This 1939 Chevrolet Master 85 Coupe blends pre-war style with
carefully chosen modern upgrades, making it great for weekend
drives, local shows, and club events. This example was enhanced for
drivability with a more powerful inline six engine, new
transmission, power steering, power brakes and air conditioning.
With only ~400 miles since the rebuild, this Master 85 presents
well in high-quality driver and local show condition. Built at GMs
St. Louis factory, this Master 85 was delivered new with black
exterior (Paint Code: 251) and Brown Mohair interior (Trim Code:
79) in March 1939. John Bleus was the first owner who purchased the
Master 85 through Cochrane Chevrolet in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Mr. Bleus kept the car for more than 30 years. Several owners
stewarded the Chevy over the years including Ciro Virgulio from
Northford, Connecticut purchasing it in 1985 then sold it to his
son, James, in 1990 with a mileage record of 89,000 miles. The
Master 85 was acquired in 2014 by Bob Moser in Dayton, Nevada. Mr.
Moser was a master Navy warrant officer mechanic who was a regarded
expert in P-3 aircraft and a background in restoring wood biplanes,
aluminum aircraft, and classic cars. Mr. Moser completed a complete
mechanical overhaul starting with the goal of long-term reliability
and comfort. The current owner acquired the Master 85 in 2022 and
continued to work with Mr. Moser to complete the mechanical work
along with adding new interior and exterior restoration finishing
in 2024. The Master 85 has limited use for weekend enjoyment,
adding approximately 400 miles as stated by the current owner. The
result is a fully sorted, highly usable pre-war Chevrolet that
offers the style of 1939 with the road manners of a far newer car.
The exterior of the Master 85 is in good to excellent overall
condition. The exterior was stripped to bare metal and refinished
with a deep black finish accented by hand-painted pinstriping and
is in excellent condition today. The paint restoration completed
was over $18,000. The chrome trim is in good condition with normal
imperfections from use. Fulton sun visor, backup lights, fog
lights, and a GM passing light add both style and period-correct
detail. Sealed headlights were installed for better nighttime
visibility. The body has no rust, filler, or cosmetic flaws,
underscoring the quality of the work performed. Windshield wipers
are not currently installed but are included with the Master 85.
The exterior presents beautifully to honor the prewar period and
would be a celebrated for example while driving or showing at local
events. The interior is in overall excellent condition. The cabin
was fully restored with brown vinyl upholstery that is in excellent
condition and high-grade interior insulation that provides a
comfortable driving experience. The interior includes a two-tone
dash finished in beige and brown, restored gauges, modern steering
column, a Locar shifter and the interior trim is in good condition
from normal use. The light brown woven carpets are in excellent
condition throughout. Air conditioning has been installed, with the
compressor wiring to be completed by the next owner. The interior
restoration was over $13,000, is in excellent condition from the
recent restoration and is ready to be enjoyed! Under the hood, the
Chevrolet is powered by a rebuilt GM six-cylinder 250ci marine
engine with seven main bearings paired with a three speed TH 350 GM
automatic transmission. The mechanical upgrades include a new
transfer case, power steering, power brakes with C-10 front discs
and new brake lines, new wiring for a 12v system, Jeep Wagoneer
rear end with drum brakes, sway bars, tapered roller bearings, and
lowered suspension with reshaped blocks. An aluminum radiator with
electric cooling fan, Weber carburetor, 18-gallon gas tank with new
sending unit, and a power electrical shutoff. The underside has
been cleaned and coated for protection. With only 400 miles since
completion, the engine, drivetrain and suspension are ready for
many more miles of enjoyment. The Master 85 comes with restoration
records, some support tools, owners manual, a variety of time
period reference materials and was serviced in July 2025. For more
details and information, please text, call or email Kendi Brown at
1.623.404.9042
[email protected]. The Chevy is in our
Phoenix showroom. We are pleased to offer FaceTime or WhatsApp live
video inspections, and we help coordinate shipping worldwide. We
also have financing partners if you are interested in financing.
