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One Family Owned: 1935 Chevrolet 3-Window Coupe

For anyone who has owned a classic car for an extended period, the decision to finally part with their pride and joy can be a heart-wrenching one. Imagine how the family who owns this 1934 Chevrolet 3-Window Coupe feels because they have owned the vehicle since new. That’s 87-years of ownership, and in that time, the Chevy has accumulated a mere 40,000 miles on the clock. It now needs a new owner who is willing to treat it with the same respect it has received throughout its life. Located in Cataldo, Idaho, you will find the Coupe listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding has reached $15,055, and I’m not surprised that the reserve hasn’t been met at that price.

A classic car isn’t going to last close to nine decades if it isn’t treated with care and respect, and it seems that this Coupe has received plenty of both. It has received a single repaint in its original combination of Maroon and Black, and it presents exceptionally well. The paint holds a beautiful shine, and the panels are perfectly straight. There are no rust issues with the car, and the timber is also in excellent condition. The wheels are freshly powder-coated and provide a stunning contrast to the dark paint colors. The glass appears to be flawless, with no signs of cracks or clouding. Most of the trim is in good order, although the bumpers are showing their age. I would understand if the buyer chose to send these to the platers, although I would be tempted to leave them untouched to enhance the car’s survivor status.

Powering the Coupe is a 181ci 6-cylinder engine that should be pumping out 60hp. Those willing horses find their way to the rear wheels via a 3-speed manual transmission. By today’s standards, that isn’t a lot of power, but it was still sufficient to provide the Chevy with acceptable performance when it was new. The seller claims that the Coupe has a genuine 40,000 miles showing on its odometer, and given its ownership history, there is a chance that this claim can be confirmed. The vehicle is said to run and drive extremely well and that everything works as it should. The only issue that he identifies is the need for a new fuel tank. These are readily available for around $320, so that’s one item that isn’t likely to break the bank.

The Coupe’s interior is an interesting mix of old and new. I believe that the seat wears a newer cover, although the door trims appear to be original. They show all of the wear and stains that you might expect, but there are no tears to address. The news isn’t as good with the headliner because this has deteriorated badly. It will need to be replaced because it is badly torn. Reproductions in the correct material can be found for $260, and if the buyer wants the door trims to match, these can be purchased for $300 per pair. The only other item that might require attention is the rubber floor mat. It is looking dilapidated and could stand to be replaced. I haven’t been able to find one online, although I admit that my search was relatively brief. I suspect that some more intense investigation might unearth a positive result.

This 1934 Chevrolet 3-Window Coupe is a wonderful survivor, and it is the sort of classic that comes along very rarely. The company built 16,765 examples of the Standard Series 3-Window in 1934, a respectable figure in a sales environment rocked by the depths of The Great Depression. You will find no shortage of survivors from this era, but very few have a remarkable backstory like this one. I suspect that there might be a little way to go before the reserve is met, but regardless of what that figure is, I hope that the new owner continues to cherish this survivor. I also hope that they can hold onto it for as long as the current owners have. That would make a fantastic story for us to feature on Barn Finds in another 87-years!

Comments

  1. Avatar A.G.

    Y’all’s definition of a survivor is much different than mine.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Lou Rugani

      It’s a handsome piece of Americana and a window to our automotive heritage.

      Like 7
    • Avatar robert semrad

      What is yours A.G.?

      Like 0
  2. Avatar sir_mike

    Please don’t make a street rod out of her…..restore some items and keep as is

    Like 26
    • Avatar Dusty Stalz

      I’m a street rodder but I agree with you. It’s far too preserved and original to modify. There’s lots of other shells out there to do that to.

      Like 18
  3. Avatar scott m

    Bonkers, what a lovely car! What is the pedal to the right of the accelerator if not the starter (button on the dash to the left of steering wheel)?

    Like 5
    • Avatar ROBERT BEEBE

      the pedal on the floor is the starter, the one on the dash is the free wheeling button to kick it into neutral to coast.

      Like 5
  4. Avatar CB

    After nearly a century of ownership, why would any family sell this off? Geeez, keep it as a family heirloom…I wish I had something from my 1934 grandparents!

