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1938 Chevrolet Master

$29,997

1938 Chevrolet Master

Vehicle Details

Make

Chevrolet

Model

Master

Year

1938

Mileage

6,234 miles

VIN

14HB0616256

Body Type

Coupe

Transmission

Manual

Engine

216.5ci Stovebolt Six

Description

1938 Chevrolet Master Business Coupe — Rust-Free Survivor with Factory-Correct Restoration and Period Accessories Why This Car Is Special The 1938 Chevrolet Master Business Coupe is not a car you see at every show. It was the no-frills workhorse of the Master series lineup — no rear seat in the standard configuration, more trunk space, and a price point that made it accessible to small business owners and tradesmen during the tail end of the Great Depression. Chevrolet built the 1938 Master series on a longer 112.3-inch wheelbase than its cheaper Master 85 sibling, and the body was penned under the direction of GM's Art and Colour Section with input from Harley Earl's team.

The result was some of the most cohesive pre-war American styling ever put into production — a fully integrated pontoon fender design, a waterfall grille with vertical chrome bars, and a roofline that flowed rearward in a single smooth arc. What separates this particular 1938 Chevrolet Master Business Coupe from the ones you occasionally see at shows is simple: the metal is real. There is no filler anywhere on this car.

The body panels are straight because they were never seriously damaged and because someone cared enough to restore this car correctly around 2010 rather than skim over problems with plastic filler and a spray gun. The undercarriage photographs confirm this — the floor pans, frame rails, and body seams are clean, tight, and show no evidence of patch panels or hidden damage. For a pre-war car that has spent time in the southeastern United States, that is genuinely significant.

The exterior is finished in factory-correct Woodleaf Brown, Paint Code 229 — a warm, medium-depth brown with subtle bronze undertones that was available on 1938 Chevrolet models and pairs naturally with the tan interior. This is not a common color choice on restored pre-war Chevrolets, which makes this car stand out at shows where black and two-tone combinations dominate the field. Features - Body by Fisher, as factory-correct - Rust-free body — no filler anywhere on the car - Restored approximately 2010 in factory-correct Woodleaf Brown (Paint Code 229) - 85hp 216.5ci Stovebolt Six inline OHV engine - Floor-shift 3-speed manual transmission - Converted to 12-volt electrical system - Accessory banjo steering wheel - Factory AM radio - Dual amber accessory fog lights - Driver's side accessory spotlight - Dual accessory trumpet horns - Firestone whitewall tires - Chrome Chevrolet hubcaps - Running boards - 4-wheel hydraulic drum brakes - Leaf spring suspension front and rear - Tan leather interior - Suitable as both a driver and a show car Mechanical Power comes from Chevrolet's 216.5 cubic inch inline six-cylinder engine — the engine enthusiasts have always called the Stovebolt Six, a nickname earned from the slotted bolts used on the valve cover.

This OHV engine displaced 216.5 cubic inches and produced 85 horsepower in 1938 trim, which was a meaningful number for a car of this size and weight in that era. The Stovebolt had already earned a reputation for reliability long before 1938, and Chevrolet continued refining it through the late 1940s and into the 1950s. Parts availability remains good, and the engine's mechanical simplicity means a competent shop can work on it without specialized equipment.

The 3-speed manual transmission is operated through a floor-mounted shifter, which is correct for the Business Coupe configuration. The electrical system has been converted from the original 6-volt setup to a modern 12-volt system — a practical upgrade that eliminates the chronic voltage drop issues that plague 6-volt cars when running accessories, particularly the radio and the multiple period accessory lights on this car. The conversion allows this 1938 Chevrolet Master Business Coupe to be driven regularly without the electrical frustrations that come with original 6-volt wiring on an 87-year-old car.

