By going to car shows today, you wouldn’t know that Chevrolet built 313,404 cars in 1932, compared to Ford’s 258,000—Chevrolets are quite uncommon. Often referred to as the “Baby Cadillac,” the 1932 Chevys were some of the most stylish cars on the road and certainly a very upscale entry-level car. Dressed with accessories like this lovely 1932 Chevrolet Confederate roadster, it looks downright expensive, which is surely why they sold 20% more cars than Ford that year. Add in Chevy’s reliable and smooth “Stovebolt” six engine, synchromesh transmission, and agile handling, and you get a car that’s a delight to own no matter who you are.

Chevrolet built just 8552 Deluxe Sport Roadsters in 1932, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that so few survive today. But this car’s story isn’t just rarity, it’s more about the fact that it’s simply a great car. Dressed in handsome Serge Blue with black fenders, this is an extremely attractive car from any angle. The restoration is perhaps 20 years old, but it does not seem to have a lot of miles on it, because the paint shines up quite well, there are only very minor signs of use, and it feels tight and secure going down the road. Fisher Body was doing some nice work in 1932, cranking out Chevrolet bodies right alongside Cadillacs, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the doors fit well, the hood slides into place easily, and the whole car has a solid, all-of-a-piece feel. A good portion of that upscale image comes from the chrome hood doors, which were unique to the Deluxe models, as well as the extensive list of accessories that this car wears, including bumpers, a hood ornament, cowl lights, dual side mounts, a trunk rack with trunk, and dual taillights. A bright yellow pinstripe matches the wheels and makes for great contrast, and the various chrome pieces are still in very good condition. The original hood ornament shows some very minor pitting, but things like the radiator shell, bumpers, and light housings are excellent. Older restoration or not, this was an expensive undertaking.

The interior, as with any roadster, is fairly basic, but what is there is nicely done. Brown leatherette was standard equipment, and the materials and patterns used in the restoration are fairly accurate to the original. There’s little wear save for two little punctures in the driver’s seat back, but they’re actually more visible in our photos than in real life—I didn’t see them until I saw the photos. Simple door panels include map pockets and the big chrome handles feel more substantial than those in, say, a comparable Ford. Gauges are arrayed in a center panel and they are all fully operational, and even the accessory clock works like it should thanks to a rebuild in 2016. Rubber mats on the floor are standard equipment on open cars like this, and the controls are arrayed in familiar fashion so it’s easy to feel at home. Even the pop-out ignition switch works like it should, a nice detail. The rumble seat is upholstered in matching materials and looks to have been seldom used, although it’s worth noting that there are aluminum steps on both sides to facilitate entry (we believe steps only on the passenger side would have been original equipment). There’s also a nice-fitting tan canvas top and that unique C-shaped cutout on the top’s quarters is what gives this little Chevy a lot of its big car look. The canvas is in excellent shape, save for one area where the rear window has pulled free of the canvas and the rear window is cracked—both easy fixes.

If you’re a Chevy fan, the overhead valve six-cylinder engine under the hood should look very familiar. It’s the same rugged six that grew up to power Chevy trucks, the first Corvettes, and all manner of family cars for the next few decades. In 1932, it displaced 194 cubic inches and made a fairly robust 60 horsepower (remember that Ford’s new V8 only made 65). It’s also smooth and torquey, with a nice six-cylinder grumble that’s endearing out on the road. It appears to be completely stock under there, without so much as an electric fuel pump, and it runs like it should. A little choke and a little throttle and it springs to life easily and never gets finicky. Corporate gray paint is right, there’s a proper single-barrel downdraft carburetor with oil bath air cleaner, and even the original clamps are in place. Yes, it shows signs of use, but that only proves that it works right and can be driven, and if you want to clean it up, it’ll be an easy task because it’s all just superficial stuff. Mechanically? It’s excellent. If you’ve got the time, you can drive this car to California.

Synchromesh was pretty much standard throughout the industry by 1932, so the 3-speed manual transmission is easy to manage and the ratios are well-chosen to match the engine’s torque curve. It’s reasonably punchy around town and cruises happily at 45-50 MPH without seeming to work too hard. Brakes are still mechanical drums, so pay attention to your stopping distances, but they’re effective for their age and the featherweight roadster feels confident and agile in traffic. The exhaust system has a generic parts-store muffler, so it sounds a little agricultural, but it’s not unpleasant and at speed it’s not obtrusive in the least. Six wire wheels were optional and the 5.25/5.50-18 Denman wide whites really dress it up.

This neat little Chevy offers a lot of virtues and almost no vices. It’s handsome, rugged, fun to drive, and about half the price of a comparable Ford. We like this car a great deal, and we’re sure you’ll enjoy adding it to your collection. Give us a call today!