It is truly amazing some of the cars we come across here at Barn Finds. This classic ’52 Chevrolet Styleline has been updated with a new chassis, drive-train, and interior. Despite its weathered appearance, this Chevy is a modernized driver that features all of the modern creature comforts you could desire. Certainly unique, you can climb in and drive this Chevy where ever you please! There has been a fair amount of interest in this ride as there are 28 bids making the current bid price $8,300. Check out this wild classic here on eBay out of Lockwood, Missouri.
Inside there are modern seats and a console, heat and air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, and a cd player. The original dash is in place, but it has certainly been updated. Modern gauges give feedback on the vitals of the modern drive-train. The engine is a Chevrolet 5.3 “LS” V8 mated to a 4L60E. A 1987 Chevy truck frame was used for this unique build and a 30 gallon gas tank was fitted. Unlike many custom builds, this Chevy has been driven 5,000 miles which is a good break in time to work out the “bugs” and “gremlins” that may pop up along the way.
The paint is well weathered on this Chevy, but there appears to be little in the way of rot. There is some rust to be found, but I can’t tell if the car has been clear coated, or washed with an oil. The fender openings have been trimmed for the massive 20” wheels which I am somewhat against. I would have liked a smaller wheel and tire combo with no lift to keep this Chevy appearing more original than obviously modified. Although, the concept is cool, and the fact that it’s a headache free ready to drive vehicle is certainly enticing. Are you a fan of this ’52 Styleline?
Not my forte but it looks well built, what I don’t get is you put a ton of money and effort into a build like this and then you leave it looking like a shabby old beater. I have made it clear many time that I think this style looks like a job half way. This patina look has been popularized by people that either don’t know how or are unwilling to pay for full restoration. This would look Soooooo much better painted and can be done without breaking the bank. In their day theses cars had single stage gloss paint which is easy to apply after you’ve done some practicing, and it’s fairly simple to make a makeshift paint booth. I put the car in the centre of of my two car garage and surround it with tarps then i crack the door open enough to place two fans in the opening. then I put the heat on in the garage so I’m not painting in a cold booth. ( you guys down south don’t have to worry to much about that ) lastly I blow down the whole booth with the fans running, and wipe down the car. I’ve done this several time and the great part is when I’m done I haven’t painted my entire garage. You can buy a decent pair gun for around $200.00 and enough paint supplies will only set you back $5/600.00 dollars JMO.
You’re right man, not a prob at all. Just takes a little time & patience, as does anything that’s worth while.😀
Please tell me this has been photoshopped.
And it’s not a ’52. Its a ’51. My parents had a ’51. Check the parking lights. ’52’s were different. Our next door neighbors had a ’52. We each kept them for some time.
Nope. It’s a ’52. Grille and body trim are ’52 specific. The only thing I can see on this car that’s ’51 is the parking lights.
I can’t think of any scenario in which I would consider doing anything like this or owning one like it that was created by anyone else.
Would someone please explain to this old fart, what these kinds of mods are about?
To my ancient eyes, this looks like just the thing that even someone like Emmett Kelly would not have wanted to have been seen – dead – in…
I have explained on more than one occasion to young’uns that any car my friends and I had owned that had a ‘pantina’ was only because we were saving up to get a decent paint job done, or like canadainmarkseh said, we bought our own spray painting gear and learned to do the job, ourselves (in my case, 1969/70).
Interestingly, some of those kids tell me that I am ‘wrong’ with regards to patinated vehicles ‘back in the day’. Who’d have known that the history I lived through, first hand, could be so incorrect..? ;-)
Better explain the Emmet Kelly reference to the younguns…as in ‘clown car’.
Some people could screw up a baked potato.
Sigh… I’ll get the pitchforks, someone grab the torches. When will these monsters stop terrorizing the village?
I Love it. It’s cool, different, fun and 5k miles, so far- reliable. I build stuff like this all the time and when half the people at the car show walk right past $75,000 restored cars to see stuff like this, stand there and talk about it for hours- THAT’S WHY we build stuff like this. Anyone can spend years meticulously restoring something, but these things- are usually done fast and are far more creative. It’s an art, an expression and most of all- FUN. Love it. Great Job to the builder!
Interesting
Personally, if I was going to use this in town, then I would opt for a paint job
But if it was going to spend most of it’s time at a cabin or farm, then I would leave the body the way it is
Very much a love it or hate it example
Final decision, I will leave that to the person who buys it
Well thought out and an eye on the details – not something I would set out to do, but then again I also would not want a lifted truck. If engine swaps are widely accepted and encouraged, why not this style of modding?
This donk is just plain wronk.
If the next Mad Max movie needs a car, I know where they can find one.
I like this. It’s different that’s for sure.
He has a 48 chevy for sale too that’s even nicer https://www.ebay.com/itm/1948-Chevrolet-Coupe/253586100975?hash=item3b0ae8d2ef:g:TiMAAOSw-tFa4g-9
Uk Paul,
The listing you shared really isn’t a “gasser”. It is more of a “dieseler”.
Hummm, interesting for sure.
Does it include a ladder to get in the thing.
It is an odd choice for a 4×4, like most of these,(remember the Buick?) but the car probably would never have been used in it’s stock form, so they did save an old car. I think the wheels turn many off. Just not a fan of those semi (looking) wheels on cars. At least you don’t have to jack it up to change the oil( definition of a rednecks vehicle)
Howard I haven’t seen your comments on here for ever I’ve missed your points of Veiw. I hope to see more of your writings.
Looks like a well preserved original period build to me, probably 1953/54 or so. Nice to see on BF.
I like it, this otherwise pretty valueless 4 door Chevy would have been parted or scrapped. While lacking the class of the four wheel drive Caddy Seville posted here a while back, this more fits my solid middle class Chevy upbringing as Dad had a 1950 blue 2 door fastback.
Some of us will have to agree to disagree. Put away the pitchforks and torches, there will always be plenty of shiny cars and full restorations to go around. If I want to see endless rows of bland, glossy new-looking cars, I’ll go to the dealership or the local shopping mall. Cars that properly display their age are attractive to myself and others. Worry not, the patina look will never replace shiny (and most people who like patina probably don’t think it should), but unlike in the past; appreciation of patina is here now, and it’s not going away anytime soon.
Could it be…the first ever donk?
Living in rural Michigan on and off a good part of my adult life I’ve seen more than my fair share of cobbled up 4X4 conversions. Although this one sits a bit high for my liking and I may have chosen a different set of wheels, I’ll give this one an A+. Nothing new happens until someone breaks the rules, dogma is for followers.
Someone ruined it.
My first impression is garbage
It went for $10K. Overall, I kind of like it. Especially when compared to most of similar types. They spent a good deal of consideration getting the interior to look and work right. However the wheels used look more like a convenience item as it does not match the look at all, and in fact detracts from it. From pictures on eBay, they may have just wetted it down, since several pictures from the ad do not show any sheen to the rust.
Damn rednecks ruined a perfectly beautiful car. They should be tied to a tree a caned.the picture alone makes me sick.
Where ya been Howard! I missed ya!
Anyway, I think this car is awesome and I am not a young’in,lol, but I’d never be able to get in it, let alone drive it.
So very sad…..