Underneath, the car uses leaf spring suspension at both

Chevrolet Master Buyer's Guide

Full guide
J
Jim Vasquez
Hot Rods
1933–1942
~3 min read
Updated Apr 2026
The Chevrolet Master was the larger, more powerful car in Chevrolet's pre-war lineup — a genuine full-size car with a six-cylinder engine that proved almost impossibly reliable and a body design that influenced American styling through the entire 1930s.
This guide covers
✓ 8-point inspection checklist
✓ Common issues & what to avoid
✓ In-person inspection guide
✓ Market pricing by year & condition
✓ 4 FAQs answered
✓ History & fun facts

Chevrolet Master Market Overview

Based on 63 Chevrolet Master listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

63
Listed Now
$34,275
Avg. Asking Price
1923–1946
Year Range
Price Position on Our Site — Average Range
This car: $29,997
Low: $5,195 High: $89,995
Transmission Distribution
Automatic 40%
Manual 24% ◄
Condition Distribution
Excellent 8%
Good 8%
Fair 5%
Poor 2%
Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 63 listings →
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Chevrolet Master Buyer's Guide

Jim Vasquez here. People forget that Chevrolet was the best-selling car in America for most of the 1930s — not Ford, not Plymouth. The reason was the Master series. It was a bigger, more refined car than the Standard series, powered by the "Stovebolt Six" that became legendary for its longevity, and styled with a care that made Chevrolet buyers feel they were getting something above their price point.

The Master is the foundation of pre-war Chevrolet collecting. The later Master Deluxe got most of the attention, but the base Master that ran through the early part of the decade has a purity and honesty to it that later chrome-laden models lack. These are cars from before planned obsolescence, built to last because that's what buyers expected.

What to Check Before Buying

✓
Wood Framework Condition — Check door and body alignment — misalignment often means underlying wood framing has rotted.
✓
Door Skin Rust — Probe lower door skins carefully — rust hides behind the wood framing and spreads unseen.
✓
Sill Area — Inspect sill and rocker areas for rust perforation — water collects here when seals fail.
✓
Stovebolt Six Condition — Cold start and watch for blue smoke — valve seal wear causes oil consumption but is manageable.
✓
Brake System — Identify whether cable or hydraulic brakes — hydraulic cars (1936+) are safer and easier to maintain.
✓
Rumble Seat (if equipped) — Test rumble seat mechanism for smooth operation — rust at hinges and latch is common.
✓
Glass Completeness — Check all glass — curved pre-war glass is difficult and expensive to source.
✓
Hood Alignment — Verify hood aligns evenly — misalignment can indicate previous collision or wood framework movement.

Common Issues

Wood body framing rot in doors and roof structure — the most expensive pre-war repair when severe. Lower door skin rust behind the wood framing. Stovebolt Six oil consumption from worn valve stem seals — extremely common on unrestored engines. Hydraulic brake system deterioration on 1936–1942 cars. Rumble seat mechanism rust and failure on equipped coupes. Correct trim glass reproduction quality varies.

What to Look For

Inspect the wooden body elements — pre-war Chevrolet bodies used wood framing in the doors and roof structure that rots when water intrudes. Check door and body alignment carefully; misalignment often means the underlying wood framework has deteriorated. Probe lower door skins and the sill area for rust. Verify the Stovebolt Six starts reliably and doesn't smoke excessively. Check the hydraulic brake system (introduced 1936 — earlier cars have mechanical brakes). On coupe body styles, verify the rumble seat mechanism works smoothly if present.

Price Guide

1933–1935 Master sedan: $8,000–$18,000. 1936–1938 Master coupe: $12,000–$25,000. 1936–1938 Master sport coupe/rumble seat: $18,000–$35,000. 1939–1942 Master sedan: $10,000–$22,000. Cabriolet convertibles: add 30–50% premium. Custom/show builds: $20,000–$80,000+ depending on quality.

Did You Know?

Chevrolet was the best-selling car brand in America for most of the 1930s, and the Master series was the primary reason — it was the sweet spot of price, quality, and reliability at a time when those things mattered enormously to depression-era buyers. The "Stovebolt Six" nickname came from the distinctive slotted bolts visible through the valve cover. The Stovebolt was so reliable that the US Army used it in military vehicles throughout World War II, and Chevrolet trucks with variants of this engine were still in production in 1963.

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