I've been lurking here for about a year (but only a couple of months as a registered user), and finally bought my first project, so I figured I should post an introduction. My name's Andrew. I'm a sysadmin/technical writer for the University of Illinois and a freelance photographer in my off hours. I've always enjoyed learning how things worked and wanted to learn some basic mechanical skills. It took some time, but I realized that the only way to get started would be to jump in with both feet, so I started working on my Saturn. It*****ed, but I enjoyed it. I finally found a decent first project earlier this month. It's a 1951 Fleetline Deluxe. The price was right, it runs and drives, the interior and body are in decent shape (hell, the original clock and radio still work), and, most importantly, nobody's going to care if I butcher a four door '51 Chevy. Here's a picture. The wheels are going up on ebay as soon as I get it driving smoothly. (For all the photographers out there, I know there's a lamppost growing out of the top. I'll take the****y pictures later.) Between the HAMB and the hands-on experience, I don't think a day has gone by that I haven't learned something really cool. Thanks everybody who does tech posts, talks about their mistakes, or runs a badass message board.
Welcome to the HAMB. I've got a 51 as well. Since the original radio still works, does that mean it's still a 6 volt system?
[ QUOTE ] Since the original radio still works, does that mean it's still a 6 volt system? [/ QUOTE ] For now. The wiring is totally shot, so I figure I might as well do the 12v conversion if I'm going through the trouble of rewiring.
[ QUOTE ] nobody's going to care if I butcher a four door '51 Chevy. [/ QUOTE ] So, two door with a Carson top? Welcome!
Nice car! (I'm biased) What you have there is a Styleline deluxe sedan not a Fleetline. We have the same car except mine is a 2 door. Welcome to the hamb!
[ QUOTE ] What you have there is a Styleline deluxe sedan not a Fleetline. [/ QUOTE ] Really? I suppose the more constructive question is what gives it away? As for the body mods, I've got some definite things in mind (de-streetrodified, lowered, a light shave) but I'm not sure where I'm going with it yet. I hadn't even considered this body style when I was out looking to buy. The more I'm around it, though, the more I like how*****y it is, so I may just take that and run with it. (I mean really, 4 doors, a visor, and the powerglide?) Either way I've got plenty of time to figure it out while I work on the mechanical issues. I'll post photochops as I think of them.
Here's the diff... The fleetine has a slant/fast back meaning that the roof line slants down in the rear to the trunk with no obvious break. Here's a pic of a fleetline for sale on e-bay. There's an excellent pic of the rear. Fleetline Your car is a sedan because of the length of your trunk from the rear window. If that area was longer, you'd have the coupe instead of the sedan. If you didn't have the post between your front and read side glass, you'd have a hardtop. If you order a 49-57 Chevy catalog from Impala Bob's the first few pages have great pictures of each model organized by year. It's very handy to have around and free on their website www.impalas.com Anyway... ditch those wheels asap and have fun with it... I'm running mine stock (and 6 volt) until the fall when there's an engine swap, 12 volt conversion and front end in her future...
[ QUOTE ] The fleetine has a slant/fast back meaning that the roof line slants down in the rear to the trunk with no obvious break. [/ QUOTE ] Oh! For some reason I was thinking the only difference between the Fleetline and the Styleline was some trim and that both were available as fastbacks. Now that I think about it, that makes no sense. Thanks all.
46-48 STyleline, Stylemaster and Fleetline were trim levels with the Fleetline Aerosedan being the top end and a fastback. the others were not fastbacks. That changed in 49. Welcome aboard!
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