Its no secret I have been looking for a 40's coupe for some time ,daily shopping on the net have produced 3 local prospects-opinions?? I'll post all three w prices- all three are solid+titled,the Chevy's are drivers first 1948 chevy coupe driver Tenn car NO rust, cheezy semi black paint but a dependable w 216 stick-$6500
these are not mine, i am trying to decide which to buy i will post the ones i do not buy there if anyone wants info Second prospect -1948 Chevy fleetmater club cpe , new 15" WWW , rechrome bumpers, cyl head -$6500
last and the current probably winner- 1946 ply cpe ,PRO CHOPPED including garnishes, NEW glass w V butt windsheild, nova subbed +RE pwr Disc's,Pwr steering, 12 V updated stock gauges,set up for 350/350 (which i have) new exaust w headers,14"rally's w flipper caps, new 14" WWW, lakers Brizz bumpers ,a PILE of parts ,no heater /wipers MANY custom touches ,no trunk latch,tacky interior, $5500 -deals made on this one
I'd probably jump on the plymouth. More work to be done. But I'm not big on 6 cylinder cars, and I am big on old MOPARs. So if it were me I'd be doing pretty near as much by pulling the 6 and upgradeing it anyway. Maybe I'd get ride of the SBC and put a big block ford in it.
The first Chevrolet. It looks like a more solid car than the others. And the only Mopars I like in that bodystyle are the business coupes. Even though that one has a nice chop and some more parts.
Mopar all the way. Forget the sbc though....unless you are NEVER going to open the hood. I'd put a slant six in before a SBC. Any mopar v8 is a plus over the chevy. but then...it's your car. if you already have a 350/350 it's hard to go another route huh?
If you want a nice driving stocker that you're not going to change around, I'd buy the Fleetmaster. If you're going to cut one up to build a hotrod/custom/nose high gasser, I'd get the plymouth. If you end up with one of the Chevs and decide to shave some trim, like bumper guards and stone guards, let me know, I'll buy 'em off ya.
Mike, that Plymouth is cool enough to drive around as is. I like the patina and mexican blanket seat covers. The chevy's seem too commonplace whereas the Mopar is not, and in my opinion looks better. I have grown to really like Mopars, never used to like them. On the other hand I have seen some really cool Fleetmaster's too. Tough choice but I'd go after the Mopar.
Buying the Plymouth seems like a no brainer, less money and a lot of hard stuff allready done (I.E.- the top chop). But, if you WANT a Chev, BUY a Chev. Otherwise sell the 350/350 and get a LA Mopar if you want a smallblock. 318, 340, or 360, pre or post magnum, all make for a great drivetrain when coupled with a 998-500/727-518 or any number of stickshifts for the Plymouth. Bucks down, find a complete vehicle with a 318 auto and use all the pieces. Tons of them out there for cheap, a bunch with 4speed overdrive automatics . Bucks up? 360 magnum crate and a 5 speed would be a dynamite combination for the Plymouth. Hells bells, a hopped up slant six (cammed, cast iron headers, split exhaust, multiple carburetion or fuel injection, etc) with overdrive anything would really work well, probably better than anything short of a HEMI. I don't understand why guys copout and use a bellybutton drivetrain to morph something other than a Chev into a Chev when a little forethought and planning and thinking "outside the box" would get you something unique. Isn't that why we do this?
I know chev drivetrain in a ply is a bad deal to some BUT its what i know and build ,so it will get that again , the biggest drawback on the chevy's is that thaet are not really freeway driveable short of installing 3:54 gears (which I would), its a way to use up the sbc stuff from 57 as well ,otherwise it would just sit around , motors are avail. cheaper elsewhere than I would sell my 406 for so selling and changing is out as well..
Go for the Plymouth! Pro chopped, and all the windows already done! You could be cruisin this spring!
