Question for the "early '50s Chevy experts"

[ElectricBanana]

Hi

I've been on the forum about a year. A few months ago I joined the AACA through my local region. A short time after that, I bought a 1951 Chevrolet business coupe. I had been searching for a completely 'stock' vehicle, but this car was too good mechanically and body-wise to pass up. (The odometer shows 44,000 miles and I can't find any rust or mechanical issues.) I plan to bring it back to its original state as my budget allows, but I want to drive it and possibly take it to car shows while I do that. It's been repainted in a non-original shade that's close to the correct color and has had its interior re-done (again, not original; but very well done and pretty darn close to the stock look). I plan to eventually re-paint the car and replace the interior with a kit from Hampton Coach or possibly some other quality supplier.

Now for the question... I don't have any way to document the way the car was equipped when new. And, it has a number of options that are real Chevrolet parts that >>could<< have been added by the selling dealer. The car has: a heater, a radio, wide whitewall tires, accessory wheel rings, a fuel door protector, the little chrome trim pieces on top of the rear fenders, bumper guards, stainless gravel shields and windshield washers. Would I be pushing the 'originality envelope' if I left some or all of those 'options' on the car? Or - would they look completely out-of-place to an AACA judge on a business coupe?

[aacalifeer]

Congrats on the purchase. You will find that the 1951 can be a unique car. There were a lot of running changes that year. Many brought on by the developing war in Korea. Where in Ohio are you ? There are many AACA Chapters of the Ohio Region that would welcome you.

[MCHinson]

For AACA judging, any factory authorized dealer installed accessory is OK. Anything that is shown in Chevrolet documentation as either original equipment or optional equipment is OK for AACA Judging.

[ElectricBanana]

Congrats on the purchase. You will find that the 1951 can be a unique car. There were a lot of running changes that year. Many brought on by the developing war in Korea. Where in Ohio are you ? There are many AACA Chapters of the Ohio Region that would welcome you.

For AACA judging, any factory authorized dealer installed accessory is OK. Anything that is shown in Chevrolet documentation as either original equipment or optional equipment is OK for AACA Judging.

First, thanks for the replies!

I'm down on the Ohio River where the state meets Kentucky and West Virginia, which means that the Huntington Region is almost next door to me. So, that's the region I joined.

Edited May 1, 2012 by ElectricBanana (see edit history)

[john2dameron]

Chevy had 4 lines in 1951; Styleline and Fleetline Special and Styleline and Fleetline Deluxe. the 3-passenger business coupe was only available in the Styleline Special series. Specials had black rubber gravel shields; Deluxes had a stainless trim strip down the side of the car and a stainless gravel shield. I would think a business coupe with the stainless gravel shield and the stainless strips on the tops of the rear fenders would be in trouble when it came time to be judged. You should try to find access to a 1951 Chevy catalog and see exactly what options were available for the business coupe. How about posting a photo of the car?

[ElectricBanana]

I would think a business coupe with the stainless gravel shield and the stainless strips on the tops of the rear fenders would be in trouble when it came time to be judged.

Which is exactly why I asked the question.

I grew up with these cars. I learned to drive on my parents' '51 Fleetline and my grandparents owned a '50. Before stumbling across this car, I'd never seen a business coupe with any accessories. What I wanted to know was how the AACA might react to the addition of accessories to a base-line car. I seriously doubt that the original owner(s) had these parts added when they bought the car, but I don't have any way to know that the parts WEREN'T added by the selling dealer. What if a salesman wanted a little 'flash' to go along with the utility of a business coupe and the dealer 'dolled it up' for him?

I'm going to try to find out more about the history of this car, as it apparently spent its life in the area where I purchased it. But, for now, I have NO documentation as to how the car was equipped when it was new.

As for a photo, it's in the avatar, but I've attached a larger one to this post.

[john2dameron]

Sorry Dave. What I was trying to say is that unless you can prove the car had the gravel shield and chrome strips when it was first sold you will probably be docked for having them on the car. However, try and see. I saw a car at the Grand Nationals last fall that had name plates from the following year's models and the judges did not catch that so....

[MCHinson]

It is not required to be equipped exactly as that particular car was equipped originally. It is required to be equipped as it could have been ordered, including factory authorized dealer installed accessories.

So, if a factory accessories booklet or other factory documentation shows than a particular accessory could be ordered for your business coupe, it is OK for AACA judging. If an accessory was not available for that particular car then it would be subject to a deduction.

[Dosmo]

Whether or not the gravel guards are authorized for this car, they look good/right on it. And, any person that likes musical artists like Donovan gets the benefit of the doubt from me, ha ha. As if that would matter...........

[Bleach]

Here's link to several 51 Chevy brochures including a price list for accessories.

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