1951 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe "Tin" Woody, Frame-off restoration, Air Ride

Description

1951 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe “Tin” Woody

If you like the looks of a classic woody station without putting in the time, labor and investment involved in keeping the wood intact, consider this 1951 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe “Tin” Woody station wagon, presented by MotoeXotica Classic Cars.

Assembled in August, 1951 at General Motors’ Atlanta, Georgia facility, this more than 60-year survivor has been reborn after a frame-off restoration.

The silver paint is deep, lustrous and provides a unique contrast to the faux wood trim. There is a minor blemish on the front of the hood. All of the windows are intact and clear and the rear passenger, cargo and rear windows are tinted. All of the lights are intact, all of the exterior trim is present and the wagon sports a 1952 Chevrolet grille kit. There are Ridler five-spoke chrome wheels nestle within Sumitomo HTR A/S P01 tires, size 235/55R17. The wiper motor works but wagon has no arms/blades. All of the body panels are laser straight and in great shape. The bumpers are in good condition and out back slim, vertical tail lights from a seventh-generation Cadillac Sedan De Ville (1994-1999), replace the stock units. Turn signal arrows appear in the sideview mirrors, a bonus feature and the exhausts end ahead of the rear wheels.

Under the hood is a Chevrolet 350 CID V-8 with an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor, linked to a new THM 350 three-speed automatic transmission. Driver assist features include air-conditioning, power steering, power disc brakes (conversion) and power windows and vehicle has an awesome air ride suspension.

Inside, the four dark gray leather bucket seats replace the standard factory benches. The center console sports some minor blemishes but the carpet, headliner, dashboard, aftermarket steering wheel, gearshift lever and inner door panels are in overall great condition. There are four toggle switches on the dash, two on each side of the steering wheel. The two on the left control the backup lights and floor lights. There is an aftermarket two-spoke steering wheel on the end of an Ididit custom steering column, a Dolphin Gauge cluster set into the silver dashboard, which has inlays that match the lighter mock wood trim, an air pressure gauge in the center console and a tachometer where the factory clock was. Set into a small pod in the headliner is a Pioneer AM/FM stereo with CD player plus a remote control so the driver doesn’t have to take his eyes from the road. The heat lever is broken but the original AM radio is still in the dash, completing the interior’s look. Driver assist features include vintage air-conditioning, power steering, power disc brakes (conversion), tilt steering column and power windows, one for each seating position. There’s also an air vent for the rear passengers and a cup holder for each seat. In the cargo area, the third seat has been replaced with a box for the air ride suspension innards and extra storage.

The previous owner, a Mr. Neata, had the transmission replaced on June 13, 2016 and had an alignment done on July 12, 2016.

The Styleline DeLuxe was Chevrolet’s top-of-the-line series in the early 1950s. Fisher Body was reportedly skeptical about making an all-steel bodied wagon in the 1930s but by 1950, it created its first all-steel wagon, affectionately referred to as the “Tin Woody.” In the station wagon’s case, Harley Earl and his skilled stylists created a clever automotive illusion, a steel body with faux wood sections. This way, Chevy continued to cater to customers who wanted or demanded that woody look without the maintenance and durability issues that accompanied vehicles with real wood body sides. Chevy’s fancier DeLuxe wagons sold more than 23,000 copies in 1951.

Overall styling was the same as 1950, although Chevy hyped it as “New American Beauty Design” and claimed “brilliant new styling.” The styling changes gave the cars a “wider” appearance. The Chevy line again had 14 models. Chevrolet “Jumbo-Drum” brakes had 15 percent more lining area and required 25 percent less pedal pressure. A curved “Safety-Sight” instrument panel featured instruments compactly grouped in two clusters and lighting that eliminated glare. Chevy’s 1951 features included two-tone “Modern Mode” interiors, a new full-circle horn ring in DeLuxe models, Fisher Body construction, an overhead-valve inline six-cylinder engine, improved “Center-Point” steering, rivetless brake lining, “Knee-Action” front suspension, wide-base wheels, a standard Synchromesh transmission, hydraulic valve lifters (with Powerglide), “Reflector-Guard” tail lamps, a large storage area, torque-tube drive, a sealed exhaust system, a “Tip-Toe” clutch (with manual transmission), airplane-type shock absorbers, low-pressure tires, foam rubber seats, curved two-piece windshields and a counter-balanced crankshaft.

Competitors to this 1951 Chevrolet station wagon included Ford’s Custom Deluxe Country Squire wagon and Dodge’s Coronet Sierra wagon and later, Chevy’s Nomad and Brookwood wagons.

Car comes with documentation for the gauges and stereo plus matching rear fender skirts and other parts. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!!

Current mileage on the odometer shows 541 miles since restoration. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title.

VIN: 8JKH48487

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