Chevrolet Fleetline

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Main article: Chevrolet Deluxe
Chevrolet Fleetline
Chevrolet Bel-Air

The Chevrolet Special Deluxe Series AH Fleetline was an automobile produced by

US automaker Chevrolet from 1941 to 1952. From 1946 to 1948 it was a sub-series of the Chevrolet Fleetmaster rather than a series of the Special Deluxe and, from 1949 to 1951, it was a sub-series of both the Chevrolet Special and the Chevrolet Deluxe.[1] In its final year it was offered only as a sub-series of the latter.[1]

Production until 1942

The Fleetline was introduced late in the 1941 model year as a four-door sedan only.[6] In 1942, a fastback two-door "Aerosedan" was also offered while the sedan was renamed "Sport Master".[6]

Production 1942-1945

Production was indefinitely delayed in 1942 due to World War II, after 110,000 had been made, though several thousand Chevrolet coupes and sedans were produced during the war years for military staff use. In 1945, production for civilians resumed.

  • US-Army standard-car: Chevrolet Fleetline, Sedan, 5-Pass., 4x2 (1943).
    US-Army standard-car: Chevrolet Fleetline, Sedan, 5-Pass., 4x2 (1943).
  • US-Army special-car: Chevrolet Fleetline, stretch Limousine, 15-Pass., 4x2 (1943).
    US-Army special-car: Chevrolet Fleetline, stretch Limousine, 15-Pass., 4x2 (1943).

Production 1946 and later

In 1947, the Fleetline made up 71.26% of Chevrolet's sales.[4] For the years' 1949 through 1952 models, the fastback was the only one offered, and Chevrolet dropped the Fleetline for 1953.[7] The original series was produced through 1948. A redesigned Fleetline with reduced body contour and integrated rear fenders was offered for the 1949 through 1952 model years.

street rods
, with the common Chevrolet 350 small block V8 and the 350 or 400 turbo transmission being used.

Specifications

Military-use Chevrolet Fleetline

In the 1941 and 1942 model years, the 216

synchromesh three-speed, with vacuum-assisted shift,[9] in which the "three-on-the-tree" shifter was able to be moved between gears by the slightest pressure on the lever. Third gear was direct, meaning the input and output are equal speeds. From 1950 through the 1952 final year of its production, an automatic transmission was offered, which was quite sluggish. Overdrive was a rare option. Connection to the third member rear-end was via an enclosed "torque tube" driveshaft. The brakes were hydraulic with all-wheel drums. In 1951, the brakes got larger.[10] The master cylinder
was located below the floor connected on the frame rail, beneath the driver. Shock absorbers were of the lever type for the early years only. The windshield for all years was of a split, flat-glass type.

Style

1942 Chevrolet Fleetline Special Deluxe coupe

The exterior sported smooth curves, chrome and stainless trim. In the earlier models the rear bumper had an optional center bumper guard that had to be ratcheted out of the way so the trunk cover could be lifted. Front and rear bumpers had optional chrome "tips", a dress-up item that bolted to the ends of the stock bumper. Not a Chevrolet option but a popular after market feature was a large external sunshade that protected the driver from glare off of the metal dash board. The 1949 to 1952 models were completely different from the earlier years' with the fleetline "fastback" shape being quite distinct from a normal sedan shape. The fastback appearance was shared with all General Motors products from 1942 until 1949, where the appearance is called a "Club Coupe" or "Sedanette" depending on the brand.

The interior had cloth bench seats and a metal dash sometimes with a simulated burle woodgrain. The radio was a simple

mono vacuum tube type radio with integrated speaker. An ash tray was located in the right side of the dash, close to the clock[11]
Depending upon the year there were both choke and throttle cables on the dash. On the right side was the choke lever. In the earlier years the clock was integrated into the glove compartment door and was of a manual-wind seven-day type. In the 1949 and 1950 models the clock was next to the glove box and with the redesigned dash board, the clock was on the top of the dash, in a center pod. Also, this revised dash had two round pods for the speedometer and the other gauges while the 1949 and 1950 models had one large round pod directly in front of the steering wheel on the dash.

Chevrolet Fleetline production figures 1946 to 1952

1946 total U.S. production:

Fleetline Aerosedan - two-door 57,932

Fleetline Sportmaster - four-door sedan 7,501

1947 total U.S. production:

Fleetline Aerosedan - two-door 159,407

Fleetline Sportmaster - four-door sedan

1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan

1948 total U.S. production:

Fleetline Aerosedan - two-door 211,861

Fleetline Sportmaster - four-door sedan 64,217

1949 total U.S. production:

Fleetline Deluxe - two-door sedan 180,251

Fleetline Deluxe - four-door sedan 130,323

Fleetline Special - two-door sedan 58,514

Fleetline Special - four-door sedan 36,317

1949 Chevrolet Fleetline fastback
1949 Chevrolet Fleetline fastback (side view)
1949 Chevrolet Fleetline fastback (back view)

1950 total U.S. production:

Fleetline Deluxe - two-door sedan 189,509

Fleetline Deluxe - four-door sedan 124,287

Fleetline Special - two-door sedan 43,682

Fleetline Special - four-door sedan 23,277

1951 total U.S. production:

Fleetline Deluxe - two-door sedan 131,910

Fleetline Deluxe - four-door sedan 57,693

Fleetline Special - two-door sedan 6,441

Fleetline Special - four-door sedan 3,364

1952 total U.S. production:

Fleetline Deluxe - two-door sedan 37,164

References

  1. ^ a b c d John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 156 to 161
  2. ^ "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1949_Chevrolet/1949_Chevrolet_Owners_Manual". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  3. ^ "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1949_Chevrolet/1949_Chevrolet_Foldout". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5
    .
  5. ^ "1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Specifications". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  6. ^
    ISBN 0873414780
    .
  7. ^ "1951 Chevrolet Fleetline DeLuxe". How Stuff Works. Auto.howstuffworks.com. 2007-09-20. Archived from the original on 2012-07-20. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  8. ^ "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1942_Chevrolet/1942_Chevrolet_Brochure page 14-15". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  9. ^ "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1942_Chevrolet/1942_Chevrolet_Brochure page 12-13". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  10. ^ "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1951_Chevrolet/1951_Chevrolet_Foldout". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  11. ^ "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1941_Chevrolet/1941_Chevrolet_Owners_Manual". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-06-01.

External links

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