VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 An unknown 1915 490

Hi, fellas -

I have just been contacted by a "friend of a friend" in Florida, who has discovered a 490 that is to be sold. The car has been sitting a long time indoors, and is unrestored. Suposedly complete and correct original.

I know there is no such thing as a 1915 490, but the model was put on sale on June 1st, 1915 as a 1916 model; and a lot of guys like to call the early ones 1915 models.

This guy is asking me for an opinion of value on this car. I don't have serial numbers yet, I don't even know if its a Touring or Roadster.

Anybody care to venture an opinion for value, with this little tiny bit of information?

ChevyGuru:Is there any hope that your freind has a digital camera,,So's he can send you a "pic",,and you can show us the car,,,We're all sitting on pins and needles now,,,PLEASE,,,,PLEASE!!,,,,Dave :confused: :confused: :confused:

Spoke to him again today. The car is in a garage, originally from NM. The interior is piled with junk, it's real dirty, from sitting forever. It's a touring. He is going to try and get some digital photos in the next few days and send to me. I told him an unrestored, original, correct, rust-free, complete 1915/16 490 Touring should be around $4 - 5,000. He was thinking in that same range.

Now, when I get pictures, I have to figure out how to post them....

We FINALLY have pictures! The car is apparently very complete, and looks to be pretty well correct. Zero rust, last licensed in 1965. It is for sale. Rather than posting pictures, I can direct you to a website where they are located.

http://www.classiccorvettes.com/chevy1915

Beautiful condition for her age.

With a little cleaning looks like she would take 1st place in HPOCF, maybe? Is there any competition in that age group?

Is that a loud speaker under the car or what?

Where is she located?

She is presently located in Tarpon Springs, FL, just NW of the Tampa area. It spent its whole previous life in New Mexico. I'm not sure, but I don't think it is HPOCF eligible. I am under the impression that it was restored in the late 1950's or the early 1960's.

I believe the loud speaker you see under the frame is probably a siren, but that's just my best guess. A common thing to do in the early days of the hobby.

I'm still waiting to find out a price on her.

Gator-

I meant to respond to your statement about HPOCF in more detail. There is no such thing as "First Place" in HPOCF, nor is there competition.

Rather, a car entered in HPOCF at a Show is trying to get "Certified" (not judged). It can be the only one there, or there can be many; but that has no effect on whether or not it gets certified. It must be "at least 75% original" in any 2 of the 4 categories (i.e., Engine Compartment, Exterior, Chassis, Interior). For instance, if a car has been repainted, it therefore could not be certified with respect to the Exterior category; but it could still be certified in any of the other 3 categories (asssuming they were unrestored original).

Here is the whole idea: let's say a hypothetical 1951 is certified HPOCF in the Engine Compartment category - it is an untouched original under the hood. Along comes a guy who is restoring a 1951. He gets to the engine compartment, but his is all butchered up, and he's not sure how things are supposed to look. So, he contacts the Judging Committee and asks if there are any 1951's out there that are HPOCF certified in the Engine Compartment category. He finds out about this hypothetical car, and he can then contact that owner, and discover exactly how the factory actually put it together.

That's the theory, anyway. It also gives the member who has a nice unrestored car an opportunity to participate and show off his car at a Meet, where it otherwise might not be able to compete against the near-perfect restored cars in its class. Believe me, the HPOCF cars get a whole lot of attention at the shows!

Didn't mean to be so long-winded, hope this helps someone understand HPOCF a little better.

Cool, I guess getting "certified" is like winning to someone with a HPOCF vehicle.

So what areas do you think this one could be certified in? Of course without seeing it in person you can't be sure. That steering wheel should be certified as beautiful.

How or what is the method of "...he contacts the Judging Committee..."? I sure would like to see some HPOCF for 1957 and 1932.

I guess I'm still in the 50's because I have a siren in my '55...not goin' talk about the wolf whistle...

I have been waiting for some of the 4-cylinder folks to join the discussion on this alleged 1915. Would like to have a straight on side shot so I could look at the windshield posts. Anyone want to vote for a 1916/17? Sure would like to see some of the dates, like on the flywheel, transmission and anywhere else. In fact the number stamped on the flywheel (serial number) would be valuable. Wonder what the Title says?

(Don't anyone get offended, I am not about to shoot the messenger.)

Yes Ray - it looks like a 1918 Model 490 to me from the 967 block date code that is shown as 8-14-17 cast on the rear,left side, just below the cyl head. Other 1918 features are the one-man top, steering gear mounted on frame instead of dash, water pump and not thermo syphon, demountable rims and spare tire rack, gear type front instead of plunger, oil presure gauge instead of float or drip gauge.

This is the same 967 cyl block that is in my 1918 Model G roadster I am taking to the to the Cody 4 cyl Tour next month. kenk

The front fenders are of the 16/17 era, the dash however is 1918. There are other conflicting items. Perhaps this is an "assembled" car?

You gotta love this forum! Where else could so much specific knowledge be directed at such a situation?

By the way, Gator, the steering wheel might be beautiful, but it is not correct. It would have been painted black by the factory, I'm pretty sure.

I know, but aren't they beautiful after the paint gets rubbed off in 70+ years and the oil from hundreds of hands gives the wheel that patina?

That is one thing that I would have a hard time painting over.

How true, I get more compliments at the supermarket about my natural wood steering wheel, that I put together from about 30 segments that were laying around the shop in a cardboard box. The patina is all of about five years old now, maybe the looky loos are getting their greasy paws on it while I'm off shopping.
Herb

Just for the record, 1928 is believed to be the first "natural" finish steering wheel.

Herb, that is probably true, it would be hard to resist touching.

Cool information to know Ray, by the way, is '28 the only year for natural wood, or when did Chevy go back to painting them?

Wonder if there is a hobby group out there of collecting just steering wheels from cars/trucks?

The wood rims on the 1929 and 1930 steering wheels were also painted black. And, in 1931, a new three-spoke "hard rubber" steering wheel was introduced.

Any update on the car?