Vehicle Description
FROM THE MISSOULA AUTO MUSEUM COLLECTION Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale January 19th - 22nd 2017 at Russo and Steeles 17th Annual Scottsdale Arizona Auction at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Please contact us for more information.
Chevrolet scored a home run with the debut of its new-for-1949 models the first all-new design to come from GMs high-volume popular-priced division since 1942. While all other GM divisions had already launched their all-new postwar models for 1948 Chevrolet and Pontiacs new designs were next in line to their senior counterparts. Nonetheless the new Chevrolets were worth the wait and proved an unqualified sales success despite the industry-wide slowdowns associated with the Korean War. The excellent basic design theme of 1949 continued with refinements through 1954. In fact these first all-new postwar models rank among Chevrolets best designs today with a well-deserved reputation for excellent construction quality and durability that remain legendary today.
Power choices while certainly not exotic were highly effective and included the overhead-valve 216.5-cubic inch Stovebolt Six for manual-transmission cars with power output bumped up to 92 horsepower. A larger 235.5 cubic-inch unit was also now available with the newly released Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission. The top Chevrolet line and the top seller was the Deluxe comprising the Fleetline 2- and 4-door Sedans and the Styleline sub-series Chevys best sellers for 1951. Styleline body styles included 2- and 4-door Sedans the 2-door Sport Coupe 2-door Bel Air Convertible and 8-passenger Station Wagon. Chevrolet held its dealer introductions for the 1951 model line on December 19 1950 and model year production reached more than 1.25 million vehicles maintaining Chevrolets place as Americas number one automaker.
This 1951 Chevrolet Deluxe Styleline 2-door was driven by income tax protester Gordon Wendell Kahl January 8 1920 - June 3 1983 when he was involved in two fatal shootouts with law enforcement officers in 1983. It was held in an FBI evidence warehouse for 20 years. It is a very nice example of Chevys success as Americas number one automaker during the early 1950s. Powered by the desirable uprated 105-horsepower Powergide Six mated to the famed Powerglide automatic transmission it features a nice blue finish cloth interior and sun visor. A piece of American History offered from the Missoula Auto Museum collection it will sell without reserve.
