350-Powered 1951 Chevrolet Styleline Business Coupe

Description

Chevrolet overhauled its entire lineup in 1949, moving from prewar designs to brand new cars with modern full-width bodies and pontoon fenders. The division offered Special and Deluxe models in both Fleetline and Styleline series. 

Buyers could buy a bare bones business coupe for as little as $1,300 or pony up $2,200 for an eight-passenger station wagon; virtually every body type and price level was offered in between. The only powertrain available was a 216-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine mated to a three-speed manual transmission. 

The 1951 model year saw some minor updates, including a new grille design and improved interior features, but a previous owner of this two-door ’51 Chevrolet Styleline Business Coupe went far beyond that in 2012. The numerous mechanical and aesthetic upgrades include a Mustang II-style front suspension with power rack-and-pinion steering and rear parallel leaf springs; a 350 cubic-inch V8 engine mated to a three-speed TH350 automatic transmission; and a dual exhaust system with coated block-hugger headers and a crossover pipe. 

Highlights

• Upgrades in 2012 restoration/build include: 

  • Turquoise paint with blue pinstripes 

  • Front and rear bench seats upholstered in black cloth 

  • 350 cu-in V8 engine with Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold, Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor, MSD ignition components, and flame-accented air cleaner lid, valve covers, and spark plug covers 

  • TH350 three-speed automatic transmission 

  • Mustang II-style front suspension setup with front disc brakes and power rack-and-pinion steering 

  • Aluminum radiator with dual electric puller fans and an auxiliary pusher fan 

  • Power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes 

  • Tinted glass 

  • Chrome-plated 15 inch rally wheels with bowtie-logo hubcaps 

  • Dual chrome exhaust 

  • LED taillights 

  • Polished aftermarket steering wheel 

  • Aftermarket floor shifter 

  • Tilt steering column 

  • Classic Instruments 140 mph speedometer and gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and voltage 

  • Under-dash air conditioning system 

  • Front lap belts 

  • Battery mounted in the trunk

Features

• The chassis number (6JJL1805) decodes as: 

  • 6 – Oakland, California, assembly plant 

  • J – 1951 model year 

  • J – Chevrolet Deluxe 

  • L – November (manufacture month) 

  • 1805 – Sequential production number 

• The trim tag decodes as: 

  • Style: 51-1227B – 1951 Styleline Business Coupe 

  • Body: O 142 – Oakland, California, assembly plant/Fisher body number 

  • Paint: 444 – Thistle Gray 

  • Trim: 200 – Gray striped cloth 

•  BFGoodrich T/A Radial 225/60R15 (front) and 245/60R15 (rear) tire 

• Aftermarket speakers (in preparation for included Alpine AM/FM/CD/MP3) 

Known Imperfections 

• Key does not unlock driver’s door 

• Paint chips up front 

• Paint crack on hood 

• Paint imperfection where the front bumper meets the passenger side of the body 

• Paint chip above the rear wheel on both sides 

• Paint scraped where trunk meets body on passenger side 

• Factory in-dash AM radio is inoperative

Included

• Spare tire mounted on matching rim 

• Alpine AM/FM/CD/MP3 head unit 

• Touch-up paint 

• Maintenance/service records 

• Extra front vent cables are included 

Ownership History 

This 1951 Chevrolet Styleline Business Coupe was acquired by its California seller in 2021. The odometer shows 20,597 miles, which indicates mileage since the engine and transmission were installed in 2012. The Chevy has been driven approximately 3,000 miles under current ownership.