- Seller: Jeff D (Contact)
- Location: Albany, Oregon
- Mileage: 3,200 Shown
- Chassis #: 14-JKL-14974
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 235 cid Inline 6-Cylinder
- Transmission: 3-Speed Manual W/Column Shift
Chevrolet really hit it out of the park when they debuted the Styeline. Of course, with a name like Styleline, the expectations are bound to be high. The 1950s would go on to be the era of wide, low, curvy designs, and these cars kicked things off nicely. This 1951 Styleline Deluxe is an exceptional example, having undergone a complete restoration, and is ready to enjoy. The seller has decided to move it along, though, and is offering it here on Barn Finds. It’s located in Albany, Oregon.
When the seller started restoring this Chevy, they decided not to hold back. It’s been treated to new paint, new interior, a complete drivetrain rebuild, and a new radio. It’s ready to drive and will make its next owner a great cruiser.
The interior presents nicely, having received new seat upholstery, carpets, door panels, visors, and headliner. If you want a comfortable classic that can haul the friends and family to car shows, this would be a fantastic option. The seller states that all the windows, locks and door latches work as they should. The original radio is still mounted in the dash, but isn’t hooked up, as the car’s been converted to 12-volt. The modern CD player is mounted in the glovebox and can be controlled remotely.
Power is provided by a 235 cid inline-6 cylinder engine, which is mounted to a 3-speed column shift manual transmission. Our younger readers might have a slight learning curve with the column shifter, but once you are used to it, it’s great for cruising. The seller states that the engine and transmission were both rebuilt about 2,300 miles ago and are in good working order.
We don’t often see classic 4-doors in this nice of condition. Clearly, a ton of work has gone into it, but now it needs a new owner who can enjoy cruising in it. If that person is you, be sure to make the seller an offer!
Love that color combo. GLWTS.
Thank you! The car gets tons of positive comments on the color.
What was the most miles that you drove it at one time? How old are the tires and are they radial tires? How is the suspension and the alignment? Does it drive straight and is the steering wheel centered and not wander left to right while driving it? How many miles does the rebuilt motor have? Any leaks? How does the underside look? Any rust or rust repair?
Hello fellow barn finder Greg, thanks for the query and here are the answers
I drive it every other day. The most recent cruise was about a 50 mile round-trip to a local cars and coffee in a neighboring town. Early last spring I went on an 80 mile round-trip to my office and back. It does have radial tires and the date code is 11th week of 2007, they have 3600 miles on them, those same miles are on the rebuilt engine. It tracks straight down the road, doesn’t wander left or right and the steering wheel is centered. It does have an intermittent drip from the transmission output shaft seal. As well I just looked under the car moments ago and saw that the engine pan drain plug is wet so the plug needs a new flat seal. I just changed the oil 200 miles ago so I’m not going to address the oil pan plug leak and I’m getting up in the years and won’t change the transmission output seal. The underside looks great and there is no rust. Feel free to ask away if you need more thank you.
Thank you Jeff for the reply!
Nice car. Did the same exhaust header split on my ’54. Beautiful sound.
Love the sound of a split 6!
Just a beautiful car and well presented. Love the curb feelers on the right front fender. Haven’t seen those in decades.
Does anyone know if this engine still had the babbited bearings or is it the modern inserts?
It’s a bearing 235. The curb feelers always garnish compliments!
The engine you’re thinking of is the 216 ‘Stovebolt” which preceded the 235. Those had dipper rods which splashed oil onto the crank and bearings. They had to run 20 weight to do their job effectively. Those engines had inserts too, “Babbit” refers to the material the bearings are coated with. The 235 had a much higher pressure oiling system and didn’t need the ‘dippers”.
Thanks JEFF you laid it out, GOSH I sure would like to own this , I was 19 when it came out, SEEs so many great ars come out when my pocketis not quite ready, BUT in Jan. I will be ready by gosh,
Didn’t the 51s with the manual transmission have a 216 cubic inch engine, not the 235? Has the engine been replaced? When the engine was rebuilt, were the Babbitt bearings replaced with insert bearings? Looks like a nice restoration. Good to see one.
I was thinking the same thing. But, the 235 is a better engine than the old poured babbitt bearing 216.
Thank you for the questions and comments John. see my reply to Greg above.
My late 1950’s college ride was a 1952 Styleline Deluxe 4 door sedan that came from the factory with the 216 cid engine and 3 speed manual transmission. All 1951 & 1952 models with 3 speed manual transmissions, including the top of the line Bel Air, were fitted with the 216 cid engine.
All models with the Powerglide automatic transmission were fitted with the 235 cid engine. IIRC, the 235 engine was originally developed for Chevy trucks.. At some point, this car must have undergone an engine transplant (not a bad thing).
I wish my ’52 had the larger 235 engine and overdrive. Cruising the turnpike at 70 mph for 4+ hours with the 3 speed manual, I was thrashing the 216 engine within a couple hundred rpm of it’s redline.
