The seller of this 1936 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Town Sedan tells us that it’s a real barn find. Well, it certainly looks the part, though there are no images of it residing in a barn-like structure included. That said, it shows as if a “parked” status has been this Chevy’s situation for quite a long time. Claimed to have only experienced 67K miles, this still-running sedan is ensconced in Williamstown, New Jersey, and is available here on craigslist for $6,900. Thanks are due to Mitchell G. for this tip!
The various number of body styles that domestic auto manufacturers offered in the thirties always amazes me. In 1936, Chevrolet offered seven models, spread across the Master Deluxe and Standard trim levels. Those models included: a four-door Sedan, a two-door Coach Sedan, a two-door Town Sedan (our subject car), a two-door Sports Coupe, a two-door Coupe (business coupe), a four-door Sports Sedan (with a trunk), and a Cabriolet (Standard trim only). The Master Deluxe Town Sedan sold in outsized numbers – 244K! Today’s discovery appears to be solid and mostly complete, missing only items such as the headlights and hubcaps. The negatives include a marred and discolored finish, a rusting grille, weak chrome plating, and delaminated or cracked glass. But, it’s all there and should serve as a reasonable basis for rejuvenation. The seller mentions that he has “many parts in boxes.”
Under the hood, and running, is a 79 HP, 207 CI, in-line, six-cylinder engine, connected to a three-speed manual transmission. How well this Chevy runs or drives is not stated, but the seller mentions that he has a “12-volt lighting package” that needs to be installed. Other than the removed air cleaner assembly, the motor shows as complete.
The interior is not well photographed and suffers from the same malady that many old “barn found” cars do, and that’s the “let’s see how much detritus we can cram into the interior to disguise its overall condition” situation. The upholstery appears to be typical camel colored “mohair” or something similar that was commonly employed in the thirties, and from what can be seen, its condition is worn and coming apart in places, but it may still be passable. Unfortunately, we’ll never know based on what’s included in the listing.
OK, next station in life for this almost 90-year-old sedan? I’m thinking hot-rod, restomod, etc. I just don’t see this Chevy undergoing a stock restore. That’s a possibility, of course, but I wouldn’t count on it. How about you, if you were interested in this ’36 Town Sedan, what direction would you take it?
Wonder if it overheats much.
In nice shape for the year and seemingly affordable price. Sorry, but for me it would be lightly restomoded.
Bought a ’39 sedan while in college to make a street rod out of. Never got to complete it but to this day think it would have made a great car with the Olds engine and transmission I had for it. This guy here would do the same. I be that engine puts out a lot of noise without that pipe on the headers.
To gt it in safe and operable—will take some time and money. The price is high. I,m watch a 36 Buick in better shape fo less then half this guy is asking and it is reasonablely priced for the Buick. I like this car and its in descent shape,but what does it look like underneith?
One taillight, so probably not a Master Deluxe, a Standard. But all steel including the top. Upholstery looks original, I spent a lot of time in a ’36 Master Deluxe as a kid. I liked that fuzzy tan stuff, and was in the back seat most of the time which rarely was used otherwise.
The 1936 Chevrolet brochure illustrates both Master Deluxes and Standards has having a single, driver’s side mounted stoplight. The description, for both trim levels, mentions a “hydraulic stoplight” not stoplights.
JO
Well, let’s see, the seller has used the “barn find” buzz words, which will be next? “Patina?” “Rat Rod?” “Numbers Matching?” Some skilled ad writers get them all in one ad, one sentence even! That still doesn’t guarantee a sale. I guess when all else fails, you gotta go back to an accurate description combined with a realistic asking price. Rats!!
Looks like a solid original 36 Chevy Sedan. Price seems high. I bought a 36 Chevy Sedan older built hot rod two years ago for $13,000. Spent another 4 on up grades I did myself. I now have a real nice looking and running 36. Even at that in today market l will be lucky to get much more than that at resale.
I can’t see this as anything but an all out hot rod. Remove body from chassis install on a modern high powered chassis, paint preferred color, install new interior and hit the shows.
God Bless America
Sorry days gone by not worth dumping 50k+ in this old thing people can’t afforded it like 30 years ago
I generally don’t pay much attention to the “back in the day I paid $10 dollars for one” but now it is my turn. A couple friends and I got into buying ’36 through ’40 coupes and sedans (mostly Chevrolets but the occasional Olds or Pontiac) just to beat the livin’ daylights out of them. This was in like ’66 and ’67 and we never paid more than $100 for one. That being said, this particular one isn’t all the bad a buy. They are super easy and relatively painless to modify. As a matter of fact, one of my afore mentioned friends kept a ’39 4 door sedan, put a warmed up 283 with a 4 speed in it, painted it dark green and had a local upholstery shot throw an inexpensive vinyl interior in it and it was a pretty near car,