Classic Cars : Classic Nation

I have a ‘50 Fleetline just like that, but yours is in much better shape. My suggestion would be to get the engine running smooth, add a split manifold with duals, drop the back about 4″ and the front about 3″. Then drive the snot out of it. Please don’t do the flat black thing just to fit in. I’d love to see that body left alone, she looks great just as it is! Good luck.

By Ryan on Jan 30, 2008

I am restoring a 1950 Chevy Fleetline Deluxe. The entire car, running and working last year, is now in pieces. When complete, I hope it looks as nice as Scotty’s up in Arma, Kansas. “Scotty’s Classics.”

My problem is the wiring harness. Where can I buy cloth covered wire, 10, 12, 14, and 16 guage Natural color with CR Tracer Red, Green, and black?

This is my second 50 Chevy Fleetline Deluxe. Bought the first one in 1958 when I was 14. Bought this one for my son who is now 14 and we are restoring it together.

By Billy Ray on Feb 12, 2008

Awesome ride!! I’ve got a ‘50 DeLuxe also, and I totally agree with Ryan on this, as far as the appearance of the car and just drive it EVERYWHERE!! Of course, there’s nothing wrong with black, mine came in black originally, and still has the original black paint. But I wouldn’t change the appearance on yours, except maybe restore some of the shine a little, and buff some of the chrome out a bit, only to protect it from the elements outside, and prolong it’s originality from future rust. But as for every thing else Ryan said, yeah, get it running really good and totally freshen-up the whole drive-train, drop it down a bit front and back(not only will it look better, but also handle a little better too, ’cause it’ll have a lower center of gravity.). Then just drive it EVERYWHERE!! I’m the 3rd owner of mine. The guy I got it from had it for 30 years, and purchased it from the original owner who bought it brand-new off the showroom floor in late ’49 (as a new model year for 1950). It’s been garaged it’s whole life, since new. The guy I got it from bought it in ’68, and I got it from him in’98, so I’ve had it for 10 years now, and remains un-changed from how I got it from him. The only thing stock on it though, is the body and paint. When he purchased it, he only put wheels and lakes pipes on it,(it has the rear skirts on it also, so they look right at home!!). The wheels are original Crager ”Keystones”. Then, in ’75, he put a Mustang II front member on it, dropped in a ’67 Corvette 327 that only had 8k miles on it,(the ’vette owners’ wife wrapped it around a pole!), the tranny is a TH400 out of a GTO, 12 bolt posi-rear out of a ’70 Yenko Nova that suffered a similar fate as the ’vette, put a reverse u-bolt kit on the rear leaf springs to lower it about 5”, put shortened springs on the front to drop it 4”, and tied it together with a drive-shaft from a tow-truck, and stuffed modern Cadillac U-joints in the yolks. The ONLY thing not original on the body is that the rear deck-lid was shaved and smoothed on the bottom to get rid of the tag’s location in that spot, and also the trunk button.(there’s now a hood-opener pop-handle from a Chevy Cavalier located inside the fuel door.) The tag now sits in it’s own chrome frame neatly between the rear bumper guards, right under-neath the cross-member piece that’s connected to them at the top. Also, the tail lights have been frenched-in with Harley ”Tombstone” tail lights, with blue dots. But there’s absolutely NO bondo on those areas; it was filled in with lead just like back in the day. The factory shade of paint was also used on those areas, and completely taped-off from the rest of the back of the car–you can’t even tell!! It looks like it came that way! The interior seats were re-upholstered, and the headliner was re-done. It has a tall Lokar automatic shifter coming out of the floor, the dash is all original with the exception of the big round speedo above the steering wheel was replaced with an antique-style gauge cluster that houses a 5-into-1 read-out that fits right in it’s place in the same circle. The dials are all analog read-outs, with the numbers & needles looking like the style of an old Grandfather clock. To top it all off, it’s got an ”Ooog” horn in it that makes senior-citizens ”moist” and all warm and fuzzy inside, sayin’ ”I remember when….”!! It rocks, and runs perfect, and I’ve driven it everywhere. I’m never goona change it from how it is. It’s like a time capsule, because it’s been the same for all this time. In 2010, the paint will be an original 60 years old, and it STILL looks new. I love my ride, and hope you get the same enjoyment from yours. Also good-luck to everybody else with their’s. Keep the rubber on the ground, and drive it like you stole it!!! Be Cool.

By ChuKKer on Apr 17, 2008

i myself just bought a 1950 4 door fleetline deluxe…i also live in kentucky and i must say your is in much better shape but hey i only gave 400 for it and ive got plenty of elbow grease…if anyone could link me some websites to help restore these cars it would be greatly appreciated cory_ware07@yahoo.com

By cory ware on Jun 3, 2008

I, also, have a fleetline of my own. It’s a ‘51 Deluxe that’s close to that condition. Partially like mentioned, they are cool to leave alone. However, I’m leaving everything stock, it’s been good enough for 57 years and I’m not changing it now. One thing I am jealous of is the skirts, I’ve got one but not the other! Congrats on the find and have fun on the build!! Link for my pics…

By Jon on Aug 17, 2008

this probibly is not a question and answer site ,but i need help ,if you could please tell me how to get that darn oil pan out to change the gasket the steering seems to be in the way , its a stock 1950 chevy fleetline 216 motor everything is original , i had it about a year and drive it everyday , i would like to do this myself but the car has been setting for 2 months now and i need to change the gasket , please,please,please help me ,i used to drive truck over the road , just gave it up a year ago, so i never used a computer tell now , hope you get this , thanks big time

By mike on Sep 3, 2008