Weathered finishes are often worn on classic cars as a point of pride, the same way that a badge of honor might be displayed on a seasoned veteran.
Patina is all the rage — it demonstrates a vehicle’s authentic history in a way that a brand-new paint job can’t convey. We recently talked a little about how and why “intentionally rough” finishes are so popular in the rat rod segment, but the trend extends to all areas of the classic car realm.
The paint job (or rather, the lack thereof) was the first thing that caught my eye about this 1951 Chevrolet two-door displayed at the recent Cave Creek car show in Arizona. The car was surrounded by gleaming hot rods in a Skittles-like array of color combinations, which made it stand out even more.
The Styleline was all about value, and it was marketed for having high quality as well as a low price. Chevrolet advertisements said, “You’ll realize it offers the peak of luxurious low-cost performance.”
Exterior features included chrome brightwork, body side moldings, split windshield, wheel skirts, and side-exit exhaust outlets. Based on the way the exterior was wearing, the car may have originally been light green in color but painted blue later in life.
The closer I looked, the more interesting the car became. While intentionally weathered-looking on the outside, the car had clearly been the recipient of plenty of inside-and-out restoration work.
The cockpit was unique: Check out that plush upholstery, not to mention the AutoMeter aftermarket gauges and banjo-style steering wheel. I can’t decide how I feel about the choice in materials — on one hand, it looks exceptionally comfortable, but on the other hand, it might be a chore to keep clean. “Werewolf” inspiration comes to mind.
The standard engine in a 1951 Styleline was a 216.5ci “Stovebolt” inline-six, but that heart had long since been replaced by a later-model GM V-8 mated to an automatic transmission.
Regardless of whether the weathered (say that five times fast) look is your cup of tea, you have to admit that it makes for an eye-catching conversation piece at any car show. Now I just want to lie down on the front seat and take a nap in that fur!
