1947 Fleetmaster

I am going to look at a 1947 Fleetmaster according to the pictures the bumpers are painted did these cars come with painted or chrome? I dont know much about these cars but the price is right. Thanks ED

 

chromed.

 

They came with chrome bumpers! Let's see the pics you talk about!
Let's hear how it goes.

Klaus

 

Here is a photo it looks like he painted the bumper. The grille is he same way.

 

Here is a picture did not wait long enough for it to upload. There is alot of space between trunk and rear bumper is this correct?

 

No, there's a splash apron that's supposed to fill the gap between the bumper and body.

 

Chrome....

Rat

 

Thanks the more i learn about it it might not be what i want.

 

Just from the one pic posted, the car still look reasonably strait.

My dad's '58 Chevy Truck had the same painted over chrome bits, it was owned by an ol' timer who I guess didn't want to spend the money to have the chrome taken care of, so he just rattle-canned everything with silver paint. It actually didn't look that bad, but the fact that it just wasn't "right" led us to slowly replace it all with the proper stuff, even though dad used (and still does) the truck as a work rig.

 

Looks like my first car. 1947 Chevy 4 door Fleetmaster. I paid $60.00 for it and we drove it home (don't it just make you sick) in 1970. I was 14 years old. Your car has the typical door handle sag. Needs new springs in the mechanisims. Bumpers and grille should be chrome. Check the step sills as these tend to rot out. Also area under rear tail lights as well. Also drivers side front fenders just behind the wheel opening usually rust as there is a brace back there that traps water.
If it is a stock motor it should have a 216 inline 6. May or may not have the "vacuum shift" option. Main bearings on these motors are poured babbitted bearings. Non presurized oiling system so lots of guys don't want to mess with them.
There should be a splash panel between both the front and rear bumpers and the body of the car that covers the bumper brackets.
I learned alot about life working on that car as the only guys that knew anything about them were much(in their 60's) older than me and I think they got a kickout of the fact that some young punk would hang around their garages and listen to all their war stories.
Have fun with it.
Karl.

 

If you can, try to get a good look at the backside of the grill pieces. If they are relatively clean with minimal surface rust, they should be good cores for rechroming. They tend to rust out from the backsides. Many times when they are painted, there is bondo in them to fill in the rust outs; making them cheaper to replace with good originals than a proper rechrome.

The headlight bezels are the only trim pieces that are supposed to be painted.

 

If the price is right, go for it. Those cars are cheap & easy to work on and a blast to drive. Even with the 216 they move around town pretty good. Not so good as a highway car, but that can be addressed. If you can get into some vintage tin for a low cost, there are million parts for the 41-48 Chevy out there. Just make sure the floors & rockers are in good shape as others mentioned. Good luck and if you buy it, post up some more pics!

 

I havent decided yet it is 2 hours away havnt looked at it, Ihave anoher projec that i am working on and dont have the room for another car. The price is good (2000.00) but not sure if i am going to look at it.ED

 

I am wondering about the interior on his 47 Fleetmaster it has safari interior is this factory or did somebody put this in themselves.

 

No, that is not factory.

 

pictures can be deceiving, but that looks like a pretty nice car for the price, especially if it's a driver.