1919 Chevrolet "Four-Ninety" Touring Car

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

The first Chevrolet to go on sale in 1913 was a giant six-cylinder $2,500 "beast," however few American could afford it. The Classic Six faced stiff competition from Buick and others in the small quality-car market, yet with the introduction of their lower-priced H-series cars priced under $1,000 Chevy began to gain ground.

The Four-Ninety quickly followed. It was a project championed by Chevrolet chief Billy Durant, cleverly named for its $490 price, allowing Chevrolet to compete squarely with the ever-popular Ford Model T. Durant, the ultimate salesman, pulled out all the stops for the Four-Ninety launch: New York newspaper ads, a prototype display at the New York auto show, and acquiring a plant in Tarrytown, New York, to build it. By June 1915, there were 46,611 orders from dealers and distributors for the new Four-Ninety. By 1919 Chevrolet was second in sales only to Ford with the Four-Ninety remaining as popular as ever with sales of 127,231 units. The 1919 model was virtually unchanged from the 1918 model – Chevy apparently saw no need to change their successful design.

Robert A. Jones, a successful businessman and second-generation leader of the still going concern, Jones Brothers Contracting of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, had an innate understanding of the many heavy duty machines that were a part of the family business. Early on, Mr. Jones turned that knowledge into a passion for road cars and acquired his first collector car in 1969, at the age of 35 — the famous Ford Model T. That single and simple pre-war car sparked a passion that never tempered for Mr. Jones and eventually, influenced by the more common Jones family marque of choice, his passions would burn even brighter for early Chevrolets. As his collection grew and changed over the years, his interests were focused on displaying the cars at regional shows and concours, as well as still driving many of his road-worthy classics. Hagerty Marketplace is proud to offer The Jones Collection, entirely without reserve, comprising some long-treasured vehicles from his personal collection.

Highlights

• Offered from The Jones Collection

• Powered by a 2.8-liter four-cylinder engine

• Three-speed sliding gear manual transmission

• Remy coil ignition

• Zenith improved double jet carburetor 

• Five-passenger touring car style body

• Internally expanding brakes

• Wood spoke wheels

• Finished in black paint on black leather with black wool carpeting 

• Spur and gear steering with 15-inch steering wheel 

• Trip odometer

• This 1919 Chevrolet “Four-Ninety” Touring Car is offered with the five-digit odometer currently displaying 1,022 miles; however, the true mileage is unknown

Features 

• Stewart magnetic type speedometer 

• Auxiliary crank start lever

• Auto-Lite ammeter

• National Gauge Co and Chevrolet oil pressure gauge 

• Exposed lifters and pushrods 

• Brake light

• Throttle heel rest 

• Spark and throttle levers mounted on steering column

• Driver side mirror

• Oil pressure gauge

• Choke pull knob

• Electric horn

• Push button start 

• 30x3.5 inch four-ply tires 

Known Imperfections 

• Please note that all of the lots in The Jones Collection are offered after many years of storage, without operation, in a climate-controlled facility.  The Hagerty Marketplace Team endeavored to bring most back to running potential, however, as a result of their extended static display, all lots will benefit from additional mechanical attention before being driven to address any imperfections associated with long-term storage or individual preferences. All lots are sold as is, where is.

• Minor paint chips on passenger rocker and rear fender

• Minor paint chip on driver hood retainer

Included 

• Removable soft auto-curtains 

• 1974 Tennessee certificate of title 

Ownership History

An accompanying certificate of title shows this vehicle was first registered by the Jones family in 1974. 

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Group Consignment Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. 

Contact: Ramsey Potts Phone: 912.508.4096 email: rpotts@hagerty.com