Vehicle Description
1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Sport Coupe
After nearly four war years in which no civilian passenger cars had
been produced, Detroit could have sold anything with wheels that
went round and round. Chevrolet, along with most of its
competitors, shrewdly elected to serve up existing models. After
all, the paid-for factory tooling was already in place, and the
demand for new cars was unprecedented.
For consignment, a consignor described #3 car that is very
presentable and in this writer's opinion, much better than a #3, a
great cruiser and the perfect addition to any collection. This 1948
Chevrolet Fleetmaster Sport Coupe has been upgraded with the
Country Club option, a very short-lived, dealer-installed kit that
added genuine wood trim to these otherwise basic cars. A reaction
to factory wood-bodied cars such as the Ford Sportsman and Chrysler
Town & Country, the Country Club package was produced by a supplier
named Engineered Enterprises, and combined ash framing for the
doors and rear fenders with mahogany inserts and stainless-steel
screws. The kit cost $149.50, making it a very costly extra for a
car that retailed at $1,402. The exact quantity of Country Club
coupes created is unknown, although some estimates put the total at
less than 100.
Exterior
Chevrolet was kicking some styling butt in 1948 and looking at the
sleek forward-facing lines of this car it could be moving, but it's
standing still. Even so it is still moving...our eyes visually,
from the swept forward "B" pillar to its voluptuous fenders and
nicely down curved "boot" this car just drips late 40's styling.
The tall standing knobby hood sits proudly above a chromed grille
and bumper assembly. A shout out to the hood ornament with its
beginnings of the Jet Age styling, just fab. The back of the car
just uses curved lines to their max with not a straight line seen
anywhere, even the taillights. These bulbous steel panels are
sprayed in a repaint of the original Oxford Maroon and the paint
job is showing age with some chips and crazing but no rust of any
type is noted. Now for the coup d' grace, the dealer added "Country
Club" package. Wonderful ash wood frames mahoney inserts and adds a
true air of distinction to an otherwise normal for the era car. Our
consignor cannot confirm that this car was originallyequipped with
the wood package from new, but either way I say it's a perfect hit
now! Rounding out our tour are Oxford Maroon painted steel wheels
with Chevrolet dog dish caps and like new wide whitewall tires. Art
Deco-liscious!
Interior
A swing of the door and we are met with door panels making use of
beautiful grained wood for the interior window surrounds and cloth
for the center panels. Chromed door handles and cranks are framed
with cream bakelite bezels, and present very nicely. Looking at the
very utilitarian but functional dash, we see an alignment of
rectangular gauges to drivers left and a speedo on the right which
is attached to a wonderful horizontal chromed speaker frame and
ending on the other side in a clock. Cream Bakelite knobs are noted
and have a beautifully aged color which contrasts to the dark gray
metal paint sprayed dash. Tan corduroy broadcloth covers are
installed over the front split bench and rear couchlike bench
seats, the condition is nearly new and is more Victorian couch than
run of the mill pedestrian automobile seating. The headliner is
showing some staining (maybe from glue, maybe water?), but remains
tight and tear free. The steering wheel, and shift lever knob are
in good condition, but both show some light wear.
Drivetrain
Lifting, (more like heaving actually!),the large and in charge
bulbous hood reveals a fully restored and clean engine bay. Within
its confines is a 216.5ci I-6 cylinder engine. It is original to
this car and the consignor states he does not know whether it was
rebuilt or not. It has a 1 barrel carburetor topped by a coffee can
oil bath air cleaner with some filter showing at its upper end. The
transmission is a 3 speed manual one, and on back is a 4.11 gear
ratio rear pumpkin. The radiator is newer and is nice and straight
and it goes with a new thermostat.
Undercarriage
Surface rust, patina and black paint covers the frame, floor pans,
body hangers and rocker panels but there is no invasive rust to be
seen. Independent coil spring suspension with new kingpins is on
the front while leaf springs bring up the rear. 4-wheel drum brakes
are noted with new brake lines and a new master cylinder as is a
clean single piped exhaust system. A shout out to the original
style fuel tank hanging out back.
Drivability
I slid behind the wheel and was transported back in time; things
were simpler then. A turn of the key and a push of the starter
pedal and she came to life. Performance was adequate, as was
braking and handling. A real pleasure to drive and save for a non
flashing turn signals, the heater notblowing, and the parking brake
not working as the cables need to be replaced, all was good.
A lovingly cared for recycled design from pre-WW2 carried over in
the post war years. Having stood the tests of time and residing in
the same family for almost 50 years, this icon of Chevrolet is now
residing in our West mallway at the Classic Auto Mall ready for you
to scoop her up and preserve the legacy.
9FKL47710
9-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
F-1948
K-Fleetmaster
L-December Build
47710-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 48 1027-1948 Fleetmaster Sport Coupe
BODY NO N5817-Norwood Body #
TRIM NO 151-Tan Striped Pile Cloth
PAINT NO 375-Oxford Maroon
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
