51 chevy hardtop

I just bought a 1951 chevy hardtop deluxe and was trying to find out some info on it. I got it for $200.00 . It's been sitting for 11yrs , barn find . I replaced the starter and fire the car up for about a minute or so and shut it off . The guy told me the motor was rebuilt in the early 80s and he had stoped working on it. Not really any rust to be found on the floors, but everything needs to be touched. I like the 53 -54 chevy hardtops and know were there is 2 for sale @ $3500.00 ea . My 51 and his 53s are very close to the same work. I dont know if they would pull about the same money , or if they are about the same in popularty . I'm so for into this car for $ 270.00 I just can't seem to find pics of the 51 ht. thanks for the info

 

Slow down a bit man , you just posted the same question three times .....
Go and read about searches an have a look around .

 

50 chevy .com

 

I prefer the 51's to the 53's and 4's ... more graceful feminine curves. You just stole it from the old man, I hope you know. Welcome to the fold.

 

http://carnut.com/photo/list/flist.html

 

Personally, I like the 50-52 Bel Air Hardtops better. They're certainly less common... of course parts are rare and expensive... even the repopped parts are more expensive than the 53-54 parts. Just look up rubber seals for that car. Trim from the beltline and above (inside and out) are virtually unobtainable, so I hope yours is in good shape.

Here's my wife's '51

 

I had a 51 Htp as my first car back in 1964. Bought it for $104 off the Ron Tonkin Chevrolet used car lot in Beaverton, OR.
Had always wanted a 53/54 Htp until I got my 51, now if I had the chance to get a 51 or 53/54 I'd jump at the chance to own a 51 again. Mine had a 55 Corvette 6 with tripower and it was pretty fast for back in the day. Also put a 1950 Olds one piece windshield in it and nosed and decked it.
Here is a picture shortly after bringing it home for the first time..........girl friend sitting in the car.

 

that trim looks like a 52, or did some 51s come that way?
Nice car! Nice girl!

 

No, the 51 "Delux" had this as an option. The car was a delux...........you can faintly read it above the splash trim.

 

Sure looks like a 52 to me! Did it have flippers at the top of the doors frames? How about grill teeth?
Dom

 

I was the third owner of the car and actually got to talk with the old gentleman that bought it brand new from Fields Chevrolet in Portland. It was purchased in September of 1951. He even had the invoice from Fields of which he gave me................I'm 99% sure it said 1951. Wasn't very knowlegeable about what was right or wrong for that model year, was just a young kid getting his first car.
I'll look for some pictures of the front................although I'm not sure I have anymore.
As for the flipper above the door..........I just don't remember.

 

I like 50-52 Hardtops better too.......you have anymore pics of this beauty??

 

I like them alot too.

Here's one I had awhile back. Shoulda kept it. Had a killer running inline in it.
The current owner swapped to a sbc etc, and some great highback bucket seats out of a newer camaro

 

Ive seen pics of yours...got em saved on my computer.....I dig the trailer too...Shasta? Please tell me you still have that!!

 

September of 51 would've been a 52 model year. I bet the title was made up based on purchase year. Some states were like that from what I understand. My wife's 51 had Deluxe side trim, too, but it was totally different.

 

Sure! My wife did about 95% of the work on this car... engine, upholstery, body work, etc... in 9 months.. then she drove it from Chicago to Maryland.

 

I like 53/54's for different reasons then 51/52's... but I love them all! You got a hell of a deal man, thats for sure.

 

I kinda like that overstuffed leather couch look the interior has ... it's like a whole new take on the standard vinyl/leather interiors that are traditionaly tight and smooth as a drum. The interior of that car kind of reminds me of a cozy cigar lounge... just need a pooltable and a wet bar... hmmm.... You wouldn't have to be a upholstery guru to pull that off either. Double hmmm.

 

Hellfish,

Learn something new every day. Do you have any pictures of what the car looked like before your wife started working on it..................just so I could see what was different from my trim to yours.

Thanks

 

Dayum Hellfish, that is one very fine ride, my compliments.

 

I don't want to contradict you, man. You were THERE. I wasn't. All the trim was off the car when we got it, but it was the same as the car below and every 51 I've ever seen... except yours.

Thank you Nexxussian! It was rough when we got it. I'll pass that on to my wife. The design and work was all HER. GaryC is the one who actually sprayed the paint

Gigantor, she's a costume designer so she works with fabric all the time and has an industrial sewing machine, but she took a very simple approach to the upholstery. I think she whipped it up in an afternoon. Sick, ain't it? She bought the headliner fabric at a loccal fabric store and it color-matched the body perfectly. It wasn't silk, but had a similar feel. The carpet was just a cheap dollar store Oriental rug. It fit perfectly. She just made some cuts for it to fit over the trans tunnel hump. If you're interested, I can send you the write up she did on how to reupholster a seat.... the simple and cheap way. It basically covers springs and padding, not the top layer, but is very informative... but we're side tracking this poor guy's post.

 

here's that upholstery info I mentioned. I forgot I posted it here awhile ago

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143204&highlight=upholstery

 

I agree! As an owner of a 1950 Chevy 2Dr.Ht. I think the look of the 49-52 is far more attractive.

 

that's one cool ass car hellfish thank's for the pic jus bought a 51 2 door hardtop myself