    Like 2
    • Avatar JRATT

      Ya, like some gold that they paid $35 per oz, for it. lol.

      Like 3
  5. Avatar JRATT

    Sorry, but I would drop a V8 in it and scare the hell out of anyone crazy enough to ride with me.

    Like 3
    • Avatar luke arnott

      No,No,NO!

      Like 18
      • Avatar Dickie F.

        I cannot believe that under hood photograph is of the same car !
        And it runs ??

        Like 2
    • Avatar robert semrad

      You are one sick puppy…..

      Like 0
    • Avatar Marcos L N Dias

      Tios-bisavôs a wonderfull model from Ford um the old times.
      Mu uncle hás hás onde
      Ford 1934 tive window up to 1980 and he sold for a bargain unfortunatly.
      Congratulatioms to the pender because it was a Classical .

      Like 0
  6. Avatar James A Buskirk

    Ah! the memories except for the wire wheels and two-tone paint job this is exactly what my first car was!!!!!!!! I’d have to win the lottery to be able to afford this one so I’ll save the pics. Restore do not hotrod.

    Like 3
  7. Avatar JP

    My dad had a ’21 & a ’32 Chevy!

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Johnmloghry

    My first car in 1960 was a 35 Chevy standard 4 door sedan purchased for $35.00. I would like to buy this car, but I see the bidding going more than I’m willing to pay, besides it’s not my dream car. That would be a 67 Buick Skylark GS convertible with factory 4 speed and a/c.
    God bless America

    Like 0
    • Avatar Ted Coombes

      My first car was a 1936 two-door Chevy I purchased for $100. It was the oldest car in the high school parking lot. About that needed rubber floor mat — back in 1968 I purchased a reproduction for my ’36 from J.C. Whitney that fit perfectly. Wish I could say that for the rest of what I purchased from J.C. Whitney. Are they still in business?

      Like 0
  9. Avatar Allen Member

    Just as I was looking at it on Ebay, it sold for $24,900. ‘ Musing at the Gothic gas pedal. ‘ Think Chevy carried that up through 1948. And the starter pedal too. Back in those days, staters had no solenoids. Engagement was mechanical – by means of that foot-operated lever.

    Like 4
  10. Avatar bobH

    Sold at 24.9
    My Dad had the same model 35 Chevy coupe, when I was a kid. Only difference I can note, my Dad’s 35 had a rumbleseat. Was somewhat of a hazard on the road, even in the 1940’s, due to lack of performance and not being able to keep up with what was then, the average traffic.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Tort Member

    Clean and repaint under the hood and maybe some minor interior work otherwise leave at as it is and take it for a drive on nice sunny days. $24,900 very fair price as there cannot be many around like it.

    Like 3
  12. Avatar Ted Coombes

    My 1936 Chevy had a 206.8 CID in-line 6-cylinder OHV. I thought Chevy used the same engine in 1934. In 1937 Chevy switched to a 216 CID.

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Bob Mck

    I hope she found a good home.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar Jim

    A beautiful car and worth every penny of the $24900 pairs by the top bidder. Let’s hope it never gets in the hands of a hot rod kid!

    Like 3
  15. Avatar Gary Rhodes

    AJ is correct, survivor is thrown around to much. A survivor is a ALL original car, very minor paint touch ups, mechanical maintenance item(tires,oil and filter,brake linings, rebuilt original brake cylinders etc) No ” All original fresh paint, new interior, new engine etc”) That is a RESTORED car, not an ORIGINAL SURVIVOR car.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Joe

      I would disagree

      If an original owner had it repainted and had seats recovered over 76 years, I think it should be considered a survivor

      Like 3
      • Avatar Richardd Adams

        I agree.
        If it is running with period correct parts – it is a survivor.
        Why should replacing brake parts be a more acceptable survivor repair, than a rust repair or a torn seat?

        Like 1
  16. Avatar Gary Rhodes

    Way to much money, needs threek or more in repairs

    Like 0
  17. Avatar BigB

    I dont understand “your” idea of a survivor? Repaint it and its still a survivor, powder coat the wheels its still a survivor? But dont rechrome the bumpers in order to maintain survivor status. Where did you come up with those rules for survivor status?

    Like 0

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