Big changes were coming to Chevrolet in 1955, including their first V8 engine in 37 years. So, the 1954 models were little changed after a nice facelift in 1953. Chevrolet built its last wood-bodied station wagon in 1951, so the seller’s 1954 210 4-door has all steel bodywork. Located in Windsor, Colorado, this running wagon has loads of patina but is said to run nicely for its age. Available here on eBay, the ante is $7,700 OBO.
Chevrolet continued to use the 150/210/Bel Air series designations in 1954 (and would do so through the popular “Tri-Five” era). Though the seller doesn’t indicate which model this wagon is, the cowl tag gives it away as a 210, the top offering in terms of trim (there were no 4-door Bel Air wagons in ’54). Appearance changes between 1953 and 1954 were minimal, with a change in the shape of the front turn signals being the more obvious giveaway.
The GM division built nore than 48,500 4-door wagons in 1954 with 56% being 210s. This one has the only motor offered that year, the 235 cubic-inch “Stovebolt” inline-6. It’s paired with a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission, although you could order the new Powerglide automatic. We’re told this Chevy runs, drives, and stops and is a lot of fun just the way it sits.
The body is mostly solid, though you’ll find a bit of rust after 71 years. The two-tone paint has an ample amount of patina if that’s your thing. Besides cosmetic issues, other items need attention, like some electrical stuff that doesn’t work, a missing headliner, and a cracked windshield. Fix these problems, and you’d have a good rat wagon to tool around in!
Runs, drives, and stops and is a lot of fun just the way it sits. There ya go, another drive and have fun car.
“Chevrolet built its last wood-bodied station wagon in 1951…”
Chevy went to the “tin woodies” (all-steel wagon bodies with simulated wood-grain steel panels) during the 1949 model year. Early ’49s still used some wood (tailgate, side trim, window framing) but much less than the wood-bodied ’48. So the last Chevy woodie was an early ’49 (or maybe a ’48 if you want the more traditional wood body). The “tin woodies” would run through 1954.
Ford used real wood in its wagons through the 1951 models.
Spot on Vance
Also, Chevy offered 3 wagon models in 1954….150 Handyman, 210, and the top of the line 8 passenger Bel Air Townsman wagon.
My college car was a ’54 210 with a deluxe interior. Good, solid car and good looking. Dealer said original owner ordered the interior and the white and blue interior was good looking and comfortable.
Of all posted today—this would be my pick. Nice looking—well made and easy to work on. Wish it was closer.
Agreed.
A few years ago I gave this 150 53 wagon to a nephew as a high school graduation present, knowing it was far enough down my project list that I’d probably never get it done. I was thinking 327 4 spd with 15X7 Cragars, stock body and factory colors. Unfortunately it has sat in his backyard with very little being done. On the other hand, another nephew was given a 41 Chevy 2 door (not the 41 in the picture). He and his sons have diligently built a nice street road – LS engine 4L60 trans, 4 wheel discs, etc. Just need to light a fire under the first nephew.
What do you do with a car like this?
Restore it? Paint it? Where do you get a windshield?
I have to stop talking about my trip to Havana, Cuba back in January because I’ve posted similar comments about other vehicles shown in these listings. But everytime I look through these BarnFinds.Com Listings, I see a car similar to one I saw in Havana. Among those cars were a number of 53/54 Chevrolet wagons similar to the two shown in this listing, which unlike the “vintage convertibles” of various years and makes, that are used mainly to cater to the “TOURIST TRADE”, cars like these Chevy wagons have been pressed into service as “TAXIS'” used in the “SHARED RIDE” trade. By that I mean, at various locations around Havana, the citizens “QUE” up in long lines to ride in a “SHARED TAXI” to take them home at the end of the day. So it is common practice to see a car like these 53 and 54 Chevy wagons loaded up with as ten people headed off to the outskirts of Havana.
I saw an old movie call “the killing” starring Sterling Haden circa 1955, about a race track heist. He was driving a tin woody probably a ’49 or ’50? Not many old movies used this type of car so I am extremely happy producer Stanley Kubreck did so. I heard to cut production cost he himself was in the back seat taking moving photos even when sterling was driving it. a neat car it was as all these old chevys were/
I did not care for the 1953 facelift in Chevrolet’s case. But the way they dressed-up the grille and the tail-lights for 1954 was JUST RIGHT. The sides remained essentially the same, from ’53 to ’54, for all three trim-levels; however, the ’54 sprucing-up of the front and the rear made a HUGE difference, in my view. This is instantly obvious as a Two-Ten, which was Chevy’s equivalent to Ford’s Customline. Considering the fact that this is a station wagon in running condition, $7,000 probably is a decent price (though not all THAT many years ago, this was a $50-$75 “beater” all day long: ran forever, got dinged and rusted, and nobody really cared). But ya gotta respect and have tender sympathy for a truly USED car that has somehow survived in useable condition. LOVE it!
The last of the babbitt bearing, dip oil stovebolts.
No inserts on ’54 235? $7k? Boy, the dollar is crashing faster than I thought possible!