1930 Chevrolet Sitting Since 1954 Is an Incredible Time Capsule

Introduced in 1932 as a replacement for the Model A, the Model B was a brand-new design. It came with an updated version of the Model A's four-cylinder engine but also a 221-cubic-inch (3.6-liter) V8. I'm talking about the iconic "flathead," which turned the Ford full-size into the first low-priced, mass-marketed car with a V8 powerplant.

This feature alone was enough to overshadow its Chevrolet-badged competitor. Because even though Chevy produced its first V8 engine in 1917, the mill was discontinued only one year later. And the brand would not offer a new V8 until 1955. Instead, the company relied on four-cylinder engines in its affordable full-size offering until 1928, switching to an inline-six with the introduction of the AC International in 1929.

If you're not familiar with Chevrolets from the era, they got updates and name changes on a yearly basis. So while Ford built the Model A and Model B from 1927 to 1934, Chevy offered eight different nameplates over the same period. The list includes the AA Capitol, AB National, AC International, AD Universal, AE Independence, BA Confederate, and CA Eagle. It wasn't until 1933 that the company introduced the Master, which soldiered on for nine years.

The ever-changing nameplates make it challenging to keep track of these cars unless you're a "bow-tie" gearhead, but this doesn't mean that the Chevrolets of the era aren't worth checking out. The 1932 BA Confederate, for instance, is beautiful. Especially as a Deluxe Sports Roadster, which I included in my "50 Best Chevrolet Models of All Time" list at number 32.

But I'm not here to talk about this gorgeous drop-top. Instead, I want to introduce you to a 1930 four-door of the AD Universal variety. One that's been parked since 1954 and recently emerged out of storage as an incredible time capsule. Yup, that's not a typo: this Chevy sat for a whopping 69 years. That's more than enough to turn a classic into a rust bucket, but this four-door somehow survived without significant damage. And amazingly enough, the fenders and the running boards, which are prone to rust, are still in one piece.

Our host explains that it may have something to do with the fact that the car may have seen very little road salt (which was introduced in the 1940s), but it's astonishing regardless of the reason. Heck, I've seen rusty 1930s cars after only 20 years in storage and rotten 1960s muscle cars after only a decade outside.

But the lack of deep rust isn't the only reason this Chevy is a stunning time capsule. The interior is also in excellent condition. Not only is the upholstery still in one piece, but the headliner isn't sagging. Moreover, the original engine is still under the hood, still complete, and agreed to fire up with a bit of work.

If you're unfamiliar with the AD Universal, it came with a 194-cubic-inch (3.2-liter) overhead-valve inline-six under the hood. The "stovebolt" mill delivered 50 horsepower when new. For reference, the four-cylinder in the 1930 Ford Model A was rated at 40 horsepower, while the V8 in the 1932 Model 18 delivered 65 horses.

Sure, the steel wheels are rusty, and the two-tone paint is worn out, but the fact that this Chevrolet still runs after almost 70 years without a sip of gasoline is incredible, to say the least. Needless to say, it's a pre-WWII classic that deserves to be returned to its former glory and paraded at classic car shows. Until that happens, check out the greatest time capsule I've seen in a very long time in the video below.