Here’s a very honest 1938 Chevy coupe for sale on eBay in Victoria, Texas. For some reason, seeing this car reminds me of early Superman comics, which came out around this time. The Man of Steel was often depicted hoisting cars like this one (albeit four-doors). The current bid is $10,000, but the reserve hasn’t been met.
As the seller says, the Texas Chevy appears to be a “very solid and very straight car,” with no rust repairs ever done because they weren’t needed. The original floors are intact. To reiterate, “Absolutely no rot or body damage to the car anywhere. Been stored indoors for decades.”
We also know that it “runs great,” has a new aluminum radiator and reproduction gas tank, plus new tires and tubes. The stock wheels were blasted, painted black, and powder-coated. The car is lowered in the rear and was converted to 12-volt electrics. There is electronic ignition and an alternator.
The glass is clear without cracks. The Texas title is clean. On the demerit side, the paint is missing in spots—a repaint is in order unless you like the rat rod look. The interior is very good from what can be seen, with upholstery that was replaced at some point.
The advantage of this car is that you can just jump in it and enjoy it as is. The paint can probably wait. Nothing else is currently on the to-do list.
It seems 1938 was a good year for Chevrolet and its Master cars. The base Master (HA) and Master Deluxe (HB) were big sellers, with the former moving 162,430 units and the latter 302,728. The Master (with a 112-inch wheelbase) was available as a four-door sedan, a four-door sports sedan, a two-door coach, a two-door town sedan, a two-door business coupe, and a two-door cabriolet. Since this one has a back seat, it’s probably a Master Deluxe Sport Coupe. Business coupes use the back portion for samples (salesmen) and black bags/medicine (doctors). Below is an image of a nicely restored Master coupe.
The engine was an 85-horsepower valve-in-head six-cylinder using a single down-draft Carter carb. That’s presumably still under the hood, though there aren’t any engine photos. The engine is hooked up to a three-speed manual with synchromesh. The ’38 Chevrolet Master had a styling update with a new grille and bumpers, but the bodyshell, fenders and running boards were carried over from ’37. The seats were two inches wider, and the steering was improved.
Prices started at $660, and the town sedan was the most popular version, with 95,050 produced. The coupes are particularly attractive, popular with rodders, and relatively rare. This is an opportunity to buy a nicely preserved and recently updated version. The 12-volt electrics and alternator are a definite plus, assuming you want to see anything with those pretty bullet headlights.
My ’39 sedan was probably the most solid car I’ve ever owned. Everything on these cars is bullet proof. Why a sedan? First I got it for $50 out of a wrecking yard without a single ding on it. Second, no way you got away with a one seater car in college. Third… had a big Olds engine and transmission sitting waiting for something to put it in. Either way, neat old cars.
C’mon all you delberts, let’s hear it, LS swap
Not on this one. This is too nice for an LS swap!
A lawn mower’s too nice for an LS swap
Instead of the always suggested LS
Swap, light up the GM fanatics and install an F-Code hi-perf 289. A vast improvement over an LS. What do you think, Y-Blocker ?
The LS engines are far superior to your suggestion.
289 bored to 303. Mid-1960’s Indy car Ford engines.
Instead of the always suggested LS
Swap, light up the GM fanatics and install an F-Code hi-perf 289. A vast improvement over an LS. What do you think, Y-Blocker ?
If you buy it do whatever you want and the pie holes can keep their comments to themselves!
Nice car as is but would make a nice Hot Rod! I think my dad had one?
An ideal swap would be an F-Code special hi-perf 289 with a 4speed Borg Warner trans and a Ford 9″
Diff. This suggestion should light up all the die-hard Chevy fans !!
Which swaps attracts the most swapper guys looking for swapper pals? I understand the swappers came out mostly, and took the shine off the swapper swaps hookups. Since it was failing to impress the ladies.
Package tray, not rear seat = business coupe.
Sighhhh!! If only I had 10+grand, I would find my way to Texas and bring it home with me. And drive it until I or it expired. As is. No lowering or other defiling. It would make me the happiest guy in the world. Ah, well…..
Instead of making LS fans mad put a new bmw/Toyota in line six and a six speed manual transmission. Set of centerline rims. That would make everyone equally unhappy. Lo
You are correct sir…..just drive it with a small write up stuck on the window about the car. You sure would have people asking the same questions on this baby. This is a car that will get you there everyday, and without a check engine light…..
Is that a meat cleaver on the front fender?
Definitely has enough room on top of that fender to filet a steak or two! Great old Chev….
As hot as it is down here in S TX we can cook that steak up right on the fender in no time.
