just for practicality.
Did someone put in a couple of badgers inside and let them go at it?
Strong work on the badger reference.
They do know what they are looking for. Maybe in the 1950’s, something could have been done to a car like this to impress the ladies. But not today, there isn’t much to work with when it comes to the cars antiquated lines.
Steve R
You are lucky, you can keep saving until something that is closer to being road worthy turns up.
Steve R
No, no job, no prospects. My ex employer used to have a large car collection (not that he would let any of us see them, much less speak to him). One day after 24 years of faithful service he let me and a hundred or so of us go. Said he had to stay “competitive”. Not sure what the problem was, the company had 7 straight years of record profits and he kept buying collector cars. In my next life I am going to take his example, and be born into a family where I was third generation money.
Mr. Public, a better plan is to find a job with better prospects and upward mobility or work for yourself rather than rely on someone handing you money. The days of lifetime jobs in the private sector are over.
Steve R
I like the factory hot air intake.
For all those Chevy lovers out there as myself a Chevy lover, I think I could speak for a lot of them and say, leave the body like it is but all cleaned up of course, and the interior have redone to original quality and Get the motor running to original as well, that would be the best for that beautiful car.
Welp, it might have a phlathead, but imo it’s useless in the Hot Rod ‘sphere.’
It’s gonna cost a bundle to convert it to something useful, but it does look like a ‘solid’ project.
I don’t buy overpriced due to the cost of upgrading. This one is priced correct. Too many greedy dudes for my moods out there.
I’d find a good suitable chassis from a wreck and then go to work. Nothing gets in the way of my plasma cutter and mig.
After the metal work is finished it is on to paint, wiring (all connections soldered) and the the upholstery shop.
A cool find!
At least it’ll attract 110-year-old women.
Lol
If I didn’t have a bunch of projects going I would get and bring it back to drivable condition and keep the paint as is and drive it around on a Sunday. All my girl friends hated my true love, CARS. Cars have always taken my attention away from the girls. Even my wife still complains that she has a hard time competing with the cars.