Ultimate Sleeper! 1953 Chevrolet 210

If Chevrolet had 2020s technology in the 1950s, they might have built this 1953 Chevy 210 the way you see it here. It looks like a sleeper with four doors, to boot, yet a 400 cubic inch V8 resides under the hood, supported by a lot of modern upgrades and conveniences, like vintage air conditioning. Located in Clarksville, Arkansas, this sweet ride is available here on craigslist for $17,500 OBO. Rocco B. has a knack for finding cool tips like this!

Chevrolet mixed up its naming logic with its reworked 1953 automobiles. The 150 was the base model, the 210 was mid-range, and the Bel Air was the top series. More than 332,000 4-door sedans badged as 210s were built in 1953, the most popular series and body style. You only had one engine choice in ’53, a 235 cubic inch inline-6 referred to as the “Blue Flame”. A Chevy V8 motor was still two years away. Most 210s came with a 3-speed manual transmission, though the 2-speed Powerglide automatic was offered.

The seller or someone prior put a lot of time and money into modernizing this ’53 210. Besides the 400/265 hp engine (first offered in 1970), the car now has a TH-400 automatic tranny. The Chevy has been completely rewired, a Bluetooth radio added, electronic ignition (instead of points), aluminum radiator, dual exhaust, front disc brakes, and loads more. There had to be some previous rust because the floor pans were replaced, but there’s no mention of paintwork.

Passengers will enjoy the new upholstery (period-correct?), but the headliner needs to be replaced and comes in a box. The battery has been relocated to the trunk (perhaps they ran out of room up front). The odometer reads 36,000 miles, but I doubt that matters now. The seller has found his dream machine, and selling this one to get it is the goal. He/she will consider offers but not trades. This auto should surprise a few folks at Cars & Coffee.