Produced between 1961 and 1964, the second generation of the Biscayne was offered with the straight-six Stovebolt as the base engine. At the other end of the spectrum, Chevrolet offered the legendary 409 with 360 ponies from the factory.
Very few of these 6.7-liter engines found their way into the most affordable and lightest trim level available. Fleetmaster is how this version is called, and it didn’t feature comfort creatures like door armrests or a sun visor for the passenger. Chevrolet had also saved money by using paint instead of chrome plating for many components.
The 1961 Biscayne Fleetmaster in the following video is probably the nicest one in existence thanks to a no-expense-spared rotisserie restoration performed by So-Cal Speed Shop. Estimated to be “98% correct with the numbers and dates,” the two-door sedan is described as a “one-of-one car ordered for drag racing only.”
Offered by Gateway Classic Cars with 22,019 miles on the odometer and 3.36 posi gears for the rear end, the Fleetmaster features a professionally rebuilt big-block V8 that looks absolutely gorgeous. Not even a single oil stain can be found under the hood, and the undercarriage looks cleaner than a nun’s Internet browser history.
The gray-and-black upholstery is said to be original, which is pretty amazing for a vehicle that's close to six decades old. The patches on the inner fenders were reportedly made by the first owner at the 1962 Winternationals when “he took out the headlights to run air tubes up to the air cleaner." According to the selling vendor, "the NHRA would not let him run it that way, so he patched them at the track.”
68 pounds (31 kilograms) lighter than a regular Biscayne, this particular Fleetmaster was the 41st off the line at the Van Nuys Assembly Plant for the 1961 model year. Owned by couple Butch and Debbie Schultz since 1976, the award-winning car was featured in Super Chevy Magazine and also exhibited in the World of Speed Museum.
Now listed at $179k, this blast from the past is an excellent addition to any American classic car collection.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News