VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 anybody know this 51 convertible

http://www.memorylaneclassiccars.com/forsale/1951-chevrolet-convertible/

This is for sale at a dealer in Portland OR. Just wondering if any VCCA members have seen it before or have any knowledge of it.

What wrong/incorrect, besides the wire wheels? Shouldn't interior be gray and green?

Thanks for any insight, Jay

Top part of dash would match leather seat color. Lower dash insert area would be gray.

Interior door panels and quarter trim panels would have been a light gray leather fabric.

I believe strg column would have been gray, as well.

Shifter would not have been chrome plated.

Engine valve cover is aftermarket and chromed, 4 bbl, instead of 1 bbl. Headers with dual exhaust.

Spoke wheels.

The car has been "personalized", but is a nice looking car ... nice color combo.

Rear window should be a full plastic insert, not the part glass. Hubcaps in the trunk are for a '50.

I am sure Jay knows the car is modified....he has been around longer than any of you guys.

[quote=Chev Nut]I am sure Jay knows the car is modified....he has been around longer than any of you guys. [/quote

Reply removed.

Jay has been an active VCCA member for over 45 years.
Also has done some first class restorations.

Thanks for those kind words Gene. In fact this month marks my 45th year. April 1970 I joined this august body and have never looked back.
Thanks to everyone who responded with a critique of the car. I've been looking for a 51 convertible for 2 years now, since the sedan delivery left. 30 cars have been for sale in that time and all have had "issues" or not to my liking. The right car just may not exist. Maybe it's be time live with some of the "personalization" and enjoy it. That being said I would definitely loose the wire wheels.
Jay

Jay,
I joined in Jan. just before you. I know we had several dealings and contacts over the years.
If I were to own a "personalized" Chevrolet that one would be it. Looks to be done well including the 261 engine. Just don't like the carmel colored door panels and dash but could live with that.
Keep us posted..........Gene

Yes, I've bought parts from you. We first met in Springfield and saw you again at Colorado. Thanks for the encouragement on this car. I don't like the door panels either, looks salmon on my computer. How did you identify the 261 I assumed 235. I've been on the phone with the dealer...The car came to Oregon from Texas 10 years ago. No history of who restored it or when but the odometer shows 02707. The body serial number shows plant code 3 St. Louis, built in July. I've asked for undercarriage pictures and engine numbers.
Jay

Hi Jay,

This is Portland Swap Meet week, but next week I could go over and put an eyeball on it for you.

Ray, what a kind and generous offer! I may take you up on that
unless I get too excited and run up there myself.
Jay

Above the first picture it says it has a 261 and a 4 barrel.

Boy I missed that! Maybe that explains the fan in front of the radiator. I chased overheating problems with my 261 for a year.
Jay

Thats OK. I missed the price and didn't want to ask.
That engine and a 3.55 rear would be perfect.

Jay, if you decide to drive/fly up, let me know and I will go look with you. I would be glad to pick you up and take you to the car if you were to fly up.

Thanks Ray, I checked on flights and found them to be 5 to 7 hours with lay overs in LA, Phoenix and SLC. It's a 9 hour drive from here, I'll probably drive up next week. I'm waiting to talk with the previous owner and I have to negotiate that price down.
Jay

If you do decide to come up for a look, let me know and we can have a cup of coffee while looking at the convertible.

Wish I could be there to see it.

If you could get to Portland after the Portland Swap was over, I would be glad to pick you up and take you to see the car.

Thanks Ray, everything is still up in the air. I've been busy this week wrapping up the All Cal registrations. I'll make a decision next week.
Jay

Some of you may be wondering how the purchase of this car is going.

Antique Mechanic here on Chat inspected it for me Tuesday and sent a report yesterday. It wasn't good. 26 items in addition to what I saw in the pictures. Inoperable and incorrect items, some are minor but others like the wavy chrome and body work are deal breakers. Especially disappointing is evidence of a rear main leak. Who knows what other mechanical or drivability problems would show up.

I was really exited about this and thought I would buy it. But it's way overpriced, now that I know it's true condition.

