The '27 Needed a Garage Mate....

[jmel]

...So, I got her one. She looked awfully lonely in there - had nothing in common with the Ford Escape - so we kicked the Escape out of the garage to make room for a '51 Chevy. The boss-ladys car was aging a bit, but not in the way that makes our cars cool. She has been talking about needing/wanting a new one. She has also been wanting an old car of her own - specifically a '51 to '54 Chevy. At a car show a couple of months ago - she nailed down her year to a '51 or '52 after falling in love with a copper colored '51 at the show. Made me start thinking about her need of a new car. I made an argument about not spending $20K+ on a new (used) car...why not keep your existing car, and find her a good solid running '51 or '52 Chevy. Something solid and reliable enough to use as a daily driver, or at least split time with her Escape. We could buy a "new" car, would be significantly more expensive, the value would only continue to tank, and she'd only want another new one in another 6, 7, or 8 years - OR, we could buy an "old" car, would be a lot cheaper (at least to start out), would be a hellova lot cooler, and the value would only go up, especially after we start working on it some.

To my surprise - she agreed - found a '51 the next day, went and looked at it, and now my '27 isn't so lonely anymore. Additionally, I have the coolest garage in the neighborhood as well.

 

[putz]

How can you not love those grills on the 51 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Track T-4]

Nice '51. Great garage mate.

 

[donsrods]

You actually won an arguement with your Boss-Lady????????? You are my new hero !!!!!!!!! lol

Great looking Chevy.


Don

 

[Youngster]

The grill is a '51 or '52 surround with a '53 bar in it. Nice treatment. Very cool Chebby!!

Ron

 

[EX JUNK]

The grill is a '51 or '52 surround with a '53 bar in it. Nice treatment. Very cool Chebby!!

Ron

The upper surround would indicate that it is a '52 as there is no Chevrolet script on it as on the '51. However, since it is painted the script may have been filled in with body filler. The center bar does, indeed, have '53 "teeth" on it. The stock '51 center bar was plain whereas the '52 had five very small "teeth" on it. The parking lights are of '51 vintage.

Jim

 

[Mike]

Nice choice on her part, methinks.

 

[Youngster]

Yeah ... what Jim said ...

 

[fordsbyjay]

That is a sweet looking ride, even for a chevy!

 

[jmel]

Thanks for the comments everybody. We're proud of her...and my wife is especially proud. Needs a little bit of work, but its solid and seems to be pretty reliable so far. Just a little bit of rust in the floorboards and trunk. Some rust on door thats causing paint to bubble that needs to be addressed, and some more on rear fender. Previous owner had shifter in the floor that was really annoying and in the way. That has been moved back up to the column and broken seat has been fixed. When first looking at the picture when we found it online, my wifes first comment was about what color she wanted to paint it. But photos don't do it justice. Its absolutely beautiful in person. She's fallen in love with the color. I've warned her that once I start fixing some of the rust, that she's going to be driving around with some primered spots - so she's going to have to eventaully decide what she wants to do with the paint, and she has said that she wants to keep it the same color. She likes that satin aqua color, but wants to paint the roof with a white flake - same for the dash - then white and aqua tuck & roll for the interior.

Engine runs great....but is eating oil, and i can't really figure that one out. Its not leaking or smoking, but going through oil like crazy. Additionally, its incredibly thirsty...maybe 8mpg...car doesn't seem to have a lot of power, doesn't have tall rear-end, and as of now, if your foot is to the floor, the carb is only pulling half throttle. Not sure why its so thirsty - hate to see what the milage does once i adjust linkage and have full power.

Additionally, we'd like to airbag it...but thats going to require a new front end me thinks. Its funny...everybody already thinks my wife is hispanic (especially in the summer when she's got her tan going), once we bag this car, they'll be convinced that she is!!!

 

[kgrimm]

It sounds like you have some pretty cool plans for the Chevy-the white flake roof and dash should look awesome! BTW, I wanna know how to win arguements with MY Boss-Lady (LOL)!

 

[jmel]

I've found the key was that SHE got a car of her own. If it was reversed and I was in need of a new car and threw out the idea of keeping current car and buying another old car to use as daily driver or to split time, she'd say no, that its not practical, or we don't have room, or we don't need another old car...but since this was going to be HER car.....it was a good idea and she agreed.

Funny how that works. Oh well, jokes on her...its her car, she can clean it....and she'd better start on those wide whites...they are looking a little grungy.

 

[Don'tCallMeJimmie]

...its incredibly thirsty...maybe 8mpg...car doesn't seem to have a lot of power...

Two things come to mind, retarded ignition timing and the ugly one - spun rod bearing.

 

[T-Test]

Do a complete tune up/ check up of everything and see if it was just [put together] to sell.

 

[TubT]

We had one of those my senior year in high school. It might be a gem for someone today; then, it was a clunker with no 3rd gear in the transmission and a right-hand window that wouldn't roll up.