Have you ever shown up at a car show with a work-in-progress? Almost immediately, enthusiasts flock to see what your plans are for the car. They’ll ask you what you’ve already done, how you found it, and make suggestions as to what to do (and not to do) next. That’s exactly what you would experience if you were the next owner of this 1931 Chevrolet Cabriolet listed for sale here on eBay. As I write, bidding is up to over $13,000 but has not met the reserve. Sylvania, Ohio is where you’ll have to transport this beauty from if you purchase it.
The seller has done some careful work to get this patina appearance after the car had been stored since 1961. The body has been wet-sanded and coated with a semi-matte clear coat for preservation over what the seller states is a body almost devoid of rust (apparently there’s a bit around the tail light mounting).
The seller mentions dropping the oil pan and cleaning it out, but that’s not the only thing you see under here. This has to be one of the most solid unrestored 90-year old cars ever. As long as you aren’t looking for a Concours restoration (and this wouldn’t be the car to start from) this underside won’t need any attention for a long, long time.
Moving to the interior, the seller has taken care of reupholstering the seat, but left what might be the original top (you can see through it) in place. Somehow, I don’t think the Chevy will be driven much in the rain anyway.
I think it’s pretty safe to assume this is the original OHV 194 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine, producing 50 horsepower. The seller has replaced the radiator, brake shoes, axle seals and performed a tune-up. I can see this car being a lot of fun “as-is” at shows, parades, and just cruising around the neighborhood. Do you readers agree with me?
This is a neat old car. The only thing I’d do to it other than drive it is replace the restrictive tail pipe. If it’s as small as it looks in the pictures it’s strangling the engine something fierce. Drive it now, repaint down the road.
I would definitely install a turbo Buick V6, air conditioning, lower, modern wheels and brakes.
That’s nice. I didn’t know they had an underdraft carb then. Glad it’s being saved and hopefully left stock.
Strange place for a carb., under the exhast manifold, first time I’ve seen one of those! Guess it worked.
Updraft carburetors were quite common back in the day, and widely used in industrial applications. In fact I have one one on my stock ’50 Ford F-6.
Keep it stock for Pete’s sake, ditch the
patina, and add a new top, and you’re
pretty much good to go. I agree with
bobhess about that tailpipe too. A 21/2
inch dump will do just fine and let the old 6 breathe a lot better. I’d also add
a full pressure oiling system for the engine along with an improved cooling
system to make the car more of a
pleasure to drive and enjoy whenever
you wanted to. A juice brake conversion
wouldn’t be bad either.
Auction over. RNM
I’m ignorant about cars that old, but an OHV engine in 1931 seems out of place.
I do not know of a Chey that was not overhead valve
Chevrolet had an overhead valve six since 1929. The Stovebolt Six…..
$14,100 final bid and reserve not met.
In today’s market, seems to me that 14 should have done it. Or, at least, be very close. I wonder what the seller’s opinion is….
can i connect with the seller??
First of all 2” would have likely been stock for the exhaust. Secondly I do know that gm produced flathead engines I believe in 4 cylinder form as well as v8 form in the Cadillac.This engine would be have babit poured bearings and oil slingers and oil trays. Personally I’d go the route of a 235 cid engine which was a full pressure unit. I’d keep the original engine on a running stand for display purposes I’d also do a repaint in original colours.
I had a 30 Ford cabriolet. It had the Imitation arms like a folding top roadster but the top didn’t go down. It had full door frames and roll up windows and the back curtain opened and snapped to the roof inside to talk with anyone in the rumble seat. Why isn’t this Chevrolet called a roadster?