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Shed Find! 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe

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This 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe sedan was recently unearthed after having been tucked away by its original owner since 1973. The car is now running and the seller is ready to make a deal! The find is located in Lexington, North Carolina and is advertised here on craigslist for $5,200.

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You can see by comparing this picture with the one above it that the seller has done some excellent cleanup work. They actually purchased the car from the original owner’s grandson and it comes with a clear title (as well as the original documentation from when it was purchased from the dealership in Salisbury, North Carolina.

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You may notice a discoloration on the driver’s side rear door; the seller thinks that represents a repair, but that the rest of the car is original paint. They also declare that the car is “100% rust free,” but as we know here that can mean different things to different people.

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I admire the way that the fastback roofline does an effective job of hiding that this is a four-door. Chrome looks in decent enough shape for a survivor, and the car looks remarkably complete from every angle.

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I’m really glad that the seller documented the car coming out for the first time in many years. Yes, ultimately they are “flipping” the car, but I think they’ve done right by it so far; they’ve replaced enough parts to make it run, done a nice job of cleaning it up and are now passing it on to someone to complete the job.

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With 130,323 produced, this is hardly a rare car. And the inside is no longer original; I’m guessing the front seat and horrible triangles on the front doors aren’t original, but the rear seat probably is. The advertisement claims that the three speed manual transmission shifts nicely and that the car drives just fine around the yard, but that the brakes need a complete overhaul and that hasn’t been started on yet.

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The overhead valve, 216.5 cubic inch inline six cylinder had a 3-1/2-inch bore and 3-3/4-inch stroke and produced 90 horsepower at 3,300 rpm. That’s a single barrel Carter carburetor under the air cleaner.

I know this find has four doors, but I ask you — how important is that, really?

Comments

  1. Avatar JW454

    Bravo!! Yes, bravo to the barn finder that took the initiative to show the “as found” pictures and then the necessary step of washing and cleaning it up. You don’t need to restore them… Just the bucket of soapy water and a sponge treatment. Again, BRAVO! BTW… I really like this one.

    Like 1
  2. Avatar RickG

    43 years on a dirt floor in a small shed and the floors and frame a rust free? impressive.

    Love the car though

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    • Avatar doug6423

      He mentioned he had it on a lift…I’m wondering why he didn’t take pictures of such a RUST FREE underneath??

      Like 0
  3. Avatar geomechs Member

    This one takes me back to the day when my ’49 Styleline Deluxe came out of the shed it was sitting in. Mine was only 8 years (’65-’73) but it had so much dust on it that you could hardly tell what color it really was. Only 19K miles on the odometer it took some cleaning up to get it going but it shone up like a new penny. I’m still trying to track down all the original documentation but I did know the original owner and his son, both of whom are long gone. Half of the fun of this hobby is tracking down the history of the cars and trucks in my collection. This featured Fleetline promises to be everything to the buyer that my car is to me…

    Like 1
    • Avatar Josh

      Geomechs, I have a 1949 Chevrolet businesses coupe that was my grandpa’s since the late 1950’s. I would also like to track down more history about the car. What is the best way to go about it? How do you go about tracking down your cars past? Thanks
      Josh.

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      • Avatar geomechs Member

        Hi Josh. The best place to start is the DMV for the state it was last registered in. There’s a good chance it was originally registered in that state. I was told that the early Chevrolet owners group/club can help out as well. I heard that GM lost quite a few of its historical records so there are extended periods where GM cannot help. You can still give them a try. Otherwise, sometimes asking around the place where your grandfather lived can turn up a lot of information. Sometimes it can also turn up some stories that can be hilarious, and some that the players would just as soon forget happened. I might add that just giving your car a thorough going over might turn up a valuable piece of information. I heard that the buyer of one of the Lambrecht ’59 Chevies found a letter under the front seat….

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  4. Avatar Curt

    Here’s my ’49 Chevy

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  5. Avatar Woodie Man

    if this was on the West Coast…..look out mama…….those triangles on the doors are probaby hiding wear….left over from the sides of the front seat…

    I love the fastback even on a 4 door

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  6. Avatar Gerald D.

    Love me some ’49 Chev no matter what body style it is! 😀😇

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  7. Avatar Tyrone Power

    Would love to have this vintage Fleetline parked in my garage and waiting to go for another back road adventure!!!

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  8. Avatar Charles Turner

    Looks pretty decent & wouldn’t mind finishing the job on this old Chev…..hard not to like her!

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  9. Avatar David A.

    Not too bad at all! Me like it…..ha ha ha!

    Like 0

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