On January 1st 1949 Chevrolet introduced a new body style, its first post war design. Powered by a 216 cid 6-cylinder valve in head engine, the Chevrolet was available as a Deluxe, with upmarket Styleline and Fleetline versions, and a lower price Special. In 1950 a 'non-convertible convertible' or Hard top was offered as a 'Chevrolet BelAir' model, and later became a model line of its own. Other body styles included 2-door and 4-door saloons, convertible, coupe, station wagon, and the fastback 2 and 4-door Fleetlines. A comprehensive re-skin was made in 1953 by Carl Jenner, before a new body in 1955. Pontiac marketed in parallel to Chevrolet with its own Chieftain and fastback Streamliner models and from 1950 the Catalina hardtop. These cars inspired the design of the 1951 Vauxhall E-series.
aa Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 2-door badge
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 2-door - badge on front wing. The 1949 Chevrolets were available in 2 streams, the conventional Styleline in series 1500 Styleline Special (Model KJ) and series 2100 Styleline Deluxe (Model KK). There was also cheaper Fleetline stream.
ac Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe 1950 head
Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe 1950, a 3,547cc 'Stovebolt Six' was given to both the Fleetline and the Styleline Chevrolets
ac Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 2-door sedan head
Chevrolet Deluxe 1949 2-door sedan. Powered by a 3,547cc 'Stovebolt' Six
Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe 1950 4-door front
Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe 1950 4-door, Chevrolet model HK DeLuxe. The Styleline offered a conventional 4-door sedan as well as the fastback, but 1950 was the last year for fastback 4-door
Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe 1950 rear
Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe 1950, General Motors offered a fastback 'Torpedo' body in both 2-door and 4-door format on Chevrolets, Buicks, Pontiacs and even Cadillacs, but they would soon be discontinued. Fastback Chevrolets carried the badge 'Fleetline'.
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 2-door front
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 2-door. The 1949 Chevrolet inherited the 216 cu.in (3,547cc) ohv engine that dated back to 1937.
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 2-door rear
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 2-door. The Styleline Chevrolets were all 'notchback' booted designs whereas the Fleetline gave fastback 2-door and 4-door sedans.
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 4-door saloon front
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 4-door sedan. All new bodywork for 1949 on a 115-inch wheelbase, the Deluxe was given a 6-cylinder 216cu in engine
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 4-door saloon rear
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 4-door sedan. 2-door and 4-door saloons were the staple of the Chevrolet Deluxe and its less-equiiped 'Special' sibling. Fleetline models offered fastback sedans.
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1952 4-door sedan front
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1952 4-door sedan. The Model KK was powered by 3,548cc or 3,859cc version of the Stovebolt Six
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1952 4-door sedan rear
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1952 4-door sedan. Built on a 115-inch wheelbase. The Model KK sold 671,472 units in 1952
s Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 2-door side
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 2-door. This 'notchback' (3-box shape) body was given to the Styleline as a 2-door or 4-door sedans, a Sport Coupe or a Business Coupe - both with shortened superstructure and longer boot, and a convertible coupe. There were two Estate cars as well, but the fastback 2-door and 4-door sedans were marketed as the 'Fleetline' range.
s Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 4-door saloon side
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1949 4-door sedan. A convertible, coupe, station wagon, 'Bel Air' hardtop were offered for the Styleline models, whereas the Fleetline models were offered 2-door and 4-door fastback bodies.
s Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1952 4-door sedan side
Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe 1952 4-door sedan. Built on a 115-inch wheelbase.
Chevrolet BelAir
Chevrolet Bel Air 4-door sedan 1954. Bel Airs came in this 6-person 4-door saloon, 2-door saloon, 2-door sport coupe and convertible. The Carl Renner reskin made a big difference to the Chevrolet 1949-52 body.
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban 1951 Delivery Van
Oldsmobile 1949
Oldsmobile 88 Club Coupe 1949. The '88' was a new model for 1949, utilising the platform of the cheaper '76' and the brand new 303 cu.in (4965cc) 'Rocket' V8 ohv engine which was designed for development up to 12.7 compression ratio, and lasted almost 20 years and was enlarged to 6.5-litres.
Pontiac 1949
Pontiac FB 1949 Silver Streak , in fact there were FIVE silver streaks running right over the centre line of the car, and the Silver Streak engine. This 1949 Streamliner uses a GM B-body, whereas the notchback 'Chieftain' cars were built on a GM A-body; both were on a 120-inch wheelbase. The 2-door fastback was termed a 'Sedan Coupe'; the 4-door fastback was simply known as the 'Sedan'. Engines offered were the 3.9-litre flathead six, or the 4.1-litre 'Silver Streak' Eight. This car is a 6-cylinder
Vauxhall Velox 1955
Vauxhall Velox 1955, Replacing the L-series, the E-series gained a new body with American influenced styling launched in 1951 for the 1952 model year. The E-series body drew inspiration from the 1949 Chevrolet.