Possible OPTION # 4 1946 Chevy Coupe, 350/350 , dropped spindles, disc brakes, rebuilt front end, Nova 10 bolt rear end, saginaw 603a steering box ( hooked to stock column by borgenson U-joint kit), new wheels and tires, chassis engineering brake pedal and master cyl kit , all mounts either Chassis engineering or Fatman Fab. , matching tuck & roll int , dash and garnish moldings need to be repainted, body paint really nice but not perfect, clear open Mi. title, needs some finishing but all the hard stuff is done $7,500. firm. ( just thought I would throw that at ya') : Oh yeah, it needs glass in the drivers vent window. and I have all new rubber and seals
I vote for #4 - with #1 as a close second. There's just something about an honest-looking old car. #4 & #1 both look to be fairly complete and well taken care of. Start with the nicest car you can afford - even if it isn't the closest to hitting the road. JH
Buy one of the Chevrolets and give me the number for the Plymouth! Seriously its the Plymouth, hands down. Look real hard at that front wheel / fender clearance though. Camaro/Nova clips are too wide for nearly all pre-59 cars.
no-brainer :The PLYMOUTH! I never liked the Chevys with the fenders part of the door. Although the do look nice! Josh
sweet 46, but over the top money wise for me, I'm lookin at 6.5 k tops, by the time I got it shipped ,it would be well over 8k
these are a few I passed on , the Poncho is a good deal at $3900,389/slim jim driver- just not a 40's coupe that i want- The chevy II wgn at $2200 was solid and a v8/stick, but too many dents and too new the 63 SS was just plain rough,bench seats instaed of the buckets cheapo auto floor shift baddly done- way too far gone for me at $1800 all except the Bonne are within 50 Mi from me
Jump on the Plymouth. I'm not a big Mopar fan but that car has a nice look about it and like others have said, so much of the hard work has already been done. Tom
I may be wrong but the 6 cyl chevy's are parade cars only and too hi priced and the Plymouth is too rough and too hi priced...Id look some more Mike- there are deals out there just dont get in a rush.....
your right on the chevy's and i have been looking, but i'm hindered by fundage,I'm stuck w local cars, shipping reduces the chances of a decent car to almost junk yard dogs or stripped out project cars and i'm not going there again, the Ply is the closest i've found , its paint ready, (thats a guide coat) absolutely NO rust anywhere, completely street ready other than the motor install,but ready for that (its been put together and driven for a season to find the bugs) the chop was done pro in Wis.at a rod shop, glass is all done and new tires,shocks, brakes, fuel system,restified dash gauges w Ron F. wiring kit installed ,running gear is all new and finished as are all brackets and piping etc , $18000 in receipts including car cost and shipping, (rock solid southern gennie start) car cost not counting his labor , his loss , never do that myself , its what ya get when you have a rod/pro body shop do all the hard stuff, the wheels are a bit tight to the fender lips, but match F+R,thats easily delt with, doing about a 1" lift,(a wee bit TOO low for my taste anyway) somethings would be pulled and sold off (lakers possibly the 14" WWW radials), also I get TWO PU loads of unused stock, repro and speed parts,THREE grilles , two complete dashes WITH radio's and clocks + LOTS more, all door/deck lid gaskets are there,new Brizz bumpers AND rechromed gennies ,new exaust from the headers back w Smitty's,seriously only a motor install away from being a driver, found a buddy who will paint it for a parts swap deal,granted the seats and interior suck , but sheez, I HAVE to have something I CAN do , oh all side panels are new ,mounted and removed ,but not covered as yet, so it looks like this is the one, I called today and said I'll take it and pay for it of course,IF he can hold the car there for a couple weeks so i can make room here.he said kick it around for week to be sure i want it , its mine ,but I have to say for sure by next friday.good guy
as to the Chevy's both are real decent gennies, but not enough "umph" to get out of their own way over 50 MPH, nothing else has come up that is even close to what i want or I can afford and i will not compromise this time out , its a coupe or nothing now ,i've had 2 years of false starts- NO MORE , , but if some one has a solid, titled (correctly, as in matching title/ORIG.VIN tag) driver 35-48 coupe in or delivered to MN , that can be had for $6500 or less, I'm game and open -for another week
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