Here is a very good looking restored 1948 Chevy Fleetmaster Coupe Convertible. This was the last year of the older Chevy designs. The first all new post war design came out with the 1949 model year. This was similar to Ford which unveiled their more modern styling the same year.
The Chevrolet Fleetmaster
Chevrolet produced it’s Fleetmaster model for the 1946, 1947 and 1948 model years. The post war Fleetmaster was styled from the prewar 1942 Chevys and had little changes between 1946 and 1948.
Some exceptions were that the grille was made full width in 1947 and in 1948 added a center vertical bar to the grille. There was a sub series Fleetline offered that included both two and four door fastback designs.Beginning with 1949, the Fleetmaster was replaced by the Chevy Deluxe which had sub series of Fleetlines and Stylelines.
The automakers were of course making money manufacturing aircraft, tanks, jeeps, etc and did spend money advertising their name during the war years. The purpose was three fold. To keep their brand name before the public lest they forget, urge people to utilize their dealer’s service departments, and to promote their company’s critical role in the war effort.
In July 1945 Ford was the first automaker to begin civilian car production after the war. In actuality, the war in Europe had ended but the war in the Pacific would still go on for many more weeks.
The 1948 Ford Coupe Convertible
It’s important to note that while these 1946-48 Fords were really versions of prewar cars, this fact didn’t hurt sales since the car buying public was hungry for new cars ever since the last one rolled off the assembly line back in February 1942. One change with the first 1946 Ford’s was that these cars now carried a 239 cubic inch V-8 which before the war was used in Mercury’s and Ford trucks. Also there were trim changes to the grille and back lid.
1948 Chevy Coupe Specifications
Engine for the 1948 Fleetmaster Sedan was a 216 cubic inch Inline Six producing 83 HP. This engine was used in all three years of the Fleetmaster series, 1946-48.
Transmission was a three speed manual.
Brakes were four wheel hydraulic drums.
Dimensions include a wheelbase of 116.0 inches, overall length 197.7 inches, width 73.4 inches, height 66.1 inches. Curb weight 3,280 lbs.
New car price for the 1948 Chevy Fleetmaster Sedan averaged about $1,400.
1948 Chevrolet passenger car production totaled 696,415 units. Out of that number there were 248,750 Fleetmaster units produced.
Related Auto Museum Online articles are found on the links below…
1948 Pontiac Silver Streak 8 Convertible
Reference material for this article includes..The Hemmings Book of Postwar Chevrolets..Hemmings Motor News by Terry Ehrich and Richard A. Lentinello..Automotive News..Complete Book of Collectible Cars by the Editors of Consumer Guide.
The 1948 Ford Convertible Coupe can be found with an asking price in a range from about $27,000 to $55,000. This is the range for a model in good to excellent condition with some degree of restoration, originality and mileage. The combination of these three elements is what typically dictates value and is the main reason a price range for a classic car can be fairly wide. The 48 coupes (non convertible) are valued lower with asking prices currently in the $12,000 to $25,000 range.
(Article and photos copyright Auto Museum Online)