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1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster news, pictures, and information
| | View more photos Station Wagon |
Ash provided the structural base, while mahogany was used for the panels. Leatherette was stretched over a wood frame to provide the roof. Approximately 10,171 were built between February 1948 and January 1949.
What led to the downfall of the woody? Most experts blame the required frequent maintenance needed, but often neglected, for the wood.
This fine example features the running gear of a 1986 Camaro Z-28, a 350 cid engine and an automatic transmission.Source - LeMay Museum
| | Convertible |
| | View more photos Station Wagon Chassis Num: FAM220666 |
Perhaps GM's most attractive post-War 1940s vehicle were the Fleetmaster Woodies. It was a special vehicle that carried a rather hefty price of $2,103 plus options. The structural base was comprised of ash wood while mahogany was utilized in the construction of the panels. The roof was made of vinyl stretched over wood framed bows. With the high cost and labor intensive process, just over 10,000 examples were produced in 1948.
This example is a 1948 Fleetmaster eight-passenger Station Wagon. It was recently cosmetically restored and is finished in its original shade of Oxford Maroon. It wears its original sheet metal and re-freshened wood panels. The interior has been reupholstered. It has its correct wood-grained dash, original seven-day winder clock, and original working radio with hidden FM converter. It is fitted with options such as trim rings, bumper wing guards, and a rare heater. It has only 10,171 original miles.
In 2008, the car was brought to the Hilton Head Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by the Worldwide Auctioneers. It was estimated to sell for $110,000 - $130,000. Though the high bid failed to reach those figures, the lot was sold for $93,500 including buyer's premium.
Considered to be a very handsome vehicle, the Chevy Fleetmaster was introduced in the middle of 1941. One of the lowest quantities manufactured of any Chevy vehicles of all time, the Fleetmaster was a beautiful and very rare streetrod. Basically prewar designs, the Chevy Fleetline was in great demand and was a very popular seller.
On October 3, 1945 the Fleetmaster first rolled off the assembly line in very small numbers. At the time there was a shortage of critical materals, mostly sheet steel. Unfortunately a United Auto Works strike was called on November 21rst and production was unable to resume at a normal pace. The assembly lines halted completely and weren't resumed until March 13, 1946 when the strike was settled. Chevrolet became the first GM division to resume production on March 29th.
The 1946, '47 and '48 Chevy models were basically ‘warmed over' versions of the 1942 models. This was following four years with no civilian passenger vehicles being produced. Chevrolet chose to serve up existing models, much like its competitors. The demand for new vehicles was extreme, and the paid-for factory tooling was already in place. The Master DeLuxe became the Stylemaster while the Special DeLuxe was rebadged as the Fleetmaster. The Fleetline morphed into the Fleetmaster subseries. There was no business coupe in the Fleetmaster lineup, but other than that, the body type remained the same.
Featuring low, wide grillwork and headlights the 1942 Chevy Fleetmaster was basically the same as the final prewar series with only a few significant mechanical distinctions. In 1947 the grille and beltline molding were further advanced, and at this time the Fleetline Aerosedan was once again Chevy's volume leader, surpassing the 1946 Stylemaster Sport Sedan. The headlights smoothly blended into front that meshed into the doors much like Buick's style.
For the 1948 model year only a few minor modifications in the trim were made. Unfortunately the demand for the Fleetmaster was ebbing, and additional changes were no longer necessary. In January of 1949 there finally appeared a ‘true' postwar Chevrolet.
A total of 162,632 1946 Fleetmaster models were produced, 264,584 units in 1947 and 248,778 in 1948.Jessica Donaldson
© 1998-2009. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
On October 3, 1945 the Fleetmaster first rolled off the assembly line in very small numbers. At the time there was a shortage of critical materals, mostly sheet steel. Unfortunately a United Auto Works strike was called on November 21rst and production was unable to resume at a normal pace. The assembly lines halted completely and weren't resumed until March 13, 1946 when the strike was settled. Chevrolet became the first GM division to resume production on March 29th.
The 1946, '47 and '48 Chevy models were basically ‘warmed over' versions of the 1942 models. This was following four years with no civilian passenger vehicles being produced. Chevrolet chose to serve up existing models, much like its competitors. The demand for new vehicles was extreme, and the paid-for factory tooling was already in place. The Master DeLuxe became the Stylemaster while the Special DeLuxe was rebadged as the Fleetmaster. The Fleetline morphed into the Fleetmaster subseries. There was no business coupe in the Fleetmaster lineup, but other than that, the body type remained the same.
Featuring low, wide grillwork and headlights the 1942 Chevy Fleetmaster was basically the same as the final prewar series with only a few significant mechanical distinctions. In 1947 the grille and beltline molding were further advanced, and at this time the Fleetline Aerosedan was once again Chevy's volume leader, surpassing the 1946 Stylemaster Sport Sedan. The headlights smoothly blended into front that meshed into the doors much like Buick's style.
For the 1948 model year only a few minor modifications in the trim were made. Unfortunately the demand for the Fleetmaster was ebbing, and additional changes were no longer necessary. In January of 1949 there finally appeared a ‘true' postwar Chevrolet.
A total of 162,632 1946 Fleetmaster models were produced, 264,584 units in 1947 and 248,778 in 1948.Jessica Donaldson
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