Reproduction Parts for 1916-1964 Chevrolet Passenger Cars & 1918-1987 Chevrolet & GMC Trucks


Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#301683 02/20/14 12:17 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 21
ChatMaster - 6,000
OP Offline
ChatMaster - 6,000
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 21
What's the story as to why there were no regular production of a 1939 Chevrolet Cabriolet?

I may be the only one who has never heard a clear reason for this factory decision but I'd still like to know the particulars of why it got dropped for that year.

Thanks,
Charlie computer

Join VCCA For Technical Help

VCCA members have access to a list of over 50 Technical Advisors who can help you with your car. It's worth the price of membership! While you can get a lot of information for free in this forum, sometimes the info that you REALLY need is only available from the right person. This is what "The World's Best Chevrolet Club" is all about!


JOIN THE VCCA TODAY!

Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 30,700
Likes: 141
ChatMaster - 25,000
Online Content
ChatMaster - 25,000
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 30,700
Likes: 141
My guess is that they knew the 1939 coupe body shell was a one year only design. The shorter rear compartment didn't allow enough room for a decent rear seat and folding top and the rumble seat was no longer offered as in 1938. The convertible body and chassis frame were very special and they would save thr "guns" for the new (one year also) 1940 body.


Gene Schneider
Chev Nut #301689 02/20/14 01:03 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
ChatMaster - 1,500
Offline
ChatMaster - 1,500
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
Someone told me a '39 convertible was available from Holden down under? How did they acomplish the feat?

Gunsmoke #301694 02/20/14 03:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 809
ChatMaster - 750
Offline
ChatMaster - 750
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 809
Down here in Aus. we had 39 roadsters, I guess thats what you were referring to. A few have migrated to the US. Our last tourer was 1938.
Chris

Gunsmoke #301695 02/20/14 03:30 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8
ChatMaster - 3,000
Offline
ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8
The 1939 roadsters were produced By GM-HOLDENS in 1939 .
116 with large trunk , and 88 with dickey seat (rumble seat).
all panels were pressed in South Australia. There were also a hand full of 1939 Oldsmobile roadsters and Pontiac roadster built also. GMH were able to use things like the doors off 2 door slopers to make roadster doors, The rear panels were able to be modified from the 1937 to 1938 roadster tooling to change the moulding lines.


JACK
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
ChatMaster - 1,500
Offline
ChatMaster - 1,500
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
I see, the terms Cabriolet, Convertible, Tourer, Roadster can sometimes confuse people (or at least me), especially by late 30's. Anyway, do you have a picture of a '39 roadster, do any survive?

Gunsmoke #301732 02/21/14 09:48 AM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
ChatMaster - 1,500
Offline
ChatMaster - 1,500
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
Jack has sent me some pictures of the '39 Holden (Chevrolet?) roadsters. Very ingenious manufacture, would never know they were a small run mix of components. I expect there may be some in the US posing as '39 Chevrolets. Thanks for the photos Jack, perhaps you should post one for all to see in Member's area.

Gunsmoke #301734 02/21/14 10:05 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8
ChatMaster - 3,000
Offline
ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8
They are 1939 Chevrolet roadsters, to call them 1939 Holdens is not correct , as the first "Holden" motor vehicle was not produced until 1948. They are the same chassis /engines/ running gear and hang on sheet metal as any other 1939 Chevrolet. The rear fenders are the same as slant back sedans and sedan delivery .


JACK
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
ChatMaster - 1,500
Offline
ChatMaster - 1,500
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
Ok, so there were 1939 Chevrolet Roadsters, just not sold in USA. The gentleman (Dennis A) who has one of every Chevrolet Convertible between 1913 and 1975 should be getting one of these as well to complete the set. Interesting trivia.

Gunsmoke #301763 02/21/14 06:26 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 5
ChatMaster - 3,000
Offline
ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 5
He's already restored one and shown it at the 50th show in Flint...

[Linked Image from i150.photobucket.com]


Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet.
1953 Belair Convertible
1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan
2015 GMC SLE 4X4
brewster #301773 02/21/14 08:42 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
ChatMaster - 1,500
Offline
ChatMaster - 1,500
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
Awesome. So Brewster, is it generally agreed that Chevrolet did have a convertible (but not a cabriolet) in '39, or is there to be an asterisk beside such a suggestion? I always enjoy finding out these little known stories. Jack has sent me a good summary of what took place back then. Now if I can just find the only known '39 Pontiac Roadster if it is still around, or one of the 2 '39 Olds Roadsters he tells me are somewhere!!

Last edited by Gunsmoke; 02/21/14 08:44 PM.
Gunsmoke #301780 02/21/14 10:04 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 5
ChatMaster - 3,000
Offline
ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 5
No asterisk should be used at all. Chevrolet and GM are both international companies, and their offerings should receive the same amount of recognition and respect the world over. It's up to us to share information like this, so that future generations don't grow up with the wrong information.

