1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster 1204 Miles Blue Manual

Description

It’s easy to like a car that looks great, gives you room for the whole family, and doesn’t cost very much. It was Chevy’s value proposition when it was new and it remains true with this attractive 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster Town Sedan. Yes, Chevy called this 2-door coupe a Town Sedan for reasons we don’t really understand, but there it is. It is nevertheless quite handsome wearing a coat of dark blue paint, which, thanks to a fairly comprehensive 2007 restoration, looks fantastic. It also offers a freshly rebuilt engine, 12-volt electrical system with a great stereo, and the kind of reliable fun that makes Chevys a favorite of collectors even today. We don’t know who did the restoration, but they clearly spent quite a bit more than the asking price to get it this nice. Living down south most of its life certainly helped, with straight bodywork and a classic, clean look that is ideal for a Chevrolet—not too flashy but not frumpy, either. It was originally code 376, which was basic black, but during the restoration it was treated to an appealing dark blue paint job that looks period perfect on the rounded bodywork. GM’s styling in the ‘40s was familiar and still looks right today, with front fenders that sweep into the doors and minimal trim to distract from the overall shape. Fit and finish are quite good, suggesting good money was spent on the restoration, and while there are a few minor touch-ups here and there, it remains very appealing. There’s good chrome and stainless, although the “mustache” above the grille and below the hood and “Stylemaster” emblems show some pitting—those are really the main demerits. Stainless trim buffs up nicely and accessory fog lights take the Chevy upscale despite its reasonable sticker price. The attractive gray upholstery isn’t quite exact for 1948, but it looks period-appropriate and feels durable enough to last a good long time. Wide factory seats make room for six if you really need it, but four is much more comfortable. Gray carpets and simple door panels are suitable for a moderately-priced Chevrolet, and the big steering wheel was painted to match the rest of the car. The dash was also painted blue and the brightly polished gauge panel is full of modern Dolphin gauges with a vintage vibe. This comes courtesy of a 12-volt electrical system, which also powers the AM/FM stereo in the original radio’s spot and kicks the Stovebolt Six over with ease. Aftermarket turn signals are integrated into the factory lighting and there’s an accessory cooling fan above the mirror that makes it quite comfortable on warm days. Sadly, that 12-volt upgrade means the clock isn’t working, but everything else is good to go for touring. The trunk includes a matching wide whitewall spare tire, jack assembly, and a clean floor that reminds us this car comes from someplace warm. That’s not the original 216 cubic inch six, it’s better—a 235 cubic inch version from a later Chevrolet that includes full pressure oiling and a few extra horsepower. It was fully rebuilt in 2018 and runs beautifully today with just a few hundred test and tune miles. It’s correctly dressed in corporate blue engine enamel and needs only a set of reproduction decals to look factory-correct. The upgraded electrical system fires it quickly and easily and thanks to full pressure oiling, there’s an accessory oil filter bolted to the block. A correct downdraft carburetor was rebuilt and a new alternator was installed in the original generator’s spot. There’s also a rebuilt starter that’s comfortable with 12 volts running through it and a brand new exhaust system underneath. The transmission is a 3-speed manual with a shifter on the steering column and the torquey inline-6 doesn’t need a lot of shifting around town. Suspension and brakes are stock, so it drives like a 1948 car should, comfortable and competent but still vintage-feeling. Note the clean floors and rockers, original rear end with 4.11 gears inside, and even spring wraps to keep the rear leaf springs from squeaking. Even the spare tire well is in great shape and there’s a new gas tank out back. Steel wheels with factory hubcaps and trim rings look great, especially wrapped in 6.00-16 whitewall tires with lots of life left in them. Old cars that are practical as well as fun are still out there and you don’t need to settle for some ‘70s leftover. This handsome Chevy has a long list of new parts, clean sheetmetal, and a classic look that will always attract attention. Call today!