1936 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Sport Coupe

The Chevrolet Master Deluxe was available as the FD or FA versions. The FA designation was for cars with coil spring front suspension while the FD cars did not have this feature. Several body styles were available but there were still no open body style available in the Master Deluxe.

For 1936, Chevrolet built over 200,000 more automobiles than its top competitor, Ford. This year, all Chevrolets had the all-steel 'Turret Top' bodies that General Motors had pioneered, and the cars were given fully streamlined styling in the late 1930s vogue. The Maserati Deluxe models were set apart by their fuller, rounded radiator shells, a new hood ornament, and front doors hinged at the firewall. 1936 was also the first year that Chevrolet had hydraulic brakes, a great improvement over earlier mechanical styles, and a 14-gallon fuel tank.

With strong sales, Chevrolet reclaimed the number one position in the United States automobile sales for the year.

This example is a Sport Coupe from the collection of Richard and Linda Kugh. It appears to be cosmetically restored, but it is a well-kept original. The car is loaded with accessories, including rear fender skirts, covered dual side-mounted spares, a single cowl lamp, dual yellow-lensed driving lights, a radio, steel artillery-style wheels with chrome hubcaps, and wide whitewall tires, as well as the rumble seat.

The car is powered by an overhead valve six-cylinder engine that displaces 206.8 cubic inches and offers nearly 80 horsepower. There are four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes and a three-speed manual transmission.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2013