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BF Classified Find: 1951 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe

A desirable two-door hardtop model, this 1951 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe hardtop looks like a car that I would just maintain and drive as it looks now. It’s cool as heck (sorry for the strong language) (cough) and it would be a fun project. The seller has it listed here as a Barn Finds Classified and it’s located in Davison, Michigan, about a dozen miles east of Flint. The seller is asking $7,500 or best offer.

I wasn’t born until the early-60s, but my parents had a Chevrolet four-door sedan of this vintage, a maroon one. I barely remember it as a kid but I remember seeing photos of it. I have always liked them, but I like pretty much every car so it’s not surprising. And, what’s not to like about a Chevy Deluxe? The Chevrolet Deluxe was made from 1941 to 1952 and in 1949 they received really the first redesign after WWII. There is no word from the seller as to if the rear fender skirts come with the car, I hope so.

Chevrolet offered both a fastback Fleetline and the notchback-style Styleline. Both models came in Special and Deluxe and starting in 1950, the plush Bel Air was a choice for discerning buyers. The seller says that this car is from Texas and was brought to Michigan in 1983. It was driven into a barn in 1984 and it hasn’t been started in two decades, but it was running good when it was put into storage.

The interior looks good but this is basically the only photo not counting one which shows the back seat. That’s it, there are no engine photos, unfortunately, but it should have Chevrolet’s 235.5 cubic-inch inline-six with 105 hp. There are some period go-fast upgrades that a person can do to keep it correct for the era but still have a little more oomph. This car has the Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission which was quite luxurious in the mid-1950s. Would you keep it mostly original or?…

Comments

  1. Avatar RGSmith1

    I’d leave it as is. Get some NOS or try to find the original hubcaps. If I had the ready cash, I’d be heading down state right now, mask and all!

    Like 13
  2. Avatar geomechs Member

    Very nice car. Got a few badges on it but with a little elbow grease, it should show quite well. Yes, with the Powerglide transmission it should be powered by the 235 which is not to be mistaken for the later 235 that had ‘readable’ oil pressure. Get this up to operating temperature on the highway and you will be rewarded with somewhere in the neighborhood of 12-15 psi. That’s OK, those old babbitt-pounders were amazing at how much abuse they could take. I would even consider it but times are tough and the realities of retirement plus the pandemic are being felt…

    Like 21
  3. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    Great find, Scotty! And it has less rust than some of us readers, which is a feat by itself considering it’s older than most..
    While the Fleetline was better looking, the Styleline was more practical IMHO. Were this for sale as a hulk it’d be tempting to chop the top, french the taillights/headlights/antenna etc. drop in a period-correct hot rod motor and cruise it, but as it stands here it deserves to be lovingly restored and driven like Miss Daisy was on board..
    Fun stuff in a tough time!
    Watch your temperature with that cough, Scotty! We all enjoy your stuff so stay healthy.

    Like 9
  4. Avatar DRV

    This was the most common old car driving around when I was a kid. Even the color was on all of them. The hardtop is another story though…

    Like 3
  5. Avatar TimS

    Great color combo plus I could drive the Powerglide. What fun this would be to sort out and cruise. I’m no fan of “patina” but this one would be too cool to repaint, at least for a while.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Deacon

    Well I’d leave it alone and slide a 350hp 396 in there with a 400 turbo auto

    Like 4
    • Avatar local_sheriff

      Is that to ‘leave it alone’…?

      Like 19
    • Avatar jerry hw brentnell

      better idea go find a 292 gmc inline 6 truck motor and get rid of the slushbox power glide 4 speed muncie transmission and dump that closed drive shaft rear end a nova rear end with posi traction and drive it!

      Like 3
      • Avatar Charles Turner

        Nope, if you want all of that then go find yourself a muscle car….that’s why they built ’em in the first freakin place. Just sayin man, just sayin.

        Like 1
  7. Avatar TimM

    I wish this was a little close and I could try to negotiate with the guy!!! This is in amazing looking shape the only thing I wish it was a standard instead of an automatic!! Nice looking car all in all and the two tone green looks great!!

    Like 3
  8. Avatar Dave

    Would you keep it mostly original or?…

    Or.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar canadainmarkseh

    I’d get it running and make sure it’s mechanically safe. I’d polish it up and just cruise in it on nice days. Unfortunately I live in a place where those cruising days are only six months of the year. Nice find.

    Like 4
  10. Avatar bone

    I’d leave the paint as it is for now , but that interior would have to be a complete redo- it looks like it was installed by someone with multiple personalities !

    Like 5
  11. Avatar Johnmloghry

    Nice car. I hope the seller gets exactly what they want for it. No negotiations, buy or pass.
    God bless America

    Like 7
  12. Avatar JP

    Great find for a nice price! 2drhdtps in this age & condition aren’t easy to come by. Hope the buyer doesn’t chop it!

    Like 3
  13. Avatar John S.

    Wow, that’s a really nice start to a sweet little cruiser! Wouldn’t take much to buff it up. The interior could use some love, but the rest seems pretty good. Wait… I need to stop looking at cars like this! I don’t have any more room for another car… but… I do have some open land space behind the shop… I could build another addition… I could squeeze another 2 bays back there… if I saw & hammer very quietly, she might not hear it… Hmmm…

    Like 5
  14. Avatar Tort Member

    Very nice. Drive and enjoy and work on the things that need attention when you feel like it or have the time but definitely leave it original. Have a trailer and only two hours away but have two projects in the garage and would like to have a place to sleep tonight.

    Like 3
  15. Avatar Doug Emde

    If it were my birth year, 52, I would grab it.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Jon

      We would be fighting for it. LOL, Then that drive train from the engine to rear axle would need to come out, and replaced with LS power. RRR.

      Like 0
  16. Avatar Dave Mazz

    I got my driver’s license with a 1951 Styleline sedan, the 4-door version. It was the first, (and only) new car my dad ever bought. Fortunately, dad was *not* adverse to more power and traded the Chevy in on a lightly used 1955 Pontiac Chieftain (V-8).. The Pontiac was a lot more fun to drive!!

    .

    Like 0
  17. Avatar K.B.Roadsend

    Humpt
    Leave it like it is ….Just get out the can opener ,open er up dump out the contents drop in the ……wait for it ….”SBC”..Then onest you get it going faster then yank out whats left to make it stop better .
    Golly bum ,geeze Louezzee where are all you kids going in such a hurry ….the coffee shop or a hamburger stand
    This is the kinda car for an person to enjoy in its fullness You get in it and take off at what ever speed you wish leading the procession ,proudly wearing your two bumper stickers on the back …..”If you were in such a hurry you should have left earlier “and ” I may be slow but Im ahead of you ”
    I dont drink nor know anything about it but I have never heard of anyone cracking open a bottle finely aged wine and pour in 7up to fizz it up and make it go a lil faster

    Like 2
  18. Avatar Mikey D.

    I’m with you, K.B. I love those ’49-52 Chevs just as they were/are. If I want more power, I’ll drive a newer car. I enjoy the vintage vehicles for what they are, just me I guess…….

    Like 1
  19. Avatar roger Member

    is the 51 chev still available

    Like 0
  20. Avatar Eddie H.

    These guys that look at a nice, decent vintage car and can only think of just hot rodding it? Wow! Haven’t enough of the original vintage vehicles been sacrificed to the alter of juvenility already? My God!

    Like 0

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