1946 Chevrolet Stylemaster

Sport Sedan Sedan

6 - Cyl.

Manual

14DSH4490

Gasoline

1946 Chevrolet Stylemaster Sport Sedan Up for auction is my 1946 Chevrolet Stylemaster Sport Sedan. Overall this car is in very good condition for its age and mostly original. Until last year it was stored inside for the majority of its life. The previous found it stored in a barn; it had been there from the 1980's to 1997 when it was purchased by the previous owner. From 1997 to present it was garaged and "maintained." I came across it a couple of years ago, and purchased it. This is a very solid example of a mid forties vehicle. Although this car does need some TLC you will not likely find a more solid car that has not been completely restored. I will do my best to describe this vehicle in as much detail as possible below. If you have any questions please feel free to drop me an email as I would be glad to answer any and all questions. A Little History: 1946 was the first year after WWII that Chevrolet and all the other American Car manufacturers moved from producing military equipment back to passenger vehicles. As far as mid-forties sedans are concerned this is the year to own. First, only 169,963 units were built in 1946. This may sound like a lot but nearly DOUBLE that amount were built in 1947 and more than double that were built just two years later in 1948. So as far as forties Chevrolet's are concerned this is the most rare year. Due to the fact that Chevrolet had been focused on war production, no plans for a 1946 model year were made. The 1946 model year car is based entirely on a 1942 Chevrolet Special Deluxe. Earlier forties cars generally being more desirable and this is nothing more than a 42 Chevy. What made this different than the 1942 was the rebadging under the Stylemaster nameplate, and the one year only, very sleek front grill which is one thing I love about this car. THE BODY This body of this car is in very good condition. As I previously mentioned this is a very solid vehicle. I have spent my fair share of time under this car doing routine maintenance, oil changes, lubrication of all the joints, replacement of worn components, and nowhere on this vehicle could I find any rot. The undercarriage as you would expect is patina colored as this car has never been undercoated and still sports its original floor metal, but there are no rot holes in the floor, fenders, or body from what I can tell. The one thing this car does need is a new paint job, much of the interior and engine compartment has been refurbished however the paint is one area on this car that is lacking. Paint is chipping off in various spots and although I have been known to be very particular I think you would agree, it is in need of a repaint. Repainting this vehicle and a re chrome of the front and rear bumpers would likely bring it to near completion. However, the car looks great rolling down the road at 30 mph! THE INTERIOR The interior on this car is a very nice place to spend time. As forties cars are usually romanticized, their interiors are known to be very cozy and this one is no different. The seats and carpet are blue, and were recovered by the previous owner. The front and rear seats are both very comfortable; similar to sitting on my couch at home while riding down the road at 40 MPH. The dash actually looks nice, it is worn brown color. Looking at the dash gives you a nostalgic, vintage feeling... you can see the history. Unfortunately the gauges got a little water in them over this past year and began to rust making the markings illegible. At times I had no choice but to leave the car outside; in addition the first year I had this car I drove it everywhere, everyday. Overall as I said the interior is very clean, cozy, no rips or tears in the seats. THE DRIVETRAIN The engine compartment has been refurbished, but as you can see from the pictures, measures were taken to make it look as close to original as possible. The engine compartment is very clean overall. A few months back while driving down the highway at 70 MPH the 65 year old 216 L6 decided it had enough. A friend of mine had a 1949 Chevy that he had installed a 1954 full pressure 235 into it, that has been professionally rebuilt by a local shop. I purchased this engine from him after about 3000-4000 miles worth of usage. The original 216 engine put out about 80-90 horsepower,... this one puts out quite a bit more. I could have put anything into this car from a stock 216 all the way to a 350 Chevy but I decided to install this motor for a reason. At a glance you cannot tell this is not the original motor! The only indication that this is not original to the car is the valve cover which has an oil cap on the front of it, otherwise this 235 is identical to the 216 that was originally in the vehicle. The original 216 exhaust/intake manifold was sandblasted, coated with a special cast color high temperature coating, and modified to fit the 235 engine. Original 216 spark plug wires were used, original fan setup was used, and the original air intake was mated to the re manufactured Rochester Carburetor. The original radiator had a leak and was replaced with a NOS Radiator that was sitting on the shelf at a Chevy Dealership in the mid-west. The car looks 99% factory, and sounds stock, but easily moves the car down the highway at 65 MPH without breaking a sweat. The engine runs flawlessly, and starts up easily even with the cars original 6 volt electrical system. The only issue I have had with it is that the engine builder that built the engine used an original rope rear main seal. Not a surprise the engine leaks a little oil from time to time. The engine runs on 87 pump gas, although I usually put in 93, and Valvoline VR1 Racing Oil 10w-30 which is known to have a high level of zinc for the flat tappet cam. Valves have been upgraded so a lead supplement does not need to be added although I still do anyway so the car has that vintage exhaust smell. The transmission is the original 3 speed on the column (THREE ON THE TREE), which is a blast to drive and is one of my favorite parts of the car. Car shifts pretty well and the clutch is in fair condition. It has a stock rear, which I believe has 4.10 gears although I am not positive. The fluids have all been changed, and they were actually in remarkably good condition when removed. WHEELS, TIRES, BRAKES I just purchased and installed a new wheel and tire package for this vehicle. Ran me $1K+ for to have the rims refurbished, and a set of white wall Firestone's installed. Rims and center caps look fantastic, as do the tires. They ride hard like you would expect them to, but they are new. The brakes are all new all the way around. Installed about two years ago when I first got the car: All the wheel cylinders, brake linings, brake lines, rubber hoses, and drums are new/remanufactured. For safety sake the single master cylinder was upgraded to a aftermarket hidden dual master cylinder with Willwood proportioning valves. The car stops well for an original setup. Car rides smooth, but the front shocks need to be recharged with new hydraulic fluid in front... I have not been able to locate any. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me through Ebay. If you would like to speak with me over the phone you are welcome to do so, just ask for a phone number in the email. In addition to all of the photos below, I have provided a few videos of the car running and in motion. This is a great little car, and with a little bit of paint and some minor TLC this would be a phenomenal weekend cruiser, that you could take family and friends along with you. This car has provided me with a couple of years of pleasure and enjoyment, It really pains me to have to sell it however due to my current living situation I am forced to part with the vehicle. I have set a very reasonable reserve so if you are interested bid now, because its not likely to be re listed. I have done my best to describe this vehicle in as much detail and as accurately as possible. Please bear in mind this is a 65 year old car and will not run and drive like a 2007 Honda. Vehicle is being sold AS IS with no warranties expressed or implied. High bidder is responsible for pickup of the vehicle and/or shipping. I will do my best to assist in shipping the vehicle and making myself available for the buyer however ultimately it is up to the buyer to make all arrangements for shipping or pickup of the vehicle and to pay for all costs associated with that. A non refundable deposit of $300 is due at the close of the auction, and the balance is due with 7 days of auction close. Acceptable forms of payment are Paypal (deposit only), Cash in person, at pickup, or Certified bank check, however you will have to wait for the bank check to clear before taking possession of the vehicle. Good Luck Bidding