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Real Barn Find! 1948 Chevrolet

Now this is a real barn find! In 1948, Chevrolet continued its post-war 1946 & 1947 Fleetmaster lineup that were really warmed-over pre-war designs. Thankfully for Chevrolet, the car-hungry American public was still willing to purchase 248,748 1948 Fleetmasters! This particular car is listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding is under $650 at this point but the car hasn’t met the reserve price. The barn and car are both located in Hibbing, Minnesota.

From what I can tell, this is a two-door sport coupe model (58,786 produced), but I’ll be happy to be corrected by you experts out there. It doesn’t have the fancy moldings from the Fleetline sub-series, though. Since a concours-quality 1958 Fleetmaster is only worth around $22,500, I suspect this car will get a resto-mod or hot rod treatment rather than a restoration. It does look relatively solid despite the dents in both rear fenders.

The seller tells us that they bought the car in California in January of 1964, drove it to Minnesota a month later and then the engine “froze” in March of the same year.  Apparently it hasn’t moved since then! Not only that, but the seller is not able to move it, so that will be up to you or your shipper.

Not much to say here.  I suspect some late model or aftermarket buckets will go into this spot!

As the seller states, the engine is partially disassembled, and that’s all the more reason to insert your drive train of choice here. Other than the obvious answer of a Chevy small-block V8 and an automatic, what more interesting choices can you think of to install?

Comments

  1. bobhess bobhess Member

    The $650 is what the seller should pay to have it hauled out…. No telling what a pressure washer would do to this one.

    Like 1
  2. Avatar Dave at OldSchool Restorations

    ..post War…”car hungery ” is right… My dad was freinds with local Chevy dealer…his ’47 Chevy Fastback came in about midnight, and was prepped and home early in the morning. New cars were difficult to buy unless you had connections…
    Here’s the car12 years later, after he gave it to me in ’56 and it was hot rodded with a 3/4Jimmy ,a stick shift., and a California rake.

    https://www.undiscoveredclassics.com/front-page/portfolio/about-us/dave-perry-school-restorations/

    Like 4
  3. Avatar Bob S

    If it was closer, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. I had one, and installed a 54 Buick engine, 3 spd, and rear end. I loved that car, but sold it to raise money to pay university tuition. I always regretted selling that car.
    Bob

    Like 4
    • Avatar Roger

      Bob,that sounds like the ’48 Chevy coupe my dad owned from around ’56-’57 until ’62,he said the person who bought it put a Buick engine in it, this was in Ohio in the sixties.

      Like 1
  4. Avatar Jamie

    Restomod it keep original interior and be done with it. Cragars and RWLs would look great! I see a reflex blue and ghost flames on the front

    Like 2
  5. Avatar JBP

    Restomod it, put in a small block Chevy engine, and tranny. i think i would Keep the look it has now, Maybe chop the Roof, if it can be done decent. there is no real value, so why not have some fun…..

    Like 1
  6. Avatar bigdoc

    New leather interior, 350ci, Candy Apple Red, Chrome Wheels, 12V system, A/C,Power brakes and Steering and show off every chance you get.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Anton N Meyers

      HELL YEAH!
      love these postwar Chevys

      Like 1
  7. Avatar Del

    Yup. Could use that 5.9 Cummins

    Like 0
  8. Avatar TimM

    Definitely restomod!!! It’s the only way to go!!!

    Like 0

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