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Joined: Jun 2011
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Grease Monkey
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OP
Grease Monkey
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Does anyone have more information about the 1936 Gläser-bodied 4 door cabriolet? What is the history behind? How many of these were built? Were they only focused on European market?
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10
Grease Monkey
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OP
Grease Monkey
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10 |
Adding more info about this 1936 Chevrolet Master DeLuxe 4 door Cabriolet. The Gläser coach work was made in Dresden, Germany. You can find a good picture of it at Flickr tagged as "Chevrolet Master Imperial 1936".
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42247895@N07/3895985070/
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 264
Backyard Mechanic
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Backyard Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 264 |
These cars were based on the Fisher Body 1023 Imperial Sedan with its longer-wheelbase chassis. These cars were imported into the Antwerp, Belgium Plant of General Motors Continental S.A. and then railed to Gläser in Germany for conversion to 4-door Phaeton or Cabriolet which was equivalent to the Model 1016 Phaeton. The actual model was: MASTER DE LUXE IMPERIAL 7-SEAT LIMOUSINE WITHOUT DIVISION or SPECIAL SEDAN WITH TRUNK, MODEL 1223 FISHER 1023. The cars were then railed back to Antwerp or the Rotterdam, Netherlands office. The exhibition car is at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1936. The car with top down still exists and was sold new in the Netherlands: F.B. Vrijaldenhoven. From my site: http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/36convsd1.jpgI anticipate that these cars were sourced through GM Coninental SA/BV in Anvers/Amtwerpen/Antwerp and not GM Deutschland GmbH in Berlin. Van Den Plas (Belges), Antwerp bodied Chevies i 1929-30 and also Buicks, sourced as chassis by GM Ltd in London. They shipped them over as chassis and brought them back as complete cars. Other open cars: http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/convertible.html
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10
Grease Monkey
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OP
Grease Monkey
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10 |
Thanks for the info. The one in the picture at FlickR, as I mentioned above, is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Therefore, if I understood correctly, it was built in US, received in Belgiun, then they did the final coach work in Germany, and this one later on shipped to Brazil. But, how many of them were built? Were they shipped to USA too?
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 264
Backyard Mechanic
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Backyard Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 264 |
Therefore, if I understood correctly, it was built in US,
Probably sent CKD kit from Bloomfield, New Jersey to Belgium but could just be chassis-only from Tarrytown, NY
received in Belgium,
yes
then they did the final coach work in Germany
Yes...probably by way of barter arrangement in view of currency restrictions on RM
, and this one later on shipped to Brazil. If it is left hand drive then yes...someone has bought it and shipped it over But, how many of them were built?
I am not sure that we will ever know the figures!
Were they shipped to USA too? I don;pt think so. These were for the European markets PLUS United Kingdom!
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10
Grease Monkey
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OP
Grease Monkey
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10 |
A little more history on this car. It was sold new in an important dealer in Rio de Janeiro, back in 1937. The car still has the dealer's plate. It was put on exhibit in 1936, with a white top, but at that time it was very hard to sell open cars in Brazil. Open cars were considered oldfashioned here those days...
The dealer only got an interested buyer in 1937, based on a single condition: to change the top color to black, because he considered the canvas would be dirty very quickly. Therefore the change was done by the dealer and the car was sold. During the last restoration, the owner returned the top to the original color.
Probably it is the only one in Brazil. Do you know how many still exist?
Thanks,
JRA
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,418
ChatMaster - 2,000
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ChatMaster - 2,000
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,418 |
The Copenhagen assembly factory built some few bigger Chevrolets from 1933 to 1939. They had room for a driver and 6 more. Here in Norway these longer Masters were bought mainly by taxiowners. The dataplates were stamped with extra letters: FC (forlenget - enlarged chassis). Some few still exist here, but they are only closed bodies, as to my knowledge. A smaller Danish body maker made 36 speedsters in 1931 (boattailed)1 exist, and some later convertibles too, but they only remain on pictures, which I may get to show here. 
Solan G, # 32797
Take advantage in your hobby by being member of VCCA!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 264
Backyard Mechanic
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Backyard Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 264 |
The Fisher Body 1023 bodystyle was shared with the GMC taxi (General Motors Cab).
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