Projects 1950 fleetline old custom

Picked up this 1950 Chevy Fleetline deluxe yesterday. Been wanting something 49-52 for a while. Its an old custom with some pretty cool performance stuff on the 1955-57 235, Tatterfields dual intake, Wayne valve cover and push rod cover. Its had some body mods done as well, hood louvered, bullet tail lights, frenched antenna, a grill from what I'm not sure? I would love to know who built it and when. I think it came from the Bradenton area of Florida? Also has a weird engine number FbI2B. maybe restampped over the years. Plan on getting it running and driving again and start fixing the years of neglect. not sure? shaved door handles and some air scoops in the rear fenders.

 

interesting use of a Plymouth grill !!!!! Hood emblem is strange !!!!!! great score !!!!!!!!!

 

Congrats- Cool project great body style

 

I like it, drove a 50 fastback in 12th grade to school. Have fun.

 

Thank you. Do you know what year/model Plymouth?

 

55

 

Neat looking can’t last car was a 50 fleetline fun cars and won’t break the bank to get running again

 

As was said, 1955 Plymouth grille.



That Tattersfield intake is the sh*t.
The Chevy head has three intake ports. The plenum on top of the Tattersfield manifold ties the end cylinders together (omitting the center port), for better fuel distribution. This, along with the curved radiuses, make it a real functional work of art.
BTW, Tattersfield was partnered with Tommy Thickstun (one of the earliest speed equipment manufactures), and took over the Thickstun Co. after Tommy's death in 1948, redesigning and branding under his own name. All of his intakes were for the early babbit-ed motors, and have bolt spacing for the desirable early, smaller carbs.

Is that a crack I see in the hood center? If so, the seam may have been filled without welding it up.

Personally, I think ditching the hood ornament and the visors on those frenched headlights would go a long way for 0 $. Also, wheel covers and tail lights/parking lights no newer than the grille, and you're home!

 

Thanks! I was pretty excited to see the Tattersfield intake and Wayne valve cover on it. How do you tell a reproduction valve cover? I ***ume this one is. Thanks for the history of the tatersfield company. My plan is to knock some of the ugly off it (headlight visors, hood emblem, window tint...etc.) and drive it. The hood is a mess tbh... its had some bondo sculptured ribs added that are super sh*tty. Might end up getting a different one. I have to order a few parts to make it run and stop.... so after christmas its going to have to be.

 

Kool !

 

Awesome! there's just no car I like more than the 49-52 fleetline coupes, and this will be a cool one for sure!

 

Great catch. Love the hotted up 235, and lust for a Fleetline. Don't be a stranger.

 

The only negative thing about a Fleetline is seeing out the rear window, but I, too, lust after those swoopy cars.

 

Very nice!

 

Thanks everybody. Been fiddling around with the 50 after work this past week. Got it running pretty well and the brakes fixed. Drove it around the test track and parking lot. I need a gas tank and a p***enger door gl***. Thinking about buying seveal pieces of new gl*** for the front doors and new windshields due to the drivers being cracked. The good is super jacked up but want to save the louvers and I’m not sure how I feel about the caddy taillights..... thinking about putting the factory lights back on there. Here are a couple pictures I took today.

 

There are a number of tail light choices that I would prefer to stock; but in the meantime, consider simply replacing the Caddy lenses. Le Pratt used readily available '56 Chevy lenses on his '41 Buick. Check to see if they will fit your openings.



With blue dots...

 

Thanks Mo. I like that idea! Anyone have the dimensions on those please let me know.

 

if the 56's wont work look at 58,60 or 61 Impala lenses, they might be closer to the caddy diameter.

 

Another possibility is the 1953 Chevy bullet.
https://shop.kustomcarparts.com/Chevy-Tail-Light-Lenses_c378.htm

 

Congrats.

 

Just throwing these out, to keep you stoked...Frank Livingston Chevys, built nearly 50 years apart!

 

Dude! That’s so bad***. Looks like whoever built my car liked those! I don’t want to loose focus my $$ are tight right now. I’m having some well a lot done on my VW double cab also. I have a couple projects that are almost ready to sell. That will free up some cash for this thing.

I had a 54
7 years ago and sold it. Regretting, I’ve been kinda looking for the right deal to come up and found this one. I ordered a couple air cleaners today to get the carbs covered.

 

I love your '54. The extra grille teeth and lowered stance were just the right (first) moves.
Drop the rear of the Fleetline, and don't look back. No regrets!

 

Thanks Mo. yeah gotta get more low. fix a couple rust spots and drive it. No regrets!

 

Very nice custom. Bring it back to life and enjoy the ride.
Nostalgia is cool.

 

Those gl*** fuel filters have been know to create fires!

 

Cool car. I agree with you on the taillights. I would also loose the over rider on the front bumper. Livingston's cars look so much cleaner without it.

 

I like the Caddy taillights, just French them deeper in the quarter panels.

If they are cool enough for Toad they are cool enough for me!



It is the amber fog lights awful wiring that need to leave in my opinion.


Great Find!

 

Thanks. The tail lights have grown on me a little and I agree they need sunken in more. And yeah man the fog lights are terrible. They’re going on the trash. I did get some parts in and started replacing the broken gl***. Gas tank should be here tomorrow.

 

Yeah, it is very popular to bash on 59 Caddy taillights today. If you look at the little books in the late 50's and early 60's they were one of the most used taillights in customs.

Funny thing is the guys doing the bashing are old enough they should remember.