1939 Chevrolet Master

This particular example is a 1939 JA (De Luxe) station wagon - referred to by then as the ‘Club Sedan’ and has lived the majority of its life on foreign shores, evidently destined for foreign shores thanks to its right-hand-drive configuration.

Not a great deal is known about the car’s early life, though evidently it spent a large proportion of its time in the sunny, dry climate of Mediterranean Europe, judging from the various titles and registration documents present in the history folder from Spain and other places.

Imported into the UK by the previous owner and registered in April 2019, our vendor states that the vendor has used this example of pre-war American motoring exceedingly sparingly, though a significant amount of time, effort and expenditure has gone in to making it as useable, reliable and enjoyable as possible, with the majority of the effort centred on the chassis and drivetrain.

Over £5,000 has been spent since the vehicle hit UK shores, with works including a re-conditioned fuel tank, new brake pipes as needed, a carburettor re-build, standard servicing, and a new Hi-Torq starter motor was fitted, enabling far more reliable and easy starting, via a push-button start fitted in the centre of the dashboard.

Still striking an impressive presence to this day with its wonderful pre-war styling, rounded-off curves and art-deco inspired styling, this 1939 Master De Luxe is a masterpiece in aesthetic automotive design.

The bodywork on this particular example is very straight throughout, with only the usual minor door and bonnet fitment issues which are typical on cars of this era, and shouldn’t be too difficult for an enthusiast to adjust, should they wish to do so.

There are, naturally, a few ripples and minor dents, along with some more significant wear to the paintwork such as chips, scuffs and scratches, which have all been documented in the extensive gallery below, containing over 540 images.

Elsewhere on the flowing lines of this Club Sedan, the various chrome details and trims are all present and correct, and wear a lovely light usage patina, commensurate with a vehicle of this age and mileage. There is some slightly heavier pitting and what appears to be corrosion noted around both front quarter-lights, though this does not appear to affect their operation.

Importantly, the bonnet mascot, oversized front lights and bullet-shaped rear lights are in excellent condition, with no damage to the lenses or surrounds that we could see.

All four wheels are wrapped in matching period-correct whitewall tyres, and show only some minor wear consistent with the rest of the vehicle’s condition.

With its full-width velour bench seats, chrome details, metal dashboard and stylistic dials, the cabin of this Master De Luxe is every inch the classic American automobile experience, and transports its occupants back to a time where style was the key for any manufacturer wishing to make a statement.

Both the front and rear seats are in very good shape, with no sign of any sagging to the cushions, or heavy wear to the velour covers. The door cards are also in good order, but show some typical patina to the chrome touch-points, and the window winder for the driver’s door is missing.

Speaking of touch-points, the steering wheel is significantly worn with its cover coming away in a few places, whilst the gearstick top is loose and the shift mechanism is typically vague.

Up above, the headliner is in good order throughout with no major sagging, though there is some light staining around the lower edges where it meets the roof line, which shouldn’t be too tricky to correct with a deep valet.

Down below, the carpets are present in the rear and display some wear around the edges of the inner door lip, though the front carpets are missing and the floor shows some water ingress issues, though it is unclear whether this is from the corroded quarter lights not forming a proper seal, or whether it is from perished door seals.

Some of the original orange-backed dials on the dashboard are inoperative, though this has been rectified by the fitment of two aftermarket gauges underneath the dash for the fuel level and water temperature. Whilst not original, these gauges are likely to provide a much more accurate reading than the original items, increasing the confidence the next owner can have in using the vehicle.

In the front, the 3.6-litre inline-six engine presents well, showing plentiful signs of care, attention and remedial work, as evidenced by the accompanying paperwork in the car’s history folder.

Looking around the engine bay, the block is remarkably clean, though there is some light misting noted around the lower edge of the block where it meets the sump, whilst there is significant staining around the radiator cap, though this looks to be old residue rather than evidence of any ongoing issues. The brand-new carburetor looks fantastic.

Underneath the art-deco inspired bodywork, the chassis frame and suspension components appear to be in good shape, with evidence of under-sealing and painting, with only some typical ‘bloom’ around exposed components being particularly evident and no signs of any major issues as far as we could see.

Naturally, the vehicle has no current or historical MoT certificate, as by the time it was registered in the UK it was exempt by virtue of its age.

As always, all the documentation and paperwork included with the sale of the vehicle has been photographed and is available to view at your leisure below, but we’ve listed a few highlights below:

• The V5, showing 1 former UK keeper.
• A re-printed version of the Chevrolet service handbook and manual
• Numerous invoices totalling over £5,000 worth of work in the last two years, including numerous diagnostic processes, carburettor work, a new clutch, a reconditioned fuel tank, new gaskets, fitment of the push-button Hi-Torq starter motor and general engine maintenance and servicing
• Import documents and old EU registration documentation
• Aside from the recent fitting of a brand new carb', the vendor has installed two brand new brake hoses and has also recently flushed the fuel tank and fuel pipes.

Representing a glorious era for American automotive manufacturers before the post-war austerity measures kicked in, this pre-war Chevrolet Master is the more desirable De Luxe model, in practical and useable Club Sedan form, allowing the whole family to enjoy this slice of inline-six powered Americana.

Offered in great condition throughout, rude mechanical health and benefitting from significant recent investment and attention, this 1939 Chevrolet Master De Luxe is ready to use and enjoy as it sits, or forms an excellent basis for someone looking for a mechanically sound example to aesthetically restore and take to the next level.

With an estimated value of £8,000 to £11,000, there is plenty of potential for this De Luxe Club Sedan, and it is an opportunity you’re unlikely to get again for a long time, especially in right-hand-drive format, perfect for UK roads!

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with the vendor in Bristol, England; please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing to organise a viewing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.