This car could be perfect for the right person.
If you’re on the hunt for an undeniably cool classic car, but you’re also on a tight budget, it can be tricky to find something good. Gas Monkey Garage has an interesting prospect, this 1947 Chevy Fleetline Fastback Aerosedan Coupe. It’s a mashup of Post War Aerodynamic sleekness and Art Deco design, with a look you don’t get with many other cars. Even better, at under $13,000 it’s quite affordable.
Right up front, you should know the big reason for the low price is the 216ci 6-cylinder engine. It’s currently locked up. Gas Monkey Garage says the previous owner tried to free it up but was unsuccessful for unstated reasons. That means rebuilding the original engine or swapping it for something else, which gives you the opening to do all sorts of fun things, if you’re so inclined.
As you can clearly see in the photos, both the exterior and interior of this Chevy have been unrestored. That means none of the charm has been scrubbed away, like the original two-tone paint that only has small scratches and nicks. Another dead giveaway this car hasn’t been altered is the cloth upholstery with plaid covers on the seats.
To get this car to really shine, it’s going to take a little bit of elbow grease. However, everything surprisingly seems to be in excellent condition. For example, the headliner needs a good cleaning, but it’s not drooping badly, and so only needs minimal work. The dash also only has minimal blemishes, which is fantastic for a car this age.
Launched right before World War II officially broke out, production of the Chevrolet Fleetline was halted as GM and every other American automaker focused on the war effort. This first-generation car retains the retro looks which were wiped out later. That alone makes this an excellent project car. If you’re interested, contact Gas Monkey Garage.
