VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 '48 Cabriolet

Hi, new guy to this forum but not to the hobby. I have a '46 Fleetmaster I've owned since '73 and a recently purchased '48 cabriolet that runs and drives but needs much work. I'm collecting parts as I go along but am having difficultly finding convertible sun visors. I need complete units for both sides and can't find a source, not even used ones. I've seen pre-'62 Corvette visors used in a '47 that looked good but would like the originals. I'm also missing the belt line molding and I am curious if the coupe molding is the same as the convertible, I've heard conflicting answers on this. Any help would be appreciated.

Welcome to the forum! Hampton Coach (now a part of LeBaron Bonney) sells the convertible sunvisors - as well as complete interior kits and tops. Chevs of the 40s sells the sunvisor chrome plated attaching hardware.

Unfortunately, the convertible belt molding is unique. It is 7/8" wide, where the coupe molding is 1 and 1/8 inches wide. The convertible rear quarter moldings are also about 5 inches longer than the coupe which would make it difficult to use the coupe moldings even if you didn't care about the width difference. Not sure why the difference in length. You would have expected them to be identical.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

If you're not a VCCA member yet, hopefully you'll consider joining the club and coming to the 50th Anniversary Meet this July in Flint!

I'll second what Dale wrote!

Johnny Johnson
VCCA# 33448
www.1948chevy.com

I did join the VCCA March 1st and am looking forward to the valuable assistance and knowledge available through the VCCA members and this chat room as a make progress on my '48 convertible.

Since you're not far away from Flint, hopefully, you can attend the Anniverary Meet. There will be several 1948 convertibles there to look at. I've taken a lot of pictures of other convertibles to help me figure out where things go on mine as I've been reassembling. In fact, today, I was taking pictures of another '48 convertible here in Ohio to help my upholsterer figure out how to attach the snaps for the top boot. Mine didn't have any when I got it so I didn't have any pictures of my own.

Dale, the work you are putting in on your 48 is great. Wish I could take a look at your car in Flint. But I’m sure your efforts will be rewarded in many ways.

If the VCCA Anniversary event in Colorado is an indication of the quality of 1940-1948 Convertibles that will be in Flint, WOW, does this club have some outstanding convertibles!! There were about 6-8 absolutely beautiful convertibles on the judging field.

I thought I was anal about cleaning my car until the Colorado event. That’s where I witnessed the owner of a gorgeous 1940 Convertible using a “Lint Roller” on the {black} top of his car. Funny thing is, I was standing there as he did this and there was no lint to begin with.

So good luck Dale to you and all the other cars at Flint!!
And Judges, I wish you good luck as well.

Enjoy the ride, after all that’s what it's all about,
Michael41