Have you ever had a buyer tell you that they will take your vehicle, but you are left in that uncomfortable purgatory where you can’t sell the car but you don’t have the cash in your grubby little hand? That seems to be the case for the seller of this 1951 Chevrolet Fleetline two-door sedan for sale on Craigslist in Mayer, Arizona. In the short time from when I accepted the write-up to this writing, the seller changed the ad to state that a sale was pending. They must not be too sure of the sale because the ad is still up. At an asking price of $13,000, this tidy little Chevrolet may still be available. Thanks to T.J. for this soon-to-be-sold (maybe)barn find tip!
In the advertisement, we are not given a tremendous amount of information. The Chevrolet you see here is advertised as a barn find that was there for 39 long years. Amazingly, the car wears its original green paint. The rims have also been powder-coated. It comes with a new carpet set still in the box and the seats are in good shape as far as the interior goes. Under the hood is the standard Stovebolt Six. It is said to run well and is backed by an automatic transmission. The mileage is listed as 65,000.
Unfortunately, the seller did not provide more information in regards to exactly which model this is. The pictures tell us that this car is one of the Fleetline body styles. Fleetlines had the fastback lines that were a holdover from prewar styling. Customers weren’t as fond of these as the more traditional look of the Styleline body styles. Regardless of the body style, you could have your car in either Special or DeLuxe trim. If you hankered for a Bel Air, you could only have it in a hardtop coupe.
Under the hood rests the standard Chevrolet Stovebolt Six inline six-cylinder engine. This engine displaced 216 cubic inches and was more than sufficient for sedate motoring. Backing this powerhouse was a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. While not the most efficient way to transfer power from the engine to the rear wheels, Powerglides were simple and tough automatic transmissions that paired well with Stovebolt engines. Once gone through, the new owner can count on a reliable powertrain so that they can enjoy motoring around in their original Chevrolet.
While it would have been nice for the seller to include more information about the car and maybe some pictures of the interior, the ad was sufficient to sell the car. Or not. Hopefully, the person who has committed to purchase it will follow through. This is a nice car that has a lot of life left in it and is back on the road soon.
Is that a large stain showing on the lower seat in the photo?
No worry, it’s blood form the bullet hole in the windshield.
Looks like a shadow to me…
Did someone DIE in it? They seems to have lost a lot of BLOOD!
Chevy’s from 49-52 are my favorite. I’ve owned six, one identical to the sellers car, a 49 four door and a 50 2 door fleetline at the same time when I was seventeen. I also owned another 2 door fleetline, a 2 door sedan and a sedan delivery. Have been contemplating getting another. This seems to be sold and two far away, nice just the same.
Another old Chevy fan here. From 50-52, Powerglide operated in only high gear unless it was manually shifted into low (like Buick Dynaflow). Sluggishness guaranteed. One sure way to ensure smooth shifts with a torque tube: don’t have any!
Jeff, your premise of purgatory in the interim is interesting. If I’m the seller, unless I’ve been given a substantial deposit to hold the vehicle, I’m selling to whomever walks up with the cash in hand. And if I have a deposit, there would have been discussion prior to my accepting the deposit as to whether or not it was refundable. The whole point of a deposit is a good faith statement of purchase.
Eric_13cars…..Plus with that down payment a dead line for final payment. If you don’t some will drag it on forever and then want their deposit back.
That purgatory metaphor goes both ways. When you’re the must have buyer and there are circumstances beyond your control time can slow to a crawl.
All Powerglide equipped Chevys beginning in 1950 would have the 235 six. The 216 was for stick shifts only.
Good to see there are other members in the sellers club. You become pretty savvy by the line of redundant and irrelevant questions asked and let’s not forget hearing the baby crying in the background and the guy wants to buy your 2 seater sports car. Or the calls wanting to trade an abandoned POS project that’s worth a lot finished. And the endless questions what’s wrong with it, how long you had it, why are you selling it.
I must mention my most memorable encounter atypical of them all. I put up for sale a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible that ran drove but needed a worthy restoration. My phone started blowing up. Usually you get bottom end feeders first who’s money has gold flakes. A caller that I assumed was a serious buyer asked only two questions. Is the car still available and where do you live? I provided an address and she said she was on her way.
A short time later I received a light tap on the door she did her walk-around test drive and asked only if I had a title. Yes and cash sale only. She only said ok I’ll be back. I didn’t respond. (How many times have you heard that)?
Now let me say this (as a word of caution and I’ll explain later) in my ad I put in great father/son project.
In the meantime another buyer came and bought it. Shortly after that she returned and said where’s the car? It sold. I told you I’d be back. You know how many people say that? She became irate. So did I and won’t repeat my expletives. She said she was going to sue me. I said a few more expletives.
Few weeks went by I got served. No joke. I contacted my attorney he wasn’t amused. She was an attorney also and he lost cases against her. He couldn’t offer me anything but Vaseline.
Court came part two coming….
Part two. When we entered court she was sporting a very expensive suit dressed to impress and win. My deodorant had abandoned me also as sweat dripped off of my fingertips. She was suing me for discrimination. She came well prepared with a copy of my ad. The judge grilled me on both sides twice. At any moment I was hoping this was a nightmare dream. Semantically speaking my words father/son project in the ad was what was my discriminating words. I neglected to question when are you returning which left the sale open for eternity. I didn’t ask for a deposit to hold either.
The judge explained how discrimination law works and how it was applicable to my case. If you list a property for sale or rent and market it to a certain whatever then guess what?
It seems like I was in that court room for years and I really think she was there to teach me a lesson and more than anything respect her. After the judge pondered a long time he must have noticed a pool of water on the floor from my sweat soaked clothes he dismissed the case.
OMG!
My wife is always frustrated when we are looking for a car for her. The salesperson(s) keep talking to me. We redirect over and over but they don’t get it. Fortunately, she doesn’t feel the need to retaliate.
I’ll leave them alone and when I return the salesperson starts updating me. Ugh!