Rare Country Club Package/216ci I6/New Brake Lines/New Kingpins/3-Speed Manual

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 originally equipped 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 not blowing, 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