VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Options on a 38 Master Deluxe

We have a 38 Master Deluxe that was purchased new by my Great Grandfather. We have taken it to several shows and heard that it has parts that aren’t possible . .
It has two rear turn signal/ brake lights, trunk mounted license plate, backup light (on left brake light) and chrome rock shields to name a few. He even had his initials on the hood.
The car was ordered new with most every option in 1938. Story was the final price was over $1000 when new. I haven’t seen another 38 with all the bits ours has. Were these factory or aftermarket?

Photos would be helpful. The RH tail/stop light was an option. Some folks have rewired them to also act as turn signals. The trunk mounted license plate I've not seen or heard of but maybe someone else has (I'm certainly no expert). The backup light was an option and readily available through the various vendors. Not sure what you mean about rock shields. There was an optional gravel guard but it's singular and mounts in front of the rear bumper. There were a number of options available but I don't have a copy of the accessory catalog.

The riight tail light and windshield wiper were a reuired factorry installed option on alll MasterDeluxe models.The trunk mount LICENSE LIGHT WAS A DEALER INSTALLED ACCESSORY AS WELL AS THE BACK-UP LIGHT, HEATER, RADIO, ETC.

If you can find a 1938 accessory book it will list and picture the accessories.

If you send me your email address I will send you more info.

I have several of those same accessories on my 1938 Chevrolet. Here is a copy of the Accessory manual with some of the accessories that you described.

Back up lamp



center mounted license plate holder



I haven't read anything about turnsignals being offered in 1938.

As far as the gravel shield, it is my belief that is a 1939 option, Since 1938 and 1939 use the same bumper, it's a perfect match for 1938, I also have one on my car, but it is painted body color.

I believe the gravel shield inside the rear bumper edge was standard on 38. Many got mangled and removed.

I belive the chrome rock shields that he is refering to is an aftermarket item. They fit on about thee lower 3 incnes of the fenders and were for 1937-1938 Chevrolets. I remember seeing them years ago. The 1937, 1938 and 1939 models had a rear bumper gravel deflector as standard equipment and was apinted black.

Is the 37-39 rear bumper splash apron rubber mounted? The restoration houses sell a pad set but I don't see how the apron fits with a pad? The bumper bolt isn't long enough to go thru the bumper, bumper brace, pad and apron tab and hold the nut.

[img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/ijvrollitkf4buk/37-39%20rear%20splash%20apron%20pads.png?dl=0[/img]

Mike

Mine has no pads & had no pads when it came out of the barn. Not only would the bolts maybe be not long enough but the geometry would be off so that the bolts wouldn't line up if you moved the shield in far enough to put the pads in place.

Gene confirmed a while back that the rubber pads sold aftermarket were not ever used from the factory.
If something is desired in there, maybe some tar paper trimmed to shape could prevent wear.

My car had a cloth reinforced tar paper sheet product between almost every panel I took apart. Was even between the fender nuts and the inside of the body. I'd like to source it for areas like we are discussing as the tar made it stick in position and prevented corrosion.

The rear deflector (splash pan) has brakets welded on to it and the brackets bolt between the the bumper and the bumper bracket
It is called a deflector because it prevents stones thrown up from the tires from striking the back of the bumper and bouncing off and hitting the rear body panel or deck lid.

The part number for the rubber bumpers pictured are for 1937 only that has a completely different looking rear stone deflector.

On my '37 Master coupe the outboard gravel shield brackets are between the bumper and the bumper bracket. The inboard ones were between the bumper bracket and the washer and nut. In the middle there is just a gravel shield bracket bolted to the front side of the bumper.

There were no rubber pads or any type spacers in the assemblies. My car is pretty original and I expect that I was the first person to ever remove the rear bumper.

If you need I can get some pictures.

I was wondering why when looking down I had a gap between the bumper and the deflector compared to photos I have seen.. never thought that the deflector mounts between the bumper and brace yes, that would certainly fit better Thanks Gene.