1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster

Description

This 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster 2-door sedan has blossomed from Chevy's value-leader when it was new to one heck of a custom in the 21st century. With Chevy power and a gorgeous interior full of modern amenities, this is the car you can drive daily and still look forward to getting behind the wheel every time.

The sleek body style actually dates to just before World War II, and the slick 2-door sedan was a big seller, no doubt due to its great proportions. This one still looks like a '48 Chevy, but there's not one bit of sheetmetal on it that hasn't been modified in some way or another. Of note, the roof has been chopped, the door handles and trim have been shaved, the headlights were frenched, and the windshield was swapped for a 1-piece unit. The pearl white finish makes it positively glow and you can see the way the light plays over the Chevy's generous curves. It's a recent build, so the paint remains in outstanding condition with very few signs of use and despite all the body mods, it fits together extremely well. And don't forget, even with most of the trim removed, there's still a sizeable investment in brightwork, including the grille, which is subtly modified to help with that low stance. The bumpers have been deleted, making the stance exactly right.

The interior carries late-model bucket seats with a built-in center console, all wrapped in handsome tan leather. The pattern is a lot flashier than the original plain bench seats, and looks right at home in the low, sleek 2-door. The original dashboard has been refinished in complementary copper paint with a custom billet insert instrument panel to hold elegant Auto Meter gauges that are period perfect. A/C has been expertly integrated into the dash below the original radio speaker cover, and there's an AM/FM/CD stereo unit in place of the optional factory AM unit. A tilt column and custom steering wheel are customary upgrades, and power windows and electric door openers have been retrofitted. The trunk remains quite spacious, even considering the remotely-mounted battery and subwoofer for the stereo system.

Those long trips will be effortless thanks to the 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 under the hood. With a 4-barrel carburetor and an Edelbrock intake manifold, this car starts easily and idles well, and it's considerably more powerful than the original "Stovebolt" six. Polished valve covers and a custom air cleaner add some flash and the serpentine belt drive system up front keeps everything nice and tidy. All the accessories are intact, including power steering and power disc brakes up front, so it drives like a modern car and the big cooling system doesn't ever let things get out of hand. The transmission is a TH350 3-speed automatic with a 10-bolt rear out back, so the powertrain is bulletproof. A beautiful custom exhaust system with long-tube headers sounds mellow and makes cruising easy and it sits exactly right; low but not so low that it kills ride quality. Big 17-inch Boyd Coddington wheels fill those fat fenders and carry 245/45/17 front and 255/55/17 rear performance radials.

This is a great-looking and eminently practical rod, subtle yet handsome and beautifully finished with all the details sorted. Isn't that the kind you've always longed to own? Call today!