“You won’t ever find such an honest car” the seller tells us. Hmmm… now there’s an opening a line for you. He also states, “FINAL PRICE DROP“. Really? Of course, I don’t know what the prior price was so I’ll have to take the seller’s word. Anyway, I’ll bite, I like what I see and want to know more – and this 1940 Chevrolet Master 85 is a business coupe and that’s a body style that has always fascinated me (it’s green too!). This old Chevy is resting its bones in Brisbane, California and is available, here on craigslist for $18,000. Once again, this is another T.J. find, thx T.J.!
I’ve rolled some very remote parts of this old country, actually for years, when I was in the railroad business, and I had luggage, briefcases, VAL maps, schematics, property surveys, commercial real estate listing poster boards, paper presentations ad nauseam, and on and on. And never felt the need for a car designed specifically for hauling business particulars – a Malibu, Taurus, or Accord always seemed to do the trick. OK, so maybe the business coupe was better suited for costume jewelry presentations, patent medicine cases, aluminum siding displays, or some smoke and mirrors, but today, when I see a business coupe I think hot rod!
Here’s another thing to consider. Yesterday I sang the praises of a 1941 Packard Club Coupe, and that was the first thing that I thought of when I first spied this ’40 Chevy. The visual similarities are hard to deny. The price, however, back in the day, wasn’t. While the Packard retailed for $1,205, this Chevy could be yours for $695. So, is one a substitute for the other? I would posit “hardly” in 1941, today, 82 years later, well, the price-dropped Chevy is 100 bucks more but it wouldn’t surprise me if it garners more interest than the Packard – unfortunately.
The seller tells us, “Never had any rust, very original car with all the dings and dents that come along with being loved and driven for over 80 years. Mostly original paint (Alameda green) with just the right amount of patina“. I seriously dislike the entire Patina thing! There, I said it (and I didn’t insert it in the Packard post title – it was later altered). How does a worn-out finish enhance the value of a vehicle? Well in a world where people pay a premium for jeans that are factory-flayed to the point that they’re ready to fall off or one coughs up huge bucks for a Fender Stratocaster guitar that has been intentionally “aged” to imitate one of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s well worn and played, axes, my guess is that “shot” sells. OK, off the soap box now and I’ll admit, this Chevy presents well. It has a sorta hot rod vibe and would serve perfectly in its current threads. Of course, it would look great with some new sprayed-on duds too.
Eighty-five horsepower strong is what emanates from this bow tie’s 216 CI, in-line, six-cylinder engine. The seller claims that it’s easy to start and extremely reliable – apparently the previous owner rebuilt the engine. Also stated is that the three-speed manual gearbox has been rebuilt as has the entire brake system.
The interior is fantastic. The seller tells us that he upgraded it beyond the bargain basement status usually found in a business coupe. Carpet has been added and the door panels and seat have been reupholstered with period-correct material. Ditto the instrument panel and steering wheel, they really show well and enhance this Chevy’s attractiveness.
OK, “most honest ever”, or “the final price drop”? Who knows, and it doesn’t matter, this Chevy is what it is and stands well on its own merits. As for it being a Packard Club Coupe substitute? Naw, I’m just throwing that one out there, simply based on the similarity of appearance and body style. I wouldn’t hot rod a Packard, but this Chevy is fair game in my mind. It has the appearance and interior, but that powertrain? Well, hope springs eternal, right?
Would this Chevrolet be a fitting substitute for a Packard? I guess you would have to “Ask the Man Who Owns One”…
Oh no, no, no, opposite ends of the spectrum. Since I was the guy you could ask that owned a Packard, a Chevy owner only wished they could have a Packard. A Packard rubbed elbows with the likes of Cadillac, Lincoln, Imperial initially, and were “cheapened up” for the masses, but still retained much of the Packard class. I mean no disrespect, but a Chevy was just a Chevy the Packard buyer traded in on their way up.
