I found some 50 chevys and I gotta tell you I'm torn. I love the look of the 2 door fastback (slantback?) but the seller has some 2 door hardtops that are attractive as well. I suppose the hardtop is more rare, but that slantback makes me drool. Both are the same money and in the same condition... What'd be your choice? I didnt have a camera with me so sorry,no pics. Anyone know the production numbers on these models? Lets hear what you all have to say...
Depends on your plans for the car...the fastback is a much tougher chop (as far as I know, I've done neither). If you really like the fastback, buy it and let me at the HT Bryan
i had the same option and i chose the fleetline, i think it's the best looking chop on most any car, and they arent as popular as a styleline
if you were in TX i would be trying to convince you to buy the HT and leave the Fleetline for ME! Therein lies your answer!
Hardtops are rarer; I've seen about three in the junkyards and maybe as many on the road compared to easily a dozen Fleetlines. Including my own. The hardtop is worth a little more money, but if you really can't decide, just buy the one that's the best deal.
Why suffer Chaz.... get both! Do the hardtop to pedal/finance the fastback. I've got a line on parts/parts car for the slantback. s.
Scott, This was the strangest find. The guy is an amazing collector, and not really a car guy per se... He just grabbed up all the 50 Chevys he came across for years and years... He had 9 slantbacks, two hardtops, about half a dozen two and four door posts, One of the slantbacks even had a continental kit on it.. stock!!! A really nice guy. He's retired an realizes that he'll never get to all these cars in several lifetimes. We're still working on a deal , but if nothing comes of it I still had a great afternoon of car hunting! I'll keep you informed.
You're lucky, most folks don't get a choice. I have a ht and dig it without a post, but gotta tell ya those fastbacks are beautifull. ht's are better looking out from, and fastbacks are better looking at from outside!
Fleetline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have four the other three are two doors.
Hardtops have wierdness...hard to find parts, lotsa shiny stuff that really can't be shaved off easily and have the car look right, more expensive window parts to buy, etc. Just keep this in mind, if your budget is limited, the hardtop would probably not be the way to go unless everything is there, and in useable condition.
Look at my profile pic thats my pick. I think fleets are kinda goofy if you chop em but ,alota guys think the same about mine.
1950 Bel Air production was 76,662 ... 189,509 Fleetline DeLuxe 2dr sedans, plus 43,682 cheap ones ... the only way to solve your problem is buy 'em both.
Heres a few pictures of mine. We are tearing into her at the moment, to get rid of the metal worm. So she should be painted and ready to go shortly. Make your own mind up, good luck. Cheers All catch you later Roland
As much as I love almost any 50s or 60s hardtop, the '49-'52 Fleetlines are in my Top 10 of favorite cars...
For '49-'52s my list is: 1) Business coupe 2) Hardtop 3) Fleetline 2-door 4) Fleetline 4-door 5) Station wagon 6) Styline 4-door 7) Styline 2-door The roofline on the 2-door Styline just doesn't work for me, but you obviously didn't list that as an option. Obviously I'd grab a convertible if I had the choice, but they're pretty darned rare. Bob K on here built one from a hardtop and did a real nice job of it - although I'd probably leave a hardtop a hardtop. -Dave
Buy them both if you have the cash. The hardtop is probably harder to find parts but I like it better personally. It gets down to which one do you like as you will be the one doing the build and only need to please yourself. Just go with your gut feeling.
Wow...very nice Fleetline!! Just to clarify, the Styleline can be either the Sport Coupe (same body style as the Business Coupe) or the 2 and 4-door sedan. BigCheese, I'm sure you knew this already, just info for those who may not be as familiar with the different body styles. Bryan
Yup, sorry. Styleline means "notchback" to those of us raised on muscle cars, wherease Fleetline means "fastback." One area where I guess I definitely had it wrong, though, was I thought the "Sports Coupe" was the hardtop. Sports, Business, Club and Opera - I can never keep my coupes straight. -Dave
I'd take either one, I guess whichever is in the best shape. If price and condition was exactly equal, I'd rather have the hardtop. But that's just me. I'd get the HT and I'd be on a constant search for a ragtop parts car. Did a GTO like that, turned out great, BobK did one to an early 50's Chevy, also turned out great.
My first car was going to be a 50 Chevy Fleetline, ran like a new sewing machine, 3 on the tree, nice black paint with a perfect original interior hiding under at the time, 30 year old seat covers. It was 1980 and I was 16, it was $700. Mom said I couldn't have it because I'd look like an old man... Let me live vicariously through you... Fleetline!
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