1950 Chevrolet Deluxe Series

The Deluxe was part of the Chevrolet lineup from 1941 to 1952. Body styles initially included a four-door sedan, later joined with a fastback two-door 'aerosedan,' sport coupe, convertible, station wagon, and a two-door Bel Air. Power was initially from a 216 cubic-inch inline-6 'Victory Six' that offered 85 horsepower at 3,300 RPM, growing to 90 hp in 1947. A three-speed synchromesh manual transmission was standard with vacuum-assisted shift and a 'three-on-the-tree' shifter. The third gear was direct, which meant the input and output are equal speeds. Overdrive was optional and only a few customers selected this feature. Stopping power was handled by hydraulic drums at all wheels.

Styling features of the early Deluxe Models included a split, flat-glass windshield while the 1949 through 1952 Chevy Deluxes had curved glass split into two halves. There were smooth curves along the body accented with chrome and stainless trim. The interior had cloth bench seats and a metal dash, while some examples had a simulated burl wood grain.

All-new styling arrived in 1949, with the Deluxe serving as the company's top-of-the-line model.

For 1950, the Deluxe Series was powered by an overhead-valve six-cylinder engine that displaced 216.5 cubic inches and produced 90 horsepower. It had the word 'Deluxe' on the fender and a similar list of equipment found in the 1949 Deluxe series. The Styleline was available in a range of six different body styles that ranged from $1480 through just under $2,000. The Bel Air hardtop convertible had a three-piece wraparound curved backlight and was a new style for the year. The Fleetline was available as a two- or four-door sedan with pricing ranging from $1,480 - $1,530.

Between the Styleline and Fleetline Deluxe series, over a million examples were produced.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2011