One family-owned Chevrolet Fleetline left for 54 years serves as an accidental time capsule
- A US family’s 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline had been parked in a barn since 1970
- Their grandpa bought it over half a century ago
- When finally removed from storage, it was a glimpse into the past
Published on Jul 26, 2024 at 4:06 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jul 26, 2024 at 4:10 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A US family’s 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline had been parked in a barn for 54 years.
After being driven for more than two decades, it was parked up in 1970.
When it was finally removed from storage – it was like a glimpse into the past.
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The barn find
Chevrolet Fleetlines are rare these days with most moldering in junkyards.
However, YouTube’s IowaClassicCars stumbled across an unaltered and highly original 1949 Fleetline.
The deluxe car had been purchased by the seller’s grandpa and was last registered on the road in 1970 before being parked up in the barn.
Totally original – bar some period-correct upgrades – it still boasts an original six volt wiring system.
Inside the cabin, its upholstery could certainly do with an upgrade.
However, the black paint, the interior, and the engine are all original.
Although weathered, there’s no significant rust.
Despite the patina, with cleaning and buffing, the original finish will shine again in no time.
The stunning footage shows the Chevrolet Fleetline seeing daylight for the first time in decades.
The Iowa-based team eventually managed to fire up the 216-cubic-inch (3.5-liter) inline-six rated at 90 horsepower after all those years.
It’s a second generation of Stovebolt engines that Chevrolet used from 1937 to 1962.
Amazingly, the Chevrolet Fleetline shows only 78,000 miles (125,529 km) on the odometer.
It will be hitting the market once it’s back up and fully running again.
Such an unaltered classic Chevrolet find is rare – this 1958 Chevrolet Impala is missing several parts but a surprise made it a great barn find.
What’s more, this man in California is willing to give you his 1959 Chevrolet Impala if you build his driveway.
The Chevrolet Fleetline
The Chevrolet Fleetline is one of the cars that made the brand America’s volume sales leader in the full-size car segment.
The exterior has smooth curves, chrome, and stainless trim.
Introduced from 1941 to 1952, while it doesn’t get the same love as the pre-1955 Bel Air and the iconic Tri-Five series, it’s popular with hot-rodders as an affordable classic.
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
