1931 Chevrolet AE Independence Series Five-window Sport Coupe

Getting “a Six for the price of a Four” was an advertising tagline that resounded with many customers before and during the Great Economic Depression. Chevrolet took full advantage of it from 1927 forward as customers responded to the new engines coupled with new styling courtesy of Harley Earl's Art & Colour section.

This handsome 1931 five-window Sports Coupe was made in General Motors' Kansas City, Missouri factory (code K) with a rumble seat carries many options offered on these cars, including dual side mounts with covers, cowl lights, front and rear bumpers, pedestal mirrors and a luggage rack. Finished in blue over black wings, the car's paint and trim are in overall very good order. The bodywork is straight and solid and the chrome bumpers are attached tightly to the body. The engine bay is very tidy.

This Chevy rolls on older Garfield whitewall tires, size 4.75/5/5.25/5.5-19 tires. Each one is mounted on yellow factory wire wheels. The wheels look great while the tires are in good, original order.

Under the hood is a 194 CID overhead-valve Stovebolt six-cylinder engine with a single carburetor. Backing the motor is a three-speed manual transmission and a 3.82:1 rear end.

Inside is a brown plus and cotton velvet interior. The bench seat is in very good order, the neutral matching carpet is in satisfactory shape while the brown headliner looks fine. A three-spoke black steering wheel offers some contrast. The metal dashboard features a full slate of gauges. A floor shifter finishes the interior.

The car has been enjoying its current ownership in dry Arizona. Its prior ownership was the Heritage Auto Museum Collection, which it joined in 2003, and prior to this had been the property of Donald Sullivan of Ann Arbor, Michigan. According to Sullivan, for many years it had previously been in the W.A. Smith Museum in nearby Flint, Michigan.

Offered with a period handbook, the car is understood to have received its restoration in the 1950s and during that time had its appearance generally enhanced with Sports Roadster wheels and some trim pieces. For an older restoration, the Chevrolet presents beautifully and runs out well. Surely a wonderful opportunity to obtain a fine piece of American history.

By the early 1920s, Chevrolet had abandoned its attempt to compete head-on with Ford's Model T - Ford was able to drop its prices annually whereas Chevrolets steadily rose - and re-positioned itself as a middle-market manufacturer whose products possessed a degree of refinement lacking in the Model T. The highly popular six-cylinder Chevrolets of the 1930s helped consolidate the company's position as Ford's chief rival, but until then its mainstay had been four-cylinder cars.

Chevrolet introduced its new range powered by the famous 194 CID Stovebolt overhead-valve six in 1929, the cast-iron wonder being enthusiastically marketed as “a Six for the price of a Four.” Styled by Harley Earl at General Motors Art & Colour department, the new line was known as the International in its first year, subsequently becoming the Universal then the Independence in 1931.

Features in 1931 were a higher, larger radiator; before this was a bowed tie bar carrying the headlights while aft its hood had now gained vertical louvers on the raised side panels. Wire wheels were now standard.

Competition to this Chevy in 1931 included Essex's Super Six, Ford's Model A, Plymouth's PA-series Coupe, Willys 6-97 Series, among others.

Documentation includes original owner's manual, a reproduction manual and a Chevrolet Repair Manual for Series AE-LT models. This car also won a red ribbon and a special activity ribbon at the 1998 Greenfield Village Old Car Show. There's also an envelope with photos of the car, insurance information and a 1933-1936 Chevrolet wiring diagram. There's a folder with correspondence from a previous owner, a copy of a Special Interest Autos article from November/December 1993 and more.

If you have been searching for a pre-war coupe that is not a Ford, why not stop by MotoeXotica Classic Cars to check out this '31 Chevrolet in person?

VIN: 22602207

This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 45,804 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!

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