Photo: Barn Finds Classifieds
I think it's amazing that people "forget" classic cars in storage for decades. Simply because most of them resurface as wonderful time capsules. This 1937 Chevrolet Master Deluxe, which was dragged out of storage after a whopping 60 years, is one of them.
One of Chevy's iconic pre-WW2 nameplates, the Master broke cover in 1933, when the Great Depression was still keeping U.S. automakers on their toes. Produced until 1942, a few months after the United States joined World War 2, the Master is one of those cars that helped Chevrolet stay afloat while other carmakers went belly up during the economically challenged 1930s.
Like most nameplates from the era, the Master was updated yearly. So the design of the 1937 Master is unique to this specific model year. And if you ask me, it's the best-looking version of the Master thanks to the V-shaped and slightly slanted front grille.
This specific two-door coupe is a Master Deluxe trim, which means that it came with a few extras over the regular Master. Perhaps the biggest difference is that the Deluxe gained an independent front suspension in 1937 (the base Master retained the beam front axle on leaf springs).
So how does this Chevrolet look after six decades in storage? Well, I'd say "surprisingly good" fits the bill nicely. Most cars that have been sitting for so long usually emerge into the light as rust buckets that aren't worth saving, but this one is actually a solid time capsule. Sure, most of the gray paint has been consumed by surface corrosion, but the body is amazingly clean when it comes to rust holes.
On the other hand, it's missing the front grille, the hood ornament, and the trim and badge on the trunk. But none of these parts should be difficult to source since Chevrolet built millions of Masters back in the day.
The story is pretty much the same inside the cabin, but I did spot a rust hole in the floor, just under the pedals. It's nothing that can't be fixed, though. Much like the exterior, the dashboard is a mix of gray paint and rusty patina, but all the gauges and buttons seem to be there. The odometer shows 76,301 miles (122 795 km), which isn't all that much for a car that's been used from the late 1930s until the early 1960s.
Under the center-hinged, butterfly-style hood lurks a 216-cubic-inch (3.6-liter), overhead-valve, six-cylinder engine. Introduced in 1937 as Chevy's second-generation inline-six, it replaced a mill dating back to 1929. The design survived in various forms and sizes until 1963 and spawned the more iconic "Blue Flame" powerplant offered in the first-gen Corvette.
In the Master Deluxe, the straight-six generated 85 horsepower and 170 pound-feet (Nm) of torque when new and reached the rear wheels through a three-speed manual. The engine appears to be complete, but there's no word on whether it turns or runs. It's safe to assume that it needs some work and a few refurbished components before it can be fired up again.
In need of serious restoration, this old Chevy is looking for a buyer in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The vehicle is sold as-is through Barn Finds Classifieds for $8,750. For reference, 1937 Master Deluxe values range from $5,000 in Fair condition to $29,000 for Concours-ready examples.
Like most nameplates from the era, the Master was updated yearly. So the design of the 1937 Master is unique to this specific model year. And if you ask me, it's the best-looking version of the Master thanks to the V-shaped and slightly slanted front grille.
This specific two-door coupe is a Master Deluxe trim, which means that it came with a few extras over the regular Master. Perhaps the biggest difference is that the Deluxe gained an independent front suspension in 1937 (the base Master retained the beam front axle on leaf springs).
So how does this Chevrolet look after six decades in storage? Well, I'd say "surprisingly good" fits the bill nicely. Most cars that have been sitting for so long usually emerge into the light as rust buckets that aren't worth saving, but this one is actually a solid time capsule. Sure, most of the gray paint has been consumed by surface corrosion, but the body is amazingly clean when it comes to rust holes.
On the other hand, it's missing the front grille, the hood ornament, and the trim and badge on the trunk. But none of these parts should be difficult to source since Chevrolet built millions of Masters back in the day.
The story is pretty much the same inside the cabin, but I did spot a rust hole in the floor, just under the pedals. It's nothing that can't be fixed, though. Much like the exterior, the dashboard is a mix of gray paint and rusty patina, but all the gauges and buttons seem to be there. The odometer shows 76,301 miles (122 795 km), which isn't all that much for a car that's been used from the late 1930s until the early 1960s.
Under the center-hinged, butterfly-style hood lurks a 216-cubic-inch (3.6-liter), overhead-valve, six-cylinder engine. Introduced in 1937 as Chevy's second-generation inline-six, it replaced a mill dating back to 1929. The design survived in various forms and sizes until 1963 and spawned the more iconic "Blue Flame" powerplant offered in the first-gen Corvette.
In the Master Deluxe, the straight-six generated 85 horsepower and 170 pound-feet (Nm) of torque when new and reached the rear wheels through a three-speed manual. The engine appears to be complete, but there's no word on whether it turns or runs. It's safe to assume that it needs some work and a few refurbished components before it can be fired up again.
In need of serious restoration, this old Chevy is looking for a buyer in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The vehicle is sold as-is through Barn Finds Classifieds for $8,750. For reference, 1937 Master Deluxe values range from $5,000 in Fair condition to $29,000 for Concours-ready examples.
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