I sometimes wonder how it felt to be a ’54 Chevy. They were a bit dowdy and had nothing more to say about themselves than their trusty old six-cylinder engine. It was one thing to have their cross-town rival, Ford, be bestowed with an OHV V8 engine in ’54, but the heartache had to be Chevrolet’s own ’55. It was a V8-powered smash success when new, and still popular 66 years later. I imagine the ’54 thinking, “That could have been me, I could have been a contender…” Well, we all live in our own time and make the best of it, and this 1954 Model 210 station wagon has its own story to consider. It is located in Baraboo, Wisconsin and is available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $18,500; there is a make an offer option too. Thanks to Larry D. for this tip!
To add insult to injury, the tri-five Chevies were blessed with the Nomad two-door wonder wagon, the ’54 had to make do with a 150, 210, or BelAir trim level, all three carrying a flavor of boxy roundedness, and ingress/egress via four doors only. That said, a ’54 Chevrolet wagon, like this 210, is not an everyday find, I could only find one other that has graced the web pages of Barn Finds and that was almost three years ago.
Today’s example is stated as belonging to one family since 1962 and still wearing its original finish. It has been clear-coated to preserve what’s still there and deter surface rust. Patina preservation? Your call. Regarding actual rust and rot, the seller claims, “Incredibly solid wagon- orig undercoating is there, only dogleg on rear wheels by the door has rust, and bottom of drivers rear quarter. Floors are remarkable and tailgate has rust on very bottom- works perfectly“. The rust is evident but it’s far from terrible, but we’ll have to take the seller’s word for the underside and the floors – no images are provided. The stainless trim still presents quite well and seems to be mostly present though the rocker panel strips have been removed but will be reattached. The chrome plating on the bumpers is more problematic, however. I don’t know the breakdown of ’54 Chevies by color, but it seems that the majority that I find are finished in this Bermuda Green Metallic finish. The family who lived across the street from me when I was a wee lad had a ’54 two-door sedan, either a 150 or a 210 and yes, it was this same shade of green as have been so many that I have spied between then and now. Interestingly, the seller converted the wheel size from its original 15 inchers to 14-inch wheels and wheel covers from a ’57 Chevy – not sure what the rationale would be for that move.
Under the hood is an updated engine, sort of. It is a 1956 vintage 235 CI, in-line six, which the seller claims replaced the original 216 CI six. Research, however, indicates that the 235 was the only engine available in ’54 and it was rated at either 115 HP with a three-speed manual transmission or 125 with the Powerglide automatic – so there’s a point of confusion. Anyway, the original engine was supposedly seized so in went the new 235, Powerglide transmission, and differential – apparently, he avoided the small-block temptation. Along the way, the electrical system was converted from six to twelve volts. So how’s it all run? No word but the engine compartment looks great!
The seller is big on the interior as he proclaims, ” The interior is in incredible original condition- seats, door panels, dash, rear rubber, and chrome. I have never seen such an incredible preserved interior“. I don’t know if I would go quite that far, but yes, it is in nice shape, the dash and instrument panel in particular. The odometer reads 77K miles, with no claim of originality, but the interior would seem to have been gently used, owing to reasonable mileage and surviving the test of time. The cargo area is a bit more worn but’s likely due to general station wagon use. The carpet has been removed but the seller states that he has a new carpet set which makes me think, “Why not install it?”
This will be one to watch for the very reason listed at the outset, it’s not the collectible ’55-’57 version but it has a certain charm, and rarity, all on its own. The question is the price, just right or not quite?
Yeah,it’s amazing just how much differed between the ’54 and ’55 designs, almost seem to be 10years apart. From the side this ’54 almost resembles a stubby suburban compared to a ’55 wagon. I think it’s really hard to put a price tag on it , not being of the ‘desirable’ vintage – on the other hand good luck locating another. Definately a unique find though IMO the even more bulgy ’52down Chevs look better
’54 210 two door sedan, white over light blue with the two tone interior, was a nice looking car. One of two college cars I had it had a big trunk for “stuff” and comfortable seats for 4 or 5. The 6 was a good highway cruiser but we did have plans for an Olds V8 transplant. Cleaner than the ’53 but old school compared to the ’55. Nice old car here.
