1935 Chevrolet Standard

Chevrolet was founded by William 'Billy' Durant and capitalized on the popularity of racing driver Louis Chevrolet.

The marque launched in late 1911 with the Louis Chevrolet-designed Type C Classic Six, which was unusually well-equipped for the era and affordably priced. Chevrolet models progressed through the Series L Light Six and the four-cylinder Series H in 1914 – the first Chevrolet to sell for less than $1,000. Powering the Chevrolet was a technically advanced overhead-valve four-cylinder engine that was durable and rugged and offered a remarkable 24 horsepower. This engine would soon power the 'value priced' Series 490 models, named after the price of the two basic body styles. With the 490 models, Chevrolet became low-cost competitors to Ford's Model T. In addition to greater power, Chevrolet's Series 490 models were also quite well-equipped with a folding top, a top cover, and an upright windshield. Other Series 490 advantages included electric starting and lighting, providing heightened ease of operation.

Chevrolet introduced the 'Stovebolt' overhead-valve inline-six-cylinder engine in 1929, while Ford vehicles continued to use a flathead four-cylinder unit. In 1933 Chevrolet began offering the standard Six, advertised in the United States as the cheapest six-cylinder car on the market. It was joined by the Master Six which wore streamlined 'Airstream' styling with a vee-shaped radiator, skirted fenders, and rear slanting hood door louvers. The 'Master Eagle Series' rested on a 110-inch wheelbase while the 'Standard Mercury' series used a 107-inch platform. Prices range from $445 to $475 for the Standard $485 to $545 on the Master.

Slight styling updates were made to both Models in 1934, including improvements to the No-Draft ventilation system, and significant price increases on the Master Series. The Master wore a new vee-type radiator and grille, and the hood was now longer and wider. The Standard series gained a new longer hood with horizontal streamlined louvers, a winged hood ornament, and vertical grille bars spaced wider apart.

1935 Chevrolet
The range-topping Chevrolet model used a 113-inch wheelbase for the Master DeLuxe ED and the Master DeLuxe EA. The 'EA' Series had 'Knee-Action' front suspension with coil springs while the 'ED' used a Dubonnet setup with semi-elliptic springs and a straight axle in the front. Both were equipped with a 206.8 cubic-inch inline 6 with overhead valves, solid valve lifters, and three main bearings. It produced 80 horsepower and was backed by a three-speed manual transmission with a single-plate clutch and floor shift controls. The 'Blue Flame' engine gained an improved cylinder head design, redesigned combustion chambers, and better lubrication.

The Master Deluxe was the first Chevrolet model to wear the Fisher Body Division's all-steel 'Turret Top' bodies, featuring even more streamlined features than previous designs. The Standard models adopted the Fisher bodies in 1936. Prices on the Series ED ranged from $560 to $675, while the EA models added $20 to the base price.

The 1935 Chevrolet Standard Series EC was powered by a 206.8 CID inline-6 that produced 74 horsepower at 3,200 RPM. It used the same transmission as the Master DeLuxe along with wire wheels, and four-wheel mechanical brakes. The suspension used semi-elliptic springs in the front. The styling was similar to the previous year's design, with painted headlight shells and gauges relocated to the center of the dashboard.

The sport roadster had the lowest base price, at $465, but despite the low price, just 1,176 examples were built. The most popular body style was the two-door Coach with seating for five. It was priced at $485 and 126,138 examples were built. Next in regards to popular was the $550 sedan with 42,049 examples built, followed by 32,193 of the $475 coupe. The most exclusive body style was the $485 phaeton with just 217 examples built. The combined 201,773 examples of the Standard model accounted for approximately thirty-seven percent of Chevrolet's total 1935 production.

The 'Standard' and 'Master Deluxe' names were used again in 1936, but for 1937, Chevrolet dropped the 'Standard' name and designated its lower-priced model as the Master and the top-of-the-line model as the Master Deluxe. All-new 'Diamond Crown' styling with safety glass was applied to both models, and both used a 112.25-inch wheelbase and the same 216.5 CID inline-6 with 85 horsepower.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2021