1935 Chevrolet Master Deluxe

Chevrolet's low-priced '490' model, produced from 1915 to 1922, put it in direct contention with the economical Ford Model T. The Chevy Superior took over the mantle of the 490 in the early 1920s, equipped with a four-cylinder engine, a three-speed manual transmission, and resting on a 103-inch wheelbase. Although attractively priced and equipped with many advanced features, it was nearly twice as much as the Ford Model T. 1929 became the first year Chevrolet offered a six-cylinder engine since 1915. Chevrolet marketed this triumphant return as 'A Six for the Price of a Four.' This new engine enjoyed strong sales, prompting Henry Ford to hastily introduce the 1932 Ford V8s.

The Chevy models of the late-1920s rested on a 107-inch wheelbase, enlarged in 1931 to 109 inches. The six-cylinder engine used a three-speed manual transmission, and braking was handled by internal mechanical drums on four wheels behind standard wire wheels. The 50 horsepower produced by the six grew to 60 hp a year later, and the wheelbase measured 110 inches in 1933. In 1934, it was 112 inches.

Chevrolet's 1935 model lineup included the Series EC 'Standard' and the Series ED/EA 'Master Deluxe.' Chevy's six-cylinder engine displaced 206.8 cubic inches, used a Carter one-barrel carburetor, had overhead valves, three main bearings, and a solid valve lifter. The engine in the Series EC produced 74 horsepower and the Series ED/EA had 80 hp.

The Master Deluxe was known as either the Series ED or the Series EA, distinguished by the installed features. The EA series had the 'Knee-Action' front suspension with coil springs, while the Series ED cars used semi-elliptic springs in the front and a straight front axle. The Series ED was more expensive, adding an additional $20 to the base price.

The Master Deluxe used an all-steel 'Turret Top' body construction, a new innovation by the Fisher Body Division, with modern, streamlined designs that were rounder and smoother than previous designs. It incorporated a split-type front windshield, and the doors opened from the front in 'suicide door' styles. Body styles included a coupe, sport coupe, coach, sedan, sport sedan, and a town sedan. Prices ranged from $560 to $675.

Although the Standard was popular, with 201,773 units produced, it was the Master Deluxe that accounted for over 63 percent of Chevrolet's 1935 sales, with 346,439 units built. The most popular body style within the 1935 Chevy line was the Standard Coach with 126,138 units built. Next was the Master Deluxe Coach with 102,996 units built, followed by 67,339 of the sport sedan and 66,231 of the town sedan. The four-door sedan, priced at $640, had 57,771 units built. The coupe, priced at $560, had 40,201 sales and the sport coupe had 11,901 sales.

Production of the Master Deluxe included both the Series ED and the Series EA. Buyers seeking an open body style had to buy a Standard, as the Master Deluxe only offered closed bodies.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021