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When a car has seen nearly 50 years of continuous ownership you know it was important to somebody. That is the case with this 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe coupe which represents the brand’s top-of-the-line offering that year. It is a wonderful example of a vintage automobile that you can hop in and drive as it takes you back to another era.
This automobile was built at the Kansas City plant in January of 1941. The last owner found this car in 1978 in the small town of Akron, Colorado. At that time this was just a 37-year-old used car owned by a handyman who used it to pull a small trailer. It was then taken to its new home where it saw a great deal of work. The engine was pulled and received a full rebuild. The body was stripped to bare metal which revealed a solid, rust-free car (a benefit of the dry climate of eastern CO). The original two-tone gray color scheme was dropped in favor of a solid green color. This was further updated in 1993 when the second shade of green was added on top. All the brightwork was reconditioned and remains original to the car.
As mentioned, the original 216.5 ci inline-six engine was rebuilt. It received a 0.060” overbore while the original poured babbitt bearings were replaced with conventional insert bearings. Note this one has an oil filter which was not standard equipment in 1941. The manual 3-speed transmission uses a unique vacuum shifter that Chevrolet promoted as “virtually effortless” – perhaps a bit optimistic, but useful nonetheless. The original 6V system has been converted to 8V for faster starting. Braking is straight and true thanks to a recent service that included a new master cylinder, hoses, and shoes. Sway bar links and lever action shock links were also addressed. The 16” steel wheels wear Coker Classic wide whitewall tires from 2011.
On to the interior! This has to be one of the nicest 1941 cabins you will find; be sure to see all the pictures. It was refinished in the 1980’s with a high-quality Hampton Coach kit which included everything down to the hand straps. The simulated Queensland maple trim pieces have been refinished as well and look spectacular. As a Special Deluxe this one is further equipped with a horn blow ring, wind-up clock, cigarette lighter, dual sunvisors, sliding rear windows, and an ash receiver (aka ash tray). The spacious trunk compartment has a storage shelf atop the spare tire and includes a tool kit.
This ’41 is truly a time capsule. It oozes history with all its factory style along with period accoutrements like the elliptical fog lights, single backup light, Fulton windshield visor, and rear bumper pulldown. Also note the Pearl Harbor decal on the windshield which has been there for many years. Additional items include an original 1941 dealer brochure, insurance brochure, owner’s manual, and accessory guide. Just thumbing through these documents provides an additional window to the past. Also included are a front grille screen along with a rare 5-band shortwave radio that was a $64.50 accessory that year – a significant outlay for a car that had an MSRP of just over $800.
Original features aside, this remains an attractive car that runs and drives just like it did in 1941. It remains true to its original form and represents the best Chevrolet had to offer before World War 2 broke out and changed everything. Let’s hope this vehicle’s next owner will provide another long stretch of care and preservation.
