VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1916-1922 - Model 490 The Chevrolet 490

Not to confuse the build if Chevrolets with bodies built by Fisher body but you will find McLaughlin R S designed both his Cars one with a Buick Motor and the Chevrolet Plant used more than one kind of motor in his build. The Fact is his Build of both his cars and cars built in Canada hold and always have a higher standard.tracing back to the suppliers from the Carriage Industry.

A quick update on my New Zealand 490. I have finally managed to find a complete rear axle with torque tube and prop shaft assembly. HOORAY!!!
I still need one rear hub, 2 rear wheels, the top mounted 20 tooth gear from the gearbox with a spline and internal teeth plus the bracket that clamps on the torque tube with 4 levers for the rear brakes.
If anyone can help I will be really grateful.
Maybe I will finish this project one day?
Thanks, Richard.

Sending you a PM as to the parts.

A huge thanks to Solan and Fred for helping with the missing parts for my car. Restoration now underway. Gearbox, front axle and front springs all done. Now working on rear axle, prop and rear springs.
Does anyone know when production started in 1916 of the 490 and what the early ID numbers were?
I'd like to know how early my car is and somehow find when it went to New Zealand. It is a right hand drive.

According to Ken Kaufmann's research http://clubs.hemmings.com/chevytalk/GMhistory/earlychevhistory.htm the production of the 490 started in 1915. Actual deliveries of 490 models were delayed beyond 1 January 1915 until 1 June, and Tarrytown reported that 4,902 cars were built before 31 December that year. All RHD cars were built in N.Y.C. and Tarrytown.

The different 1916 Models were announced on 1 June 1915. In addition, the new, stronger 21.7 H.P. Chevrolet Model 490 was announced at the same time, from Tarrytown Plant.

Here are some bright news for all 490 lovers:
Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 20, 24 July 1916, Page 8

FLORENCE LUCKENBACH IN WELLINGTON

So much has been heard in Wellington latel.v concerning the Luckenbach Line of New York, which is about to establish a regular cargo service between New York and Wellington, that the arrival here yesterday of the steamer Florence Luckenbach, from New York, via Panama, has caused more than passing interest in the local shipping world. The Florence Luckenbach dropped anchor in the stream at Wellington yesterday morning, and berthed this "mom-* ing at No. 16, Jervois-quay to put out her local cargo.

The vessel left New York on the morning of the 12th June, and met with good weather throughout the run down to the Panama Canal, .. which owing to the landslides was negotiated in two days, instead of the usual 12 hours. Balboa, at the Pacific end of the Canal, was cleared on the 24th June, and fine weather again prevailed until the 6th July, when a succession of heavy gales was met with, big seas breaking over the vessel. It was found necessary on more than one occasion to slow down the engines and heave-to until the weather abated. These unpleasant conditions prevailed until arrival here. Yesterday morning the officers of the Florence'Luckeubach performed the creditable but somewhat hazardous feat of bringing the steamer into port during the heavy fog without a pilot. Not a single ship was met with on the run down the Pacillc, and the only land sighted was the Guadeloupe Islands, a few days out from Balboa. Prior to her departure from New York the steamer was equipped with oil burning furnaces, and on account of the almost entire absence from smoke and soot, the ship is very clean and orderly, an unusual thing in a steamer of her class. The main portion of her cargo is made up of motorcars, 900 in all, of which number 320 are for Wellington, and the rest are for Australia. Nearly 100 cars, are carried as deck cargo, and appear to have suffered somewhat afc the hands of the gale Captain J. J. Fitzgerald is in command^ and has with him the.following officers:…Chief officer, Mr A. E. Mac Donald; second, Mr O. M. Curtis; third, Mr Wi Leary; chief engineer, Mr A. Henderson; second, Mr W. Michelis; third, Mr A. Eden; fourth, Mr 13. S. Jones. Mr 8.. C. Springer is in charge of the vessel's 2 K.W. Marconi set, a very high power station for a cargo steamer. Cosmopolitan is the only word to describe the rest of the crew. Nearly all the nationalities of the world are represented, from- Turk to Scotsman

My comment to the voyage: I think the bad weather and fog made it easy to pass on all the way without any German U-boats in sight. FL escaped an attack in WW - 1 while another ship was hit and sank in 8 minutes.

I have to search for more information here as I thought the steamer left N. Y. on 29th April, arriving in Sydney in first week of Auust, which makes the voyage very long even in war time. Could it be two sailings with lots of Chevrolets on board?

