I love American cars from this era, especially such a clean, unpretentious custom as the Pick of the Day, a 1951 Chevrolet coupe in black with ghostly pinstripes and styled steel wheels.
General Motors cars from 1949-51 were particularly good-looking, the Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs, Buicks and Chevys showing the stylistic prowess developing from GM’s famed design studio as it shook off pre-war influences.
As described by the Tacoma, Washington, dealer advertising this Chevy on ClassicCars.com, the car has been resto-modded for style and drivability, and it’s ready for the show field or the open highway.
“Done up old hot rod style, this vehicle has nice conditioned older black paint, good body,” the dealer says in the ad description. “Overall a nice 1951 Chevrolet.”
The Chevy should be very drivable with a Nova front clip, power front disc brakes, Turbo 350 automatic transmission and 10-bolt rear end. The car retains a straight-6 engine, although the ad does not indicate whether it is original, which is equipped with a Holly carburetor, Offenhauser intake manifold and split exhaust.
The interior has been upgraded in black and gray, with sports gauges and a modern small-diameter steering wheel.
The straight body, shiny paint and chrome, and redone interior appear fresh in the photos with the ad, and the Chevy looks like nothing else needs to be done to it. I like the chromed steel wheels with baby-moon hubcaps. The hood has been nicely louvered.
With the six-banger up front, this Chevy would be more cruiser than racer, although it should be competent at highway speeds. This style and mechanical setup very-much appeals to me in the old-school vibe that it emulates.
The asking price of $18,995 feels like a bargain.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day
That is not a coupe that is a 2 door sedan. The sedan had a longer roof line with shorter trunk lid. The sport coupe, and business coupe had the shorter roof line and longer trunk lid.