Early Chevy

Owner Walt Simonds • Gainesville, GA
power. Of course, the 232 continued as
the “big motor”, for use with the
Powerglide only. This engine put out
105 horsepower.
Our feature car owner Walt Simonds
of Gainesville, GA tells us a bit about his
1951 Moonlight Cream beauty: I
acquired the car 10 years ago. When I
got home from work one day in May of
2003, it was sitting in the driveway. My
brother Terry purchased it in Houston,
TX in 1999. He didn't drive it much, so
he and my wife April surprised me with
it. The only condition was that I drive it,
and that I do. I'm a Ford guy, but this
Chevy has not let me down. I guess it
doesn't matter the brand of the car as
long as it's a classic. The car is totally
stock 235 cubic-inch engine with a
Powerglide transmission.
According to Hagerty Insurance’s
value scale, the “average condition”
1951 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe
Convertible is valued at $29,598. A
Concours correct car on the other hand,
can fetch upwards of $60,000.
Korean War puts a bump
in 1951 production
A little history on the “early” Chevys.
For the 1949 model year, Chevrolet completely overhauled its entire line, moving
from pre-war design to brand new cars
with full-width bodies, “pontoon” fenders, and sweeping, muscular quarter
panels. Chevrolet offered Special and
Deluxe models in both Fleetline and
Styleline series. Prices varied greatly– a
basic business coupe went for $1300,
and an 8-passenger wagon could top out
at $2200. Just about every body type
(including the convertible) and price
level was offered in between. The only
powertrain available was a 216 cubic-inch
six-cylinder engine mated to a threespeed manual transmission.
1 January 2010 Chevy Classics
1950 saw the debut of the iconic Bel Air
two-door hardtop and the Powerglide; a
two-speed automatic transmission. Cars
with the automatic option received the
235 cubic-inch truck engine with hydraulic
lifters, while cars with three-speed manual
transmissions kept the old 216. Since the
1949 model was such a dramatic departure, changes overall for 1950 were minimal. The wood-clad station wagon was
axed in favor of the all steel wagon that
first appeared in 1949. These wagons had
simulated wood that looked like the real
thing. Still sold as Specials and Deluxes
with Fleetline and Styleline designations,
Chevrolet’s total production of 1.5 million
units was the brand’s best ever.
Chevrolet made some styling
improvements in 1951– nothing major–
refinement was the word this year.
Sometime during the ’51 model year,
the Fleetline fastback body style was discontinued (compromised outward rear
vision was apparently causing safety
problems). Overall production was
down to 1.3 million units (see our sidebar), with only one fifth of those being
the basic Special series. In a trend that
would continue through to the present
day, buyers increasingly turned towards
the automatic transmission—nearly 50%
of cars sold were equipped with a
Powerglide. Standard engine was the
216 cubic-inch six, putting out 92 horse-
In 1950, after about five years of
peace, war broke out on the Korean
peninsula. Before long, the world’s
superpowers were backing their
ideological favorite with increasing
firepower and troops. Just as the auto
industry was getting involved in the
changeover for 1951, the U.S.
government was drawn into the
conflict and began looking for new,
updated war materials & supplies.
While the disruption of private industry
was nowhere near the events that
transpired during WWII, the automotive
industry was providing vehicles and
other items. There were, of course,
material shortages to further
complicate production schedules.
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