The up side of this is what a great club this is...That a fellow member would volunteer to take the time and effort to prevent me from making a big mistake.
I hope I have the opportunity to "pay it forward"


Jay

Jay wrote: "What wrong/incorrect, besides the wire wheels? Shouldn't interior be gray and green?"

Gene, in all fairness, Jay did ask the above question. Seems to me that is an open invite for us to look the pictures over and point out anything that we see that is not correct. I don't know how else to read or interpret his question.

Brewster and Bob, only responded to the question. Pointing out that he has 45 years in the club and doesn't need any stinkin help with knowing all the answers is a little bit, well, unwarranted given the invite.

I'm almost 81 now and although I have been in the club for many years, I would ask the same question. More eyes on the ball does help in this hobby.

My hat is off to Ray for looking the car over for him. That was going the extra mile for a fellow club member. Well done, Ray.

Best,
Charlie

BTW: Notwithstanding the obvious personalized items, I sure would like to see the list of items that Ray found that are incorrect or don't work.

"Brewster and Bob, only responded to the question. Pointing out that he has 45 years in the club and doesn't need any stinkin help with knowing all the answers is a little bit, well, unwarranted given the invite".

Thanks for your observation, Charlie.

Here you go Charlie;


Hi Jay,
I got a chance to go over and look at the car yesterday. These are my notes and you should know that I detest any stupid changes to an original car, so my comments may drift into personal likes, ect.
1. Right window extremely difficult to raise and lower.
2. Door needs adjustments to make it close (Right & Left)
3. Window glass chrome has been done, however it shows waves of poor buffing.
4. Rubber on top of windshield for top closing coming unglued.
5. RR fender shows waves. Not perfect body work.
6. Spot lights (2) and both don’t work.
7. Drivers door window glass frame wavy. Poor buffing.
8. Parking brake handles falls down to a 60 degree drop. Looks bad.
9. Modern black plastic wiper knob. I think for WW wiper.
10. Hole in the dash on line with and some distance to the left of radio.
11. Radio does not work and push buttons stick. Needs restoration and conversion to 12-volts (I do that type work)
12. Rear view mirror (Top windshield) glass is bad. Loss of silvering.
13. Steering wheel “butterfly” is pitted all over.
14. Steering wheel rim is broken (cracked) at the bottom.
15. Has a Mickey Mouse accelerator pedal.
16. Visor mechanics are worn and visors loose.
17. Cigarette light knob doesn’t match other knobs. Bad shade.
18. Driver door doesn’t close normally. Needs adjustment badly.
19. Driver’s door rubber does not fit between filler rubber for LR ¼ window.
20. Has blue dot lenses in tail lights.
21. Oil pool under engine and it is my belief that the oil came from this car.
22. Right headlight door has a sizable dent at top.
23. Wiring harness. Wiring harness is bad, however it appears to have had a change many years ago. Some wires still have #rings on them. Some new wire badly routed and stands out like a sore thumb.
24. Jack, looks like a “rattle can” paint job over the RUST.
25. Clock doesn’t work.
26. I was not able to inspect, but the “Owner” said the patch panels underneath are readily visible. Complete under carriage spray painted.

Charlie,
what this tells me is the lack of maintenance and attention to detail the former owner has exhibited. And the owner/restorer before him as well.

Jay

Jay,

Thanks. That is a detailed and interesting list of deficiencies. I can see where this list would cause one to question the quality to cost relationship of this car.

I hope you find one that is more worthy of the asking price.

You should buy Ray an ice cream or beer. He did a yeoman's job.

As a positive thing, I like the 261 sitting in there. As Gene pointed out coupled with a 3:55 that thing would really trot. Or even a 3:70. Wonder what it would cost to make the car "right?"

Best wishes,
Charlie

Might not be too hard too determine the cost of what Ray pointed out , but it's the hidden things that could cause trouble as Jay has pointed out.

Nothing mechanical was noted on the "deficiency" list ...... or it was already assumed that all modifications were a known factor.

While nothing was noted I would be concerned only because of the attention NOT paid to the things Ray noted.