Roadsters are considered to be convertibles with non-rollup windows. Side curtains were used. The first Corvette was a roadster with side curtains, then changed to a convertible in 1956 with the introduction of rollup windows. Some people still call it a roadster, more out of tradition. A Cabriolet or convertible are the same thing... although the cabriolet name was dropped in the mid-forties. I believe the name was originally Convertible Cabriolet, which was shortened to just Cabriolet in the thirties, then changed to Convertible in the forties. A touring is an open 4 passenger convertible with side curtains. The USA confused the rest of the world by renaming their touring's to "Phaeton" in 1929... but it was just a "phancy" word for touring. The closed version (ie rollup windows) of the four passenger convertible was called a Convertible Sedan... but not before Chevrolet had to confuse everyone by building a Landau Phaeton, which was neither a landau (with landau irons) or a phaeton (open convertible), but more a Convertible Sedan.

So, to answer your question... I would say that Chevrolet had a Roadster, Convertible Roadster, or open car in 1939. Not a Convertible Cabriolet.

Did that un confuse you... or confuse you more?


Last edited by brewster; 02/21/14 10:29 PM.

Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet.
1953 Belair Convertible
1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan
2015 GMC SLE 4X4
brewster #301783 02/21/14 10:32 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 5
ChatMaster - 3,000
Offline
ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 5
And if one of you guys has a picture of that '39 Pontiac Roadster I think it would be worth sharing here too!! One of one built... how amazing would that be?!


Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet.
1953 Belair Convertible
1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan
2015 GMC SLE 4X4
Gunsmoke #301784 02/21/14 10:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 30,700
Likes: 141
ChatMaster - 25,000
Online Content
ChatMaster - 25,000
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 30,700
Likes: 141
In 1939 the small Fisher "A" body was used on Chevrolet and the small Pontiac and Oldsmobile. There were no US convertibles for those cars.
The larger Pontiac and Olds used the Fisher "B" body and they had a convertivle. That "B" body was also used for some Buicks, LaSalles and Caddilacs for 1939 and 1940.
The "A" and "B" bodies looked allmost alike the the "B" was larger.


Gene Schneider
brewster #301786 02/21/14 10:42 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8
ChatMaster - 3,000
Offline
ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8
The 1939 Pontiac roadster was in Canberra and is body number 18.

Last edited by jack39rdstr; 02/21/14 10:59 PM. Reason: BODY NUMBER FOUND AND CORRECTED

JACK
Chev Nut #301787 02/21/14 10:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 5
ChatMaster - 3,000
Offline
ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 5


Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet.
1953 Belair Convertible
1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan
2015 GMC SLE 4X4
brewster #301791 02/21/14 11:07 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
ChatMaster - 1,500
Offline
ChatMaster - 1,500
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
Great reference material, Jack sent me a photo of the Aussie made '39 Olds Roadster, a rare car I understand. It seems to me an article in G&D on this fascinating "'39 Chevrolet/GM Convertibles and Roadsters" leading into WWII would be a nice thing to have.

Gunsmoke #301792 02/21/14 11:13 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 5
ChatMaster - 3,000
Offline
ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 5
That link I posted says 1 '39 Olds is left, yet I found another one for sale... and that ad said 5 were left!

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C168928

Last edited by brewster; 02/21/14 11:16 PM.

Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet.
1953 Belair Convertible
1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan
2015 GMC SLE 4X4
brewster #301796 02/22/14 12:08 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8
ChatMaster - 3,000
Offline
ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8
I have seen both trunk style and dickey seat style of the Oldsmobile roadster. The pictures of the Oldsmobile shows button on side curtains. The pictures of the 1939 Pontiac shows wind up windows. As the owner restorer of the Pontiac knew the body number, it would mean that the car still had the Holden's body tag with the body number 18 on it , and it would have also said on it Pontiac RDSTER .
Both the Oldsmobile and Pontiac roadsters were basically Chevrolet bodies with different Firewalls ,and front panels, and the respective Pontiac and oldsmobile chassis and running gear etc.

PS the pictures of the Pontiac roadster show it as being restored with white wheel centres and black outer rims.

There was about 5 1937 roadster and a few 1938 roadsters that had wind up windows , but they are certainly a minority. Never have seen a 1939 Chevrolet roadster with wind up windows.

Last edited by jack39rdstr; 02/22/14 12:18 AM. Reason: More information that i can think about.

JACK
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 604
Oil Can Mechanic
Offline
Oil Can Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 604
Altogether very interesting. Thanks to all who posted and contributed. So good of each of you.

