Elite Dealer

1948 Chevrolet Deluxe

Indiana

$10,500

Vehicle Details

Make

Chevrolet

Model

Deluxe

Year

1948

Body Type

Coupe

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Condition

Fair

Description

Genuine 1948 Chevrolet Deluxe coupe with exceptional bones and clear Nebraska title. This all-original survivor spent 27 years garaged and presents a solid foundation for restoration. The body is in very good shape with no rust except minor surface corrosion on the floor near both doors.

Doors operate smoothly. The hood has a visible split documented in photos. No engine or seats, but the driver's window is included with the car. Importantly, all original chrome trim is on hand for reassembly.

This is a straightforward project for the right enthusiast—strong structural integrity, complete documentation, and all the key components needed to bring this classic back to life.

Chevrolet Deluxe Buyer's Guide (1941–1948)

Full guide

Mike Sullivan

Muscle Cars

1941–1948

~4 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Chevrolet Deluxe is the honest working man's version of the wartime and early postwar Chevy — same 216 Stovebolt engine and body as the Special Deluxe, less chrome, lower price then and now. For a buyer who wants to drive a piece of American history without paying Special Deluxe premiums, this is the car.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 4 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Deluxe Buyer's Guide

Chevrolet Deluxe Market Overview

Based on 56 Chevrolet Deluxe listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$33,436

Avg. Asking Price

1929–1990

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Below Average

This car: $10,500

Low: $4,995 High: $109,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 39%

Manual 32%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 7%

Good 7%

Fair 7% ◄

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 56 listings →

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What is this car worth?

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Chevrolet Deluxe Buyer's Guide (1941–1948)

I tell people all the time: the Deluxe and the Special Deluxe are the same car underneath. Same 216 Stovebolt six, same body, same suspension, same frame. What you're paying extra for on the Special Deluxe is chrome window moldings, better upholstery, and the nameplate. If those things matter to you for show purposes, fine. But if you want to drive a 1947 Chevrolet to cruise nights and enjoy it, the Deluxe gives you everything that matters at a 15–20% discount. That's real money, and it buys a lot of mechanical sorting.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Cowl channel probe — Probe windshield base vent slots — soft metal means structural repair required

✓

Floor pans — Lift front and rear seat carpet and probe for rust-through

✓

Trunk corners — Remove trunk mat and probe lower corners for water damage

✓

Lower rear quarters — Check inside trunk at lower corners and fender bottoms outside

✓

Running board mounts — Inspect lower body attachment points for rust

✓

Cold start — Start from cold — verify steady idle, no excessive valve noise

✓

Oil leaks — Check under engine for rear main seal and timing cover seepage

✓

Transmission synchro — Shift 2nd and 3rd — grinding means worn synchro rings

✓

Electrical function — Test all lights, gauges, wipers — 6-volt issues trace to grounds

✓

Trim assessment — Inventory all trim — note what's missing before agreeing on price

Common Issues

Cowl channel rust is universal on unrestored examples — same failure pattern as Special Deluxe. Floor pan rust follows from water trapped in the lower body. Lower rear quarter and trunk corner rust are the secondary zones. The 6-volt positive-ground electrical system requires all grounds to be clean and correct — intermittent electrical failures are almost always a ground issue. Rear main seal oil seepage is common on high-mileage engines. Valve clearances require periodic adjustment — noisy valve train is a maintenance item, not a mechanical failure. Running board mounting points rust at the lower body attachment brackets.

What to Look For

Cowl channel rust — probe the windshield base vent slots first. Floor pans under front and rear seats. Lower rear quarters inside the trunk corners and at the bottom of rear fenders. Trunk floor at the corners. Verify Stovebolt starts cold and idles steadily — rough idle often means valve adjustment needed. Check for oil seepage at rear main seal and timing cover. Test 3-speed synchromesh on 2nd and 3rd gears. Inspect 6-volt electrical: all lights, gauges, wipers — most issues trace to ground connections. Assess trim completeness — Deluxe painted trim is simpler to source than Special Deluxe chrome.

Price Guide

Driver-quality coupes and sedans: $10,000–$17,000. Show quality: $22,000–$32,000. Prices run 15–20% below equivalent Special Deluxe. The Special Deluxe (slug: special-deluxe) is the companion trim with chrome moldings, convertible, and woodie wagon options — those body styles are not available in Deluxe trim. For a driver-quality purchase focused on the Stovebolt experience, the Deluxe offers better value at every condition level.

Did You Know?

Chevrolet sold more cars in 1941 than any other US manufacturer, and the Deluxe was the volume workhorse of that success — the Special Deluxe was the glamour car but the Deluxe outsold it significantly. The 216 Stovebolt six was so durable that it remained in production for truck applications well into the 1950s, long after Chevrolet cars had moved to the modern 235 six. Many 1946–1948 Chevrolets were purchased by returning WWII veterans using savings accumulated during wartime service — demand was so strong that dealers had waiting lists.

Elite Dealer

$10,500

1948 Chevrolet Deluxe

Indiana

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