Amidst a seemingly endless sea of boring ads for late model cars and trucks on Craigslist, it’s an elating feeling to suddenly come across this beautiful 1928 Chevy National coupe. But excitement and curiosity are quickly replaced with disappointment and frustration when it’s discovered the seller uses less than 20 words in the ad to describe such an interesting car! Reported to have been stored since 1950 and in obvious need of restoration, this National is available just north of Syracuse, New York for $3,000.
The Landau top sure looks original but I’m not so certain that’s faded original Chevrolet Faunce Green paint covering the body? This car must have looked really sharp back in the day with black fenders accented by painted (yellow?) steel wheels. Haters are gonna hate but I’ll go ahead and say it anyway: I like the patina look on those fenders and if this was my project I’d be inclined to leave them that way! Unfortunately, there are no interior photos provided in the ad and the seller doesn’t reveal the condition of the wood floor or the wood-framed cab and doors. The vintage tag on the spare tire carrier is a testament to how long this car has been in storage (since 1950, according to the seller). If that’s the case, how are those tires still holding air?!
The windscreen is shattered and unfortunately, someone filched the original hood ornament. Antique Chevrolet buffs will tell you there was a good reason the hood on the ’28 National was lengthened over that of the 1927 Series AA Capitol. Although the early model National came with a 4-cylinder engine, later 1928 models were outfitted with a 6-cylinder mill that provided more power. Does this National’s engine run? Turnover? Why are there no photos of the motor? You’ll have to contact the seller to get answers to those questions. The National was Chevrolet’s answer to Ford’s Model A and it was a good one. Chevy produced over 785,00 of these cars and claimed the title of sales leader for the 1928 year. Times and technology were changing quickly in those days, however. Amazingly, the AB National was a one-and-done model and was succeeded in 1929 by the Series AC International. This 91-year-old National looks to be all there but even so, do you think the $3K asking price is too steep considering the amount of work it will take to properly resurrect such a classic?
It is truly a beautiful car. Warning, lots of wood in the body. A person will need both woodworking and metalworking skills to redo this pretty car.
I would like to see it restored.
Bob
Hate to say it but Bob you’re right about the amount of work. It’s almost better as a parts car for someone restoring one. I sold a 1928 car last year with lots of original good wood and it ran and drove and was happy to get the $4000 I had in it. Just no market left. May they all rest in peace, my dad included. If it were mine I’d contact the Chevrolet club and post it there and part it out. You may get more than $3000 that way if you’re judicious.
The $3000 asking price is just the beginning of a $50,000 journey towards making this a good $25,000 car! I hope somebody bad at math takes it on!
This car is in great shape for a New York automobile!! I really don’t think they dumped a ton of salt on the road in the late 20’s and early 30’s when this car was new!! I would love to work on one of these and put a nice oak floor in it sanded and stained with a couple coats of lacquer on it!! A nice paint job with black running boards!!
OK, I’m going to say it… stock body with that landau top and all with upgraded running gear. Mild street rod. That body design is unique enough to turn into a real head turner.
Maybe, but those disc wheels were more common on the Chevies than anything else except maybe Packards and Lincolns. I’d like to see them spruced up and tall whitewall tires added after fixing everything else and making it safe using its original running gear.
Wish I had the ability to restore this to its former glory. Hope someone saves it.
I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one on this forum that is not personally able to restore cars. But that does not mean that I do not love Ancientmobiles nevertheless!
Marshall … not personally able ? Why ? You think your too old or too unskilled, well maybe, but at 75 (or as I like to say 3/4s) I would love to take a run at this. And if you only got one piece repaired and in primer, think of the satisfaction.
Disc wheels!
There’s just something about them. Helps you to visualize a period in time. Clara and Rudoph on the screen, trolley tracks down the middle of the street, men in suits and hats, horse drawn coal carts……oh wait……..that was way before I was born. Now I remember.
A labor of love.
Price too steep….? Dumb Question.
You don’t need a lot of words for that kind of price.
1928 from what I’ve read was a seemingly prosperous time in the U.S.A. Nobody seemed to know how the world would come crashing Down in October of the next year. My dad was 19 years old and between him and my Grandfather they bought a truck and began hauling hay in Kansas and Oklahoma. A dispute that lasted the rest of my dads life dissolved that partnership. He married in 29 and started his large family. He was one of the fortunate ones that worked through the Great Depression at a foundry somewhere around Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He bought a 35 Oldsmobile in 36. Well that’s enough of that.
God bless America
I don’t believe any ’28s were fitted with the 6-cylinder engine – that was a “first” for the 1929 models.