for sale 1932 Chevrolet Confederate Sport Roadster *SOLD*

[Matt Harwood]

 

SOLD! Chevrolet sold almost as many cars as Ford in 1932, but you wouldn't know it by the number currently in existence. This is my first early-ish Chevrolet, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect from GM's entry-level division, but I was very pleasantly surprised. It is often called the 'baby Cadillac' and I can certainly see the resemblance, particularly in the front end. It doesn't look like an entry-level everyman's car. Of course, this tidy little roadster is dressed up with almost every option and accessory you could get, which definitely adds to the upscale look. It was restored perhaps 20 years ago, so it's not fresh, but it's also in great shape for touring and casual shows and if the response to it sitting in our showroom is any indication, people LOVE this little car. The Serge Blue paint is bright and well-applied, showing only a few minor signs of age and use, but nothing major and certainly no damage or botched workmanship. Same goes for the black fenders. The bright yellow pinstripe matches the wheels and the chrome hood doors really dress it up in a big way. Most of the chrome is excellent, with some very minor pitting evident on the (optional) hood ornament and headlight bar, but the rest is quite nice. Other optional dress-up items include bumpers, cowl lights, the aforementioned hood ornament, dual sidemounts with mirrors, dual taillights, and a trunk. I don't believe it was originally built with steps on both sides of the rumble seat, and they appear to be machined from aluminum, but they don't stand out as incorrect and work as intended.

 

Brown leatherette is a good choice inside and again, it's in very good overall shape. There's a pair of very small punctures in the driver's outermost pleat on the seat back, but otherwise the seat upholstery is unmarked, a testament to the durability of the materials. Correct door panels with map pockets and a basic rubber floor mat are in keeping with the roadster's simplicity. It's worth noting that everything works, including the accessory electric clock, which is currently disconnected but was just rebuilt. It has free-wheeling, but I'd leave it alone if I were you, and all the gauges are doing their thing, including the gas gauge. There's a nice-fitting tan canvas convertible top, although the heavy glass rear window frame has pulled free of the canvas in one spot and the window itself is cracked. The rumble seat is like new. There are no side curtains.

 

I am very impressed by the performance of Chevy's stout 194 cubic inch "Stovebolt" six, which probably wasn't quite a match for the Ford V8 but runs away from the Model A's four-cylinder. It's smooth and torquey and obviously bulletproof reliable--this is one pre-war car that I would feel confident driving just about any distance. It starts easily with some choke and idles well without being fussy. There's a generic muffler underneath so it sounds a bit agricultural, but it's not an unpleasant sound and isn't noticeable at speed. There are obvious signs of use in the engine bay, but it was correctly restored with proper colors and fittings used throughout and it wouldn't take much to bump it up a notch if that's what you want. It still runs the original fuel pump without any electrical assistance and there's a correct oil bath air cleaner up top. The 3-speed manual transmission has synchromesh, so it's easy to handle, and it cruises pretty happily at 45-50 MPH. Brakes are still mechanical, so plan accordingly, and the wire wheels were an extra-cost option which now wear Denman wide whites that are probably old enough to think about replacing although they show no signs of distress or age.

 

I don't know that the Confederate name was such a great idea, but the car sure is appealing. It is a small car with a big car swagger, and I like that over-achiever attitude. The hardware is bulletproof and while the roadster was popular when it was new, there aren't many around today, making this a fairly rare car. If it were a '32 Ford roadster, it would be twice as expensive as the $34,900 asking price, making it a bit of a bargain for a competent '30s open car. Thanks for looking!

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2017 by Matt Harwood (see edit history)

[keiser31]

Sweet car! My father had one identical to it and used it in the Army. His top wore out, so he shot down one of those silver barrage balloons and used the material for the top.

[mercer09]

The color looks great, but a bit bright for Serge Blue.

 

Most colors of that year were muted.

[Matt Harwood]

SOLD in near-record time to a guy who loves the color!