Leave it looking stock but this car would be so cool on a modern chassis and yes an LS
Bite your tongue Dr. Frankenstein.
Definitely not an LS swap but an updated 350 or 383 carburetor setup would be hard for me to resist, and the fact that it’s already had a 12 volt conversion even more so. Who ever buys it can do what they want to make it more fun to drive. Good find and good bones for sure.
Had a friend in high school back in ‘66 that had one of these, had that gasser look going on and a 302 SBC with a 4-speed. Always thought it would be fun to build one like it, probably go the 350 / 383 route as suggested above. LS is great but I don’t care to deal with all the computers, sensors and harnesses associated with them.
Always wanted one! Had a ’39; prefer ’37, ’38.
It’s already gone! Dang!
Leve the untouched vintage tin untouched You wanna build a rod? Order a hot rod frame with all the upgrades and from there a replica body or an unrestorable bone. Leave history alone.
amen !!
Amen to the amen.
Thank you Richard, I’ve been basically saying the same thing here for quite sometime now. The reality is there just aren’t that many left in original stock configuration at all…….AND exactly what you stated about ordering a hot rod frame/chassis, etc. Plus what I keep saying over and over: If you want modern features……..then buy a modern vehicle. It’s not rocket science. Richard, again I thank you for your injecting sanity into the discussion!
A pleasure Charles.
Thank you, gentlemen. Keep the faith.
It’s been relisted for $15,000 obo
I would be interested to place a bid of $12,000.00
Pontiac OHC 6 swap.
I have a 37. I paid 450.00 for it.
You people know what you get for that kind of money. This thing was junk. It was sandblasted set on a pallet and put outside. No paint. It sat for 15 years before I discovered it. No pallet left, the bottom 6in of the car was gone. But being a glutton for punishment I took it on. Because it was junk. I did what I wanted with it. I split the front fenders 2″ wider, made the rear fenders 5″ wider. The dash was rotted also. I installed a 56 chevy dash. It now has a 475hp 355 sbc. 6 spd Stik, 4/30 currie posie. Let me tell you, that thing is a lot of fun.
When there junk, do what you want.
When there nice like this one.
Leave them alone.
That is a beautiful classy classic Chevrolet.
Teen age car enthusiasts from the 50s and 60s bought many cars like this 38 Chevy and especially the 40s Ford coupes and did custom builds on them. They were cheap and plentiful. These car, and gear head enthusiasts started the classic car restorarion, revolution. There are also many originally restored examples of these year cars out there. Bottom line, whoever daddy’s up and actually spends the money to buy one like this is the one who gets to decide what to do. Restore, Restomod, or leave it as is.
True enough….BUT the fact remains that there are so few of these survivors from this era left. I just think it should be given a great deal of thought before someone breaks out the torches & does some irreversible/irresponsible actions to said survivor. Once again I’ll quote the wise words of Richard Lentinello: “They’re only original once”……Amen to that!
You are so correct. Leave them original and restored to original glory.
In a recent HMN article a splendid restorod pickup was featured and it looked terrific! Best thing was it was built of top quality off the shelf replica components. A win win for everybody! Sort of like “no animals killed for the making of this film.”
I may have seen this car. My first teaching assignment was in Victoria Tx mid 1960s. The Homecoming parade was through the downtown area, and there was a cheerleader on each front
fender. Back then, several guys had this old classics and they were only out a couple of times a year for only a few hours.
Mr. C…….so am I to understand that as long as YOU agree w/someone’s comment it’s ok but if not then they (the “pie holes”) should not comment? What?! Last I checked, absolutely anyone can make any comments they want as long as they follow the rules about profanity, etc. Please, I would love to hear your response on this matter ok? Thank you.
Oh, please …!
Does anyone have a good soure for stores selling quality 6 Volt batteries? Have bought 2 7204s from Napa that aren’t very good. I’ve heard the Optima group 1s are better quality.
I know Tractor Supply sells some 6 volt batteries including the long type used in Pontiacs & Cadillacs. Of course I’ve heard some ppl say they’re great & a few that had bad luck w/them. I would like to know for sure too, HC.
Here in Sycamore, IL, I have had great luck with Blaine’s Farm and Fleet which has supplied batteries for my ’29 Pontiac, my ’53 Citroen Traction Avant, my ’75 Citroen Dyane, as well as my wife’s ‘2013 Honda Civic. The last of them had an Interstate battery previously that lasted only 4 years, replacing under warranty, another Interstate that lasted but a few months. I believe that those long skinny batteries like my ’40 Buick used may be available as well. Blain’s batteries are made by Johnson Controls.