If pre-war classics are right up your alley, then you’ll be happy to see this drop-top parked there: a 1936 Chevrolet Standard Cabriolet! Located just south of Minneapolis, Minnesota, this black beauty is advertised here on Craigslist for $42,000.
The engine for the Standards was the Chevrolet OHV inline-six, coming in at just a hair under 207 cubic inches. While it may have lacked two of the cylinders of Ford’s contemporary flathead V8, power was broadly comparable: the six produced 79 brake horsepower to the V8’s 85, and did so with one less carburetor. Maximum torque was 156 lb. ft. at 1400 RPM. While cruising at highway speeds might be a stretch, this should be perfectly sufficient for around-town cruising or a relaxing drive in the country. Which might be the perfect setting for the beautiful Art Deco Fisher body on this rare convertible– only 3,629 of this body style were made for 1936, and it’s anyone’s guess how many survive 85 years on.
Speaking of a relaxing drive, part of the appeal of this era of automobile is that it carries the style and panache of a world before atom bombs and jet engines while being of recent enough vintage that the driving experience isn’t utterly alien. For example, in 1936 Chevrolets were equipped with hydraulic brakes. There are three familiar pedals, and the floor shift leads to a transmission that yields three forward gears and one reverse. Shoot, partway through the year they started making the wheels out of steel, of all things!
The owner states that the car is 99% complete and that it does not currently run, although it is “runnable.” The interior is a real bright spot for this car, and the top is so nice that it must be a more recent replacement. The pictures show no evidence of rust, which should indicate how well-maintained this car has been, if it’s been in Minnesota all this time. Yet the headlamps are conspicuous in their absence, and with a car of this vintage, there are sure to be a number of headaches hiding in that remaining 1%.
Little nitpick,flathead had 1 carb:-)
It’s chevy straight 6 so no flathead
Not trolling here at all – 42K seems a bit steep for a non-op and roughly put together one of these. This may be a bit rarer as a cabriolet but there are examples of fully built and restored 36 standards out there for this money and less. Is it the convertible top that set this one off?
Lots of potential here,will make a beautiful original or street rod, but needs a complete rehab? Money is a little steep for starting price?
Wowee, what a cool car. I’ve only seen a couple Cabriolet versions of this year Chevrolet. It’s missing headlights but has the rumble seat steps. Rattle can paint job makes me wonder what’s being covered up? This would definitely be a candidate for a quality restoration.Though very un-common, the asking price is indeed very steep.
Looks like it is sitting a little low.
Don’t know if that’s stock height but I like it. Good looking car but not worth the asking price as has been stated.
harricw3450 is on target with “put together.” Along with the headlights the car is missing a spare and a place to store the spare. The Standard’s spare could be kept under the trunk, mounted to the rear of the car or in a “fender wheel well carrier.” There’s no trunk no bracket for either of the other two carriers. At $42k the seller wants all the money. Ten or twelve thousand dollars is more realistic to me.
I agree with A.G., 10-13K tops.
Excuse me for asking – BUT – where are the headlights?
Good question:-)
I’ve seen several cars with rumble seats with the spare mounted behind the seats. Maybe this one?