Yeah, this is a real ” trucky ” looking wagon, almost as tho the higher ups at Chevy took a look at the proposed design and said: ” Nope, it isn’t boxy enough, you got make it look like a truck…but with a tiny bit of style. ”
I don’t know how much of a difference in looks there would be if the next owner reverts to 15 inch wheels, but take those wheel covers off, they look about as appropriate as a woman wearing jewelry on the hem of her dress instead of above the waist/near the neckline. They just don’t fit with the rest of this car, IMHO.
I really like this 54 Chevy wagon. I had a 54 Belair that I enyoed working on a couple of yrs and then sold. The 54 flywheel was damaged and could not find a replacement anywhere. None of the triple 5 yrs worked nor did any yrs earlier. Old school trans mechanic finally reworked and flipped it and worked just find. Those encapsulated drive shafts are strange things too. No this one isnt the triple 5 models, but thats just fine cause this one is close to a creampuff.
Yeah, this is a real ” trucky ” looking wagon, almost as tho the higher ups at Chevy took a look at the proposed design and said: ” Nope, it isn’t boxy enough, you got make it look like a truck…but with a tiny bit of style. ”
I don’t know how much of a difference in looks there would be if the next owner reverts to 15 inch wheels, but take those wheel covers off, they look about as appropriate as a woman wearing jewelry on the hem of her dress instead of above the waist/near the neckline. They just don’t fit with the rest of this car, IMHO.
I done think it being a 54 is a problem, in fact the 54 Wagon has much more style and detail than the tri-five 4 door wagons. I also think the price is reasonable. This B/F won’t be around long.
Pulling the old carpet out and leaving it out is a selling point. The seller is able to show the floor pans are solid.
Clear coat over “patina” aka rust. Can this fad please be over soon? Other wise a nice and unusual car that deserve to be brought back.
One reason these are hard to find is that they were legendary in the early years of Demolition Derbies.
Look at old pictures and you’re sure to see one or two of these babies!
Scenes in this movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOUkmYjKiJ4&ab_channel=YouTubeMovies
Why not install the carpet? Not all of us are young. I have had many cars that I worked on myself, but at age 70, there is no way I can bend over to get into the interior of a car! I am just glad I can still drive…
great style – btw the woody and the bulge-mobiles (tri5). One of my favs, last of the classics (mid/late ’30s – very early ’50s – for usa that is). Ply surban is here, Wolwo Duette (https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=volvo+duette&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8), even some ‘tin woodies”:
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=tin+woody+wagon&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
IIRC the stickshift equipped 235 for 1953 and 54 used solid lifters while the Powerglide equipped used hydraulic. At least both had full flow oil filtration at this point. IMO Ford was a little ahead style wise from 52 to 54, because this year still looked a little late 40s with the raised hood and pontoon fenders. Still has a lot of charm though.
The ad says they sanded off some primer the previous owner put on to avoid rust, but my thinking is they sanded it to try to make it look like actual patina and then clear coated it to prevent rust where they had just sanded. Big mistake on both counts IMO. Otherwise, I like this wagon and think it would be a cool cruiser to own.
That’s what you’d call a nice old bus.
Is the later 6 a shell bearing one, and is the older one a poured metal one? Might be a good reason for the swap. As well as the 12V conversion, that is…
This car reminds me of my dad’s ’54 Chevy two door in the same green color that he had bought new, I don’t remember which trim level. I was born in ’59 and just vaguely remember it, most vividly from the incident when I closed my thumb in the door. Those big old doors were heavy and awkward to close for a four-ish year old and I had to brace myself with one hand to get a big enough push with the other. Big mistake not watching where I put my brace hand.
My other clear memory of it was going with my dad to the Chevy dealer in the fall of ’64 to order a brand new ’65 Belair, then several weeks later when we got the call the ’65 had arrived, taking the ’54 to trade her in. That ’65 sure was sweet but I thought it was sad leaving the ’54 behind. I remember looking back at it as we drove out of the lot in the new one. My dad was a fanatic about car care and cleanliness, and that ten year old ’54 still looked great.
That evening he remembered he had left something he needed under the driver’s seat. He went back to the dealer the next day to get it but the ’54 was already gone.
It is sweet indeed but not at that price with that rust.
Sweet. I’d prefer a stick if I was buying it, but oh well. It had 57 Belair hubcaps… 54 ‘s had some nice half moons with big bluecbowties. I’d have them with thin trim rings and be set…Hopefully goes to a good home.. I think you have to put in hardened seats for unleaded so you can do the lifters anyway you’d like…