For Sale: 1951 Chevrolet Styleline in Charlotte, North Carolina

Vehicle Description

When you think the words "different" and "Chevrolet", what comes to mind? It's most likely NOT tri-fives, Camaros or Chevelles sitting at the local cruise-in. What about when you think the words "cool" and "Chevrolet"? Well, that's pretty much all classic Chevys, so let's be more specific. What happens when you think "Chevrolet", "different" AND "cool"? Chances are something akin to this award-winning '51 Styleline rolls through your mind. Being an early '50s bowtie, it's certainly different. And being a carefully restored show stopper makes it super cool. But what makes it both different AND cool is the fact that it mixes a proven ZZ350 with trick paint, custom upholstery, an aggressive stance and modern running gear. If you're looking for an awesome weekend cruiser, your classic has arrived. Sign the papers, grab three of your closest friends and head to the nearest car show!

BODYWORK/TRIM

Purchased as a complete build that was primed for customization, this super clean Chevy is the beneficiary of a detailed, ground-up restoration that wrapped in late 2003. That solid reboot is bathed in stirring Prowler Orange Metallic 2-stage, which anchors a raft of professionally rehabilitated brightwork. And that brilliant flash highlights distinctive, retro character which reminds us just how cool vintage metal can be!

Officially jumpstarting the brand's emphasis on affordability AND form, Chevrolet's first-generation Styleline found a solid audience with buyers who wanted more than just utility. For that reason, and GM's willingness to take a few chances with aesthetics, many enthusiasts cite the car as the beginning of Chevy's golden age of design. At the front of this first-class classic, a guarded bumper centers a small MQQN Equipment badge beneath a broad grille, veiled headlights, a sleek hood topper and a custom bowtie header crest. At the sides of that "Chevrolet" branded mug, polished rocker guards and De luxe trim spears frame guarded door handles, a guarded fuel filler and orange-tinged mirrors. At the top of those handles, straight stainless traces tinted glass behind polished wipers and traditional visors. And at the back of the car, a second guarded bumper hangs a unique Center High Mount Stop Lamp between polished exhaust tips, LED tail lamps and an orange-tinged trunk crest.

ENGINE

Pop the hood and you'll find 350 cubic inches of Chevrolet ZZ350 crate engine that, roughly 10K miles ago, was carefully freshened by the car's current owner. At the top of the smooth mill, a polished, Chevrolet-branded air cleaner rides a Lokar-controlled Holley, which drops 750cfm of air and fuel in to an Edelbrock Endurashine intake. At the perimeter of that intake, GM Fast Burn heads seat polished, Chevrolet-branded valve covers between a Powermaster starter, coated block huggers and polished breathers. Behind those breathers, a billet distributor fires loomed spark plug wires. Opposite that chrome-capped peg, traditional V-belts twist billet pulleys which, along with polished brackets, float a polished alternator and chrome AC compressor over modern power steering and an aluminum water pump. In front of those ancillaries, a large electric fan pushes air through an attractive Griffin radiator, which pairs billet hose clamps with a polished cap and polished expansion tank. And details like a polished hood latch and trick dipsticks look great inside a massaged, Prowler Orange Metallic frame.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Naturally, that modern small block precedes a modernized, road-ready chassis. Everything starts with a sturdy, factory-spec frame that's been stiffened with a Fat Man crossmember. At the center of those bones, a trusty 700R4 4-speed, installed circa 2010, bridges the gap between an aluminum driveshaft and a 2,000 RPM stall converter. That driveshaft twists power to a Nova 'Big 10' axle, which hides 3.42 gears and a posi-traction differential behind a finned inspection cover. That road-ready pumpkin drives a traditional, leaf spring rear-clip, which mixes adjustable air shocks with 2-inch lowering blocks and a beefy sway bar. That clip pushes an aftermarket front-half, which mixes tubular control arms and adjustable Carrera coil-overs with 2-inch drop spindles and a second beefy sway bar. Turns come courtesy of power rack-and-pinion steering. Solid stops occur when a floor-mount booster charges retrofitted calipers and beefy drums. Aluminized exhaust pipes send spent gases through throaty Flowmaster mufflers. And all that proven hardware rolls on attractive Billet Specialties blades, which twist polished spinners inside two 235/50R17 Toyo Versado Noirs and two 235/55R17 Toyo Versado Noirs.

INTERIOR

Between the doors, a tasteful custom interior features an agreeable mix of tan cloth and Malibu Sand tweed. Broad bench seats are detailed with subtle stainless hardware and a classy Impala speaker grille. In front of those seats, a stainless-trimmed, Prowler Orange dash hangs Hypercool 2 air conditioning beneath sedate Classic Instruments telemetry and a requisite Guide Traffic Light Viewer. At the bottom of that dash, a '63 Impala console floats a Hurst Competition Shifter between billet foot pedals, a polished emergency brake and piped floor mats that sail Medium Beige carpet. In front of the driver, a '60 Chevy steering wheel laps a polished, tilting column. And audio entertainment is provided by either a 12-disc JVC CD changer, which is hidden under the car's seat, or a 400-watt JVC stereo that's hidden in the car's glovebox.

AWARDS/FEATURES

Awarded a Rep/Safety Pick

- 39th Annual NSRA Street Rod Nationals South

- Knoxville, Tennessee

Featured in StreetScene Magazine

- July 2013

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

Build receipts

Component literature

A copy of the car's StreetScene Magazine feature

A consolette

A fire extinguisher

If you're looking for something a little different than a run-of-the-mill cruiser, this awesome street rod is a fantastic choice. Distinctive, comfortable and lovingly restored, it's a lot of fun on the street OR at the show. Few cars make us want to just punch out, grab the keys and hit the Carolina backroads. This Chevy is certainly one of them!

SUMMARY

National award-winning street rod / Frame-off restoration completed in 2003

350 cubic inch Chevrolet ZZ350 crate engine

700R4 4-speed automatic transmission / 2,000 RPM stall converter

Hypercool II air conditioning / Modern JVC audio

Custom tweed and cloth interior

Nova 'big 10' rear axle / Posi-traction differential / 3.42 gears

Customized suspension / 2-inch lowered ride height

Power rack-and-pinion steering / Power front disc and rear drum brakes

Prowler Orange Metallic paint / 17-inch Billet Specialties wheels

Sale includes build receipts and a copy of the car's StreetScene Magazine feature