Chevrolet Fleetline 1941-1942

The Chevrolet Fleetline is an automobile which was produced by US automaker Chevrolet from 1941 to 1952. From 1946 to 1948 it was a sub-series of the Chevrolet Fleetmaster rather than a series in its own right and from 1949 to 1951 it was a sub-series of both the Chevrolet Special and the Chevrolet Deluxe. In its final year it was offered only as a sub-series of the latter.

The Fleetline was introduced late in the 1941 model year as a 4-door sedan. In 1942 a fastback 2-door "Aerosedan" was also offered. In 1947, the Fleetline made up 71.26% of Chevrolet's sales. The years 1949 through 1952 models, the fastback was the only model offered, and Chevrolet dropped the Fleetline for 1953. Production was indefinitely delayed in 1942 due to World War II, after 110,000 had been made total, though several thousand Chevrolet coupes and sedans were produced during the war years for military staff use. In 1945, production for civilians resumed. The original series was produced through 1948.

A redesigned Fleetline with reduced body contour and integrated rear fenders was offered for the 1949 through 1952 model years. It was referred to as a "fastback" because of its distinct sloping roof which extended through to the trunk lid. The Fleetline during these 1949 to 1950 years also had a lower look than a sedan, with the windshield being one inch shorter in height than a standard sedan. The 1949 to 1951 models were made in both 4-door and 2-door models, with only the lower portion of the doors being interchangeable with a sedan door. The Fleetline series is highly collectable today, with its sleek looks. Many are made into street rods, with the common Chevrolet 350 Small block V8 and the 350 or 400 turbo transmission being used in these vehicles.

[B]Specifications[/B]

In the 1941/42 model years, the 216cid inline 6 "Blue Flame" engine was the only one offered. It produced 90 horsepower at 3300 rpm, and in 1950 higher compression bumped it up to 92 horsepower. Also in 1950, a 235.5CID 1-bbl carb 6-cylinder engine with 105 hp (78 kW) was added. A Fleetline of this vintage could easily exceed 80 miles per hour without overdrive. In very early models, the transmission was a manual synchromesh 3-speed, with vacuum assisted shift, in which the "three-on-the-tree" shifter was able to be moved between gears by the slightest pressure on the lever. Third gear was direct, meaning the input and output are equal speeds. From 1950 through the 1952 final year of its production, an automatic transmission was offered, which was quite sluggish. Overdrive was a rare option. Connection to the third member rear-end was via an enclosed "torque tube" driveshaft. The brakes were hydraulic with all-wheel drums. In 1951, the brakes got larger. The master cylinder was located below the floor connected on the frame rail, beneath the driver. Shock absorbers were of the lever type for the early years only. The windshield for all years was of a split, flat-glass type.

[SIZE="1"]Source: wikipedia.org[/SIZE]