Introduced in 1955, the Tri-Five is so beautiful and iconic that it overshadows every single Chevrolet produced until then. Sure, there’s also the fact that Chevy did not offer a V8 like Ford did since 1932. But the truth is Chevrolet built several notable vehicles before the Tr-Five’s arrival.
Chevy rolled out its first V8 car in 1917. It’s called the Series D, and it was discontinued after just one year on the market, but it turned Chevrolet into one of the first companies to offer a V8 mill. Then there’s the Series AB and AB that competed against the Ford Model A, and the AK, Chevrolet’s first dedicated light-duty pickup truck.
Chevrolet also introduced the Advance Design series of haulers in the 1940s, the brand’s first major redesign after World War 2. Finally, there’s the 1949-to-1954 full-size that preceded the Tri-Five. It was offered in various body styles and trims and marked Chevrolet’s first foray into the premium market with the Deluxe and the Bel Air. Moreover, I think the early 1950s Chevy full-size is just as good-looking as the Tri-Five.
But sadly enough, and even though they were popular at the time with more than one million units sold annually, these pre-Tri-Five Chevrolets don’t get the love they deserve. Making matters even worse, most are still rotting away in junkyards and barns. And there’s next to no interest in restoring them compared to the far more iconic Tri-Five. And that’s precisely why I get excited every time an early 1950s Deluxe is rescued.
This lovely 1951 version was recently taken out of a barn by YouTube’s “More Adventures Made From Scratch.” It’s been sitting there since the early 1990s, and it was simply too cheap to let it go to waste. And surprisingly enough, for a vehicle that got neglected for more than 30 years, the Chevy was still in one piece and showcased an almost rust-free body.
Sure, the interior looks terrible and has a lot of damage due to rats living there, but it’s amazingly complete. These cars are usually parted out once retired, but this one somehow got lucky and avoided such a terrible fate. And even though the paint had lost its shine, the two-tone body boasts a nice patina that most hot-rodders would pay heavy cash to have it done on their rigs.
There’s good news under the hood as well, where this Chevy still hides its factory-original inline-six. Sure, the 216-cubic-inch (3.5-liter) engine is far from impressive by modern standards at 92 horsepower, but it’s already a hard-to-find lump, even in derelict condition. This Deluxe is also unusual, as this trim was usually ordered with the larger 235-cubic-inch (3.9-liter) powerplant. The 216 is not only complete, but it also appears like it could get unstuck with a bit of soaking.
If you also love early 1950s Chevrolets, you can watch this two-tone coupe get its first wash in over 30 years in the video below. Ain’t she a beauty?