This is still a great find, business coupes had a specific purpose, as Jim mentions. There was no visual way to see new and exciting products like today. It had to be done in person, and salespeople literally had the vehicles full of products, from A-Z, looking for prospective buyers. Today, someone like that would be kicked off the property, but back then, people wanted to see what was new, and all jokes aside, the “traveling salesman”( sorry, not many ladies) did a great business. It was not unusual for these to rack up hundreds of thousands of miles, mostly rural, and few survived. As media changed, and businesses grew, panel vans took over and the business coupe faded, but make no mistake, these had their place in retail history. I hope it stays original for that alone.
One thing about that 216 engine: it has a splash lubrication system to the bottom end so you have to keep the rpm’s down if you want to avoid throwing a rod at highway speeds. I found out the hard way.
The really great thing about coupes and salesman was that you could sleep in them. And they did.
I don’t like the look of most of the business coupes, but I did like the Packard. Comparing a Chevy with a Packard is like comparing cottage cheese to ice cream…
Apparently, the seller has been trying to offload this car for quite a while, and has probably reached the point of frustration by the sound of his ad. I believe the reason he hasn’t sold is quite simple: he’s asking too much money for it. That’s simply not an $18K car. He’s trying to recoup his investment, and we all know that rarely happens in this hobby. You buy, restore, own and drive these cars because you love them.
Really well said bob! Neat old car!! But it’s only worth what someone is willing to pay for it!!! I guess you have to put a $ figure on the enjoyment the car gave you and deduct it from the asking price!!
I think you featured this car a couple of months back. The price seems close to then.
Nope, I research back four years before I write a post, we haven’t covered this one.
JO
I certainly enjoyed reading this item. Great description and discussion (Packard, patina), enhanced by meaningful comments (sales, lubrication).
Like my 1950 Champion, this baby is screaming for a mild manor’d V8.
Mine isn’t…it’s only origional once…..
Looks like the driver’s side front fender is askew, the four chrome strips are not in line with the rear ones and not parallel to the ground.
Makes the car look like its back is broken.
Bug’s me a lot.
Other than that , very cool car , especially the interior.
Thats the Packard picture your good eyes have spotted. They included it for comparison, but it threw me too because of the similar color.
Exactly! And that was my point, the visual similarity between the two cars.
JO
Chevy, Packard, Ford, I wouldn’t hesitate to resto-mod any of ’em. After lusting over ’39 & ’40 Fords since high school in the early ’60’s I finally scored a pristine ’40 Ford 2 dr. sedan deluxe, completely stock in 1995 , all original. Me being the misfit gear head had visions of finally having a hot rod after a tiresome association with various muscle cars, Corvettes & Harleys. My plan was a 500 inch Caddy , THM 400, 9″ rear , IFS front suspension. After starting to accumulate parts & pieces, the Caddy motor & trans, bits & pieces of an updated interior, I was on my way. What happened was the more I drove that old Flathead and the good vibrations it exuded made me put off any mods, I just couldnt do it, it was too enjoyable in its stock as produced 85 horsepower state. The only mods were 15″ radials with chrome reverse wheels with moon caps, 12 volt alternator, all new tinted glass. I almost forgot, the obligatory Blue Dots were also added.
Awesomeness
I know I’ve seen this car for sale somewhere before/a while ago. When I saw it then I thought how I’d love to ownit and drive it as a regular (I live in a small midwest town with a 4 mile commute for work.) My feeling then and now is who wouldn’t want it as a driver? Now then, I have no idea how long O’Donnell has been writing for barn finds or anywhere else, but the packard comparison is woefully obtuse. And I didn’t feel a need to “ask the man who owns one” either. Its friggin 2023 not 1941 for criminy sakes.
Four years!
Woefully obtuse? If you bothered to read the post entirely, you would have caught these:
“So, is one a substitute for the other? I would posit “hardly” in 1941, today, 82 years later, well, the price-dropped Chevy is 100 bucks more but it wouldn’t surprise me if it garners more interest than the Packard – unfortunately.”
And:
“As for it being a Packard Club Coupe substitute? Naw, I’m just throwing that one out there, simply based on the similarity of appearance and body style“.
Does it really read like I’m seriously comparing the two?
JO
Gotcha ;-)
I would choose the Packard.