Wow, 5 years ago I started this thread about my own 490 and now over 50,000+ views and 155 replies shows that people are interested in our beloved Chevrolet 490s. They are truly well built and fun to drive. After all, it is the car that put Chevrolet on the map. How cool it would be to walk into a dealership and see these cars brand new with different body styles spread out to inspect for prospective buyers!

Long live the "Sweet roar of the Chevy four"!

Cheers,
Gary

We even have the support from the whole VCCA as the club brand is a sketch of a 1916, 490 Touring, I think.

Just adding to the posts, that I have a 1918 Chevrolet 490 restored, which I drive in the summer, near Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. You sure do not see any on the street.

Welcome to chevy chatter 1918chev490, glad to have you with us.

Nice to have you here in the forum, 1918chev490. Could you put some pictures of the car here as well? Is it a RHD, Touring or Roadster?

Here is something interesting. Worldwide Auctioneers will be auctioning off a 1919 Chevrolet 490 Touring in excellent looking condition in Montgomery, TX. Their estimate is $20,000-$30,000. Can't help but wonder where they get their estimates from!

Cheers,
Gary

Hello My name is Donald Collard , I am in Australia and am looking for any information and help , that I am trying to sell my original 1922 Chevrolet 490 complete . It has been stored in a shed for the past 45 years , it has a different body
to the pictures , I have seen of American Chevrolet 490 s . I also have a large amount of spare parts including engine ,radiator core ,gearbox and front and rear axle and many more. Any help on the price would be greatly appreciated.
Donald Collard

Don
Welcome to Chatter.
You might do better to put this ad in the "cars for sale" section further down the forum list though it is a requirement to mention a price in the ad.
It is possible that the Aus 490 has some differences to the US built models.
Tony

Hi Don , welcome to chevy chatter,

Is your 1922 a touring or a roadster, and does it have a black painted radiator surround shell, or a nickel plate radiator shell?

Hello Jack It is a four door Touring and has nickel plated radiator surround .
I can send you some photographs it that might help and my phone number is 07 41 678 145 in Queensland Australia Thanks Don

Hi Aussie Don , there is a similar 1922 here is Sydney with a nickel plated radiator shell, my 1920 also had a nickel plated
radiator shell.

I will send you a PM with my email if you could send me a picture that would be great.

Hello All,
I just bought a 1922 touring at a garage sale. I'm bring it home in a few weeks as its blocked in driveway. It looks complete and it's in Southern Ca so there isn't any rust that I have found yet. I will post some pictures after I get it home. I am also getting some spare parts. There was a death and the heirs sold the car.

Welcome to Chevy Chatter tcmachine, we look forward to hearing more about your 1922 , and helping where we can.

The 490 is a really fun car to drive and I get a kick out of seeing them in old films and movies. So, I have been watching the HBO series Boardwalk Empire and while most of the cars used in this series are Model T Fords, which would be correct for the high volume that were made and sold of the time, it is neat to see the occasional Overland sedan or Buick. But, in season 4 episode 5 as the camera panned across a parking area, there was low and behold a Chevrolet 490 Touring! Very cool, and you could tell it has the logo on the radiator shell, one man top, curved front fenders and possible lug wheels. Which would put the year about 1921-1922. Could not help but wonder, if a VCCA member or someone on the Forum owns the car?

Cheers,
Gary

Another very cool 490 pops up on eBay. This a new one I have not seen before. Another to add to our list of 490s. It is a 1917 Touring with the body in original looking condition that may have had the upholstery and top replaced a long time ago. Engine is listed as rebuilt. Looks good for an early Chevrolet enthusiast.

Cheers,
Gary

Gary , there was a recent discussion on this car, it is a 1922 and not a 1917 as advertised and titled.
https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/317235/1917_listed_on_E-bay#Post317235

Are you sure he doesn't mean this one?

1917 Chev on ebay

Good finding Brewster, yep that looks like an early 1917 with non demountable rims.

Jack,

Brewster has it correct. That is the 1917 I found a few days ago and had been watching on eBay. Either the seller has sold it locally or has had a change of heart as it has been taken off eBay. Great looking early car that someone will have loads of fun with.

Cheers,
Gary

The two cars mentioned here lately are different. The first "1917" is more likely to be a 1922 model, but the last one is a 1916 or 17 model. Too few details to know the correct year, I think.




The first one relisted now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Other-N-A/201167835118?_trksid=p272.c100223.m3203&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140502130126%26meid%3D0354ff98565e439a9e563357f00aab29%26pid%3D100223%26prg%3D20140502130126%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D30%26sd%3D201159534331

Buy it now for USD 10500.

"Glue the link above into the adress field".