1933 Chevrolet Master Eagle

In 1929, the Bowtie brand introduced its overhead-valve six-cylinder engine, just a year after Mr. Henry Ford re-tooled Dearborn to build the side-valve four-cylinder Model A. The Chevy engine initially displaced 194 cubic inches and developed 46 horsepower, but advancements and competition from Ford's V-8 had Chevy engineers increase the displacement to 206 CID and 65 horsepower, leaving the Chevy only ten horsepower off of Ford's V8. The wheelbase of 110 inches also offered quite a bit more room inside than the Blue Oval's offerings. Other features found on the Chevrolet included the Silent Synchro-Mesh transmission for easier gear changes and a Starterator that engaged the starter by simply pressing the gas pedal to the floor. These advancements helped Chevy's sales in 1933 outpace Ford's by 44%.

For 1933, Chevrolet produced 486,378 vehicles with the majority being the Master Eagle series, accounting for over 450,000 sales. The most popular body styles were the sedan and coach, which accounted for nearly 325,000 sales.

The Master Eagle was powered by an overhead-valve six-cylinder engine displacing 194 cubic inches and offering 65 horsepower. It had a three-speed manual transmission with synchromesh and four-wheel internal mechanical brakes. Pricing began at $485 for the Sport Roadster and rose to $565 for the sedan. The Master Eagle had a V-shaped radiator, skirted fenders, a beaver tail back panel, and rear slanting hood door louvers. Other features included a Fisher Body No-Draft ventilation system and a fixed-position windshield.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2016