You might want to correct the write up’s “original stereo” to original six volt AM radio.
nice car but this style is hard to sell. when they do its not for alot of money. best of luck to seller
Thank you for the comment Hairy! To each his own…
Appreciate your responsiveness to the questions and comments, Jeff. If I were you, I would reconsider the ‘no reserve’ on a car as nicely presented as this. You don’t want to wind up giving it away. Best of luck to you.
Hey all thanks for all the interest. This engine was replaced somewhere in its life with a 235 that was then later rebuilt about four years ago. One can identify the 235 because the side plates are different than those on a 216 so this is an insert bearing engine. Thanks again people!!
Hey all, I wanted to inform all you fellow Barn Finders why I’m selling the “Cheverde”…. my left knee went south so my clutching days are over, IMHO it’s a wonderful car and I think the next caretaker will be jazzed to own and drive it.
Nice looking car and looks to be very well restored. I like the period accessories, especially the visor. It really suits the car. GLWTS.
‘Original stereo’ in a 1951 AM radio? Do tell.
I can not believe Chevrolet went from this nice curvy styling to the boxy 1953 & ’54. My parents had a ’53.
I’ve told ya’ll a few times my father would always buy a beat up car for pennies, work on it and the sell it for a profit. I’ve seen many of these in the late 50s and 60s come and go through our garage, the only thing is they never looked this good.
They always had the rubber floor mat, no carpet, no whitewall tires, no skirts, no fog lights, no headlight brows or a windshield brow. They were always plain Jane’s. Obviously no duel exhaust. If they did, I’m sure my father would make it a single exhaust. He did that to his 1960 Cadillac.
So, Jeff, beautiful example of a well dressed ’51 Chevrolet. As said before, beautiful color combo, the spinners (from Oldsmobile?) add a touch of nostalgia and the whites set it off. Primo interior. Love the makeout knob on the steering wheel
Great car Jeff! It is easy to tell a 235 from a 216. A 216 uses valve cover retainer nuts on the center of the valve cover. (2) Where the 235 uses small bolts or screws around the perimeter of the valve cover. No need to try and figure out side cover sizes. That game is for 230, 250 and 292 Chevys.
Good luck on your auction!
Thank you Wayne! I appreciate it.
We don’t often get to see such a pretty early 50’s 4 door and this one looks to be just that. Great looking car Jaff and good luck selling it.
@Seller – I lived in Albany, Oregon when the Stephen King movie “Stand by Me” was made and it seemed like all the good early ’50s cars around were used. Did this one also appear in that movie?
No it did not. Thank you for the comment.
Thank you Mike. I appreciate it mucho!
Love that car . If I just didn’t buy a 50 fleetline sedan I would have been interested . 49 – 52 is my fav . I think they r the best looking. Better then the tri 5
This is a wonderful restoration Jeff, and a labor of love I imagine. She is absolutely beautiful, and if I were in a position to give her a new home I definitely would, column shift and all.. which I do know how to drive btw, and I’ve driven a car with the steering wheel ball attachment. I always thought those were cool. What is the chrome on the dash though? I’ve never seen one before.
Hello John. Thx for the good words. The chrome on the instrument cluster is the radio bezel sporting vertical ribs to suggest moving forward.
Hello John. That is a prism called a traffic light viewer that has its viewing direction about 30 degrees verticle to “see” above the the windshield visor.
I should probably let others answer your question but that chrome thing on the dash i believe is so you can see the traffic signal when you pull too far up and the traffic light is almost above you instead of in front of you. I’ve seen others that weren’t quite as fancy.
Anyone else?
Angel, I believe that you are correct. Particularly needed with the large windshield shade on these cars. Although I don’t recall seeing one like this. I hope you are well!
Hi Wayne,
Yes, thank you, I’m good.
As I said this looks like a fancy one because the others I’ve seen have been frameless, no chrome. They also look like a lighthouse lense.
I mentioned to Ken that I STILL haven’t received your email address from the staff member who promised it. Ken hasn’t either.
I wish they would just let us exchange them ourselves.
Always a pleasure to see you here.
Hmmm, the 235 engine in this beaut is not the stock engine. “the 235 cubic inch engine was not stock with a manual transmission in a 1951 Chevy sedan; instead, the 235 engine was specifically paired with the automatic Powerglide transmission, while the manual transmission models came with the smaller 216 cubic inch engine. The 235 engine introduced with the Powerglide was a higher-performance version with hydraulic lifters.” (Google AI)
Back in the 60s, I owned a ’52, 53, and a ’48 in that order, all three on the tree. My ’48 had the same color scheme as this car and a sun visor as well. It was the last year you could start it with a crank. Great roomy car, like a limo. Had two heater cores, one on firewall and one under front seat that blew hot air to front and back. Darn; didn’t have sense to keep it back in ’72. My brothers had a ’53 automatic and it was a gas hog. Nobody much cared when petrol was 25 cents a gallon, and a beater car could be had for $300 and less.