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8
ChatMaster - 3,000
Offline
ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8


JACK
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 21
ChatMaster - 6,000
OP Offline
ChatMaster - 6,000
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 21
Thanks to all who have answered my post on this topic. hood

Let me see if I have it straight"

a. Because there was a Chevrolet Cabriolet in 1938 and 1940, it follows that
if one had been produced then it would have been a Cabriolet, as well. According to Brewster, actually a Convertible Cabriolet or Cabriolet Convertible. Which word came first, I don't remember.

b. The reason there was no Chevrolet Cabriolet in 1939 was because of tooling problems, etc, for the top.

c. GM did produce a Cabriolet or whatever, in 1939 but not in the Chevrolet.

d. GM Holden but not Chevrolet did produce a 1939 Cabriolet, convertible or roadster or whatever they called it.

e. For purposes of understanding the Chevrolet is a Chevrolet and the Holden is a Holden but not a Chevrolet or visa versa.

f. The Holden does not count when considerating of 1939 Chevrolet models.

I think I understand now. Wheee! Agrin

Thanks Brewster for unraveling the Convertible, et al, names. Now it is crystal clear. Is too! stressed dance bike bowdown Agrin

Charlie computer

Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
ChatMaster - 1,500
Offline
ChatMaster - 1,500
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,966
F. I think JackRoadster made it clear (perhaps in an email to me) that Holden Cars did not become a model of their own until late 40's(1948?).

These cars manufactured/assembled from KD at the GM plant(s) in Australia up until then were called Chevrolets, much like cars manufactured/assembled in GM Canada at Oshawa were called Chevrolets, even though Canadian cars had subtle differences from U.S.A. made Chevrolet cars. So to be clear, there was a 1939 Chevrolet Convertible Roadster, just none built in U.S.A., just like there was a Canadian built '31 Special Coach.

Jack has sent me a photo of the rarer 1939 Pontiac Roadster, and Brewster, I will try to post it later. It is interesting to look side by side at the Aussie produced '39 Chevrolet, Olds, and Pontiac Roadsters.

Gunsmoke #301819 02/22/14 12:41 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 21
ChatMaster - 6,000
OP Offline
ChatMaster - 6,000
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 21
Okay then, it seems that Chevrolet did produce a 1939 Chevrolet convertible and it was indeed called a Chevrolet. The facts:

a. It was not available in the U.S of A.
b. All were produced outside the U.S. of A.
c. None sold in the U.S. of A.
d. It did not have a Chevrolet body
e. All the above makes no difference.
f. There is no reason to call the 1939 Chevrolet convertible (whatever) a Holden. Holden = Chevrolet. There is no difference.

Accordingly, all who profess that Chevrolet did not make a 1939 Chevrolet convertible (whatever) are dead wrong. According to Gunsmoke, you too, Gene.

Now have I got it right? (This is mind-boggling. Is too!)

Charlie computer

BTW: I am not trying to stir the pot on this. I have always thought that a Holden was a Holden and not a Chevrolet. Seems I wrong. At least for 1939. I'm just trying to understand it all. Nothing more. willy

BTW2: I assume that the literature for 1939 Chevrolets mentioned the availability of 1939 convertibles available in Canada and "down under".

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8
ChatMaster - 3,000
Offline
ChatMaster - 3,000
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 8
General Motors Holden"s Limited is the full title for Holden"s . They were only body builders until 1948, and the bodies were then assembled onto chassis at GENERAL MOTORS AUSTRALIA factories around Australia. They are more like the Fisher body division of General motors in the US. So calling a 1939 Chevrolet roadster a 1939 Holden , would be the same as calling all 1939 Chevrolets in the US as "FISHERS" . when they are NOT "FISHERS" they are Chevrolets. They have a little oval Holden badge on the front of the cowl (like fisher body badges)
and an aluminium body badge under the hood (Like fishers) also that says "Chevrolet" . The grill Badge,hubcaps,dash and boot badge all say CHEVROLET, Not HOLDEN, Just the same as the US 1939 Chevrolets don't say FISHER


JACK
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Link Copied to Clipboard
Support The VCCA!

Enjoy the forum? Become a VCCA member! The World's Best Chevrolet and GMC Club!


Member Photos
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS
by DreamChevy, February 17
My 1933 Chevy 2 Dr. Sedan
My 1933 Chevy 2 Dr. Sedan
by 1939Chevy1, November 24
Back on the road 79 years later
2 1927 Chevrolet Trucks
2 1927 Chevrolet Trucks
by 1927TRUCKS, June 7
Who's Online Now
3 members (andsome07, Tiny, 1 invisible), 76 guests, and 30 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
NeilA, Jayhicks, Tomvanhouten, Dads29Chevy, Tractorman
18,308 Registered Users
Today's Birthdays
SabrinaKarras, Speedy1
Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics59,071
Posts429,072
Members18,308
Most Online1,133
Jan 22nd, 2020
 

Notice: Any comments posted herein do not necessarily reflect the official position of the VCCA.

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5