The Chevrolet Master and Master Deluxe are American passenger vehicles manufactured by Chevrolet between 1933 and 1942 to replace the 1933 Master Eagle. It was the most expensive model in the Chevrolet range at this time, with the Standard Mercury providing an affordable product between 1933 and 1937.[1] Starting with this generation, all GM cars shared a corporate appearance as a result of the Art and Color Section headed by Harley Earl.[1] From 1940 a more expensive version based on the Master Deluxe was launched called the Special Deluxe. The updated corporate appearance introduced a concealed radiator behind a façade with a grille.
This was the last Chevrolet that was exported to Japan in knock down kits and assembled at the company's factory in Osaka, Japan before the factory was appropriated by the Imperial Japanese Government. When Toyota decided to develop their own sedan called the Toyota AA, a locally manufactured Master was disassembled and examined to determine how Toyota should engineer their own cars.[2][3] In May 1925 the Chevrolet Export Boxing plant at Bloomfield, New Jersey was repurposed from a previous owner where Knock-down kits for Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac passenger cars, and both Chevrolet and G. M. C. truck parts are crated and shipped by railroad to the docks at Weehawken, New Jersey for overseas GM assembly factories.[1]
Model years
editThe Master name was used on a number of different versions, and the Series name changed each year. A four door open top convertible was no longer offered starting in 1933.
1933 (Series CA)
editThe 1933 Series CA began production as the "Eagle", but was renamed "Master" midway through the model year when the 1933 Standard model (Series CC) was introduced. Several changes were made to the Eagle when the name was changed to Master. The easiest to distinguishing feature is the post between the front door wing windows and the roll down windows: on the Eagle the chrome divider between these two windows goes down as the window goes down, whereas on the Master this divider remains fixed and does not go down with the window.
1934 (Series DA)
editThe Series DA Master offered an increased wheelbase of 112 in (2,844.8 mm). This increased the difference with the cheaper Standard wheelbase to 5 in (127.0 mm). Powered by an upgraded version of the 206 cu in (3,380 cc) "Stovebolt" six-cylinder engine, now producing 80 hp (60 kW). The independent front suspension was something GM called "Knee-Action" using trailing arms and coil springs.
1935 (Series EA and ED)
editThe Master underwent a redesign, utilising a new "Turret Top" construction method. This consisted of steel used entirely in the body construction to include the roof and wood was no longer used in bodywork or chassis construction.[4]
1936 (Series FA and FD)
editAll Chevrolet took on an upgraded streamlined appearance as Chevrolet sought to take on a new and modern appearance called Art Deco, and the bodies were shared with the Pontiac Deluxe.
| Body Styles[5] | Standard: 4dr Sedan, 4dr Sport Sedan, 2dr Coach, 2dr Town Sedan, 2dr Coupe (5w)
Master Deluxe: 4dr Sedan, 4dr Sport Sedan, 2dr Coach, 2dr Town Sedan, 2dr Coupe (5w), 2dr Sport Coupe-4p (3w), |
| Powertrain[6] | Engine: Valve in head, 79 hp, Six Cylinders, 3.3125" bore x 4" Stroke, Carter single down-draft carburettor
Transmission: 3 speed manual, Constant-Mesh, floor-shifted, |
| Dimensions | Wheelbase: 109 in (Standard), 113 in (Master Deluxe) |
1937 (Series GA and GB)
editThe Master now replaced the lower priced Standard Six, while the higher equipment Master Deluxe edged the range upwards. While external differentiation was limited to trim and equipment, the Master Deluxe introduced independent front suspension while the Master retained a beam front axle on leaf springs.
| Body Styles[7] | Master: 4dr Sedan, 4dr Sport Sedan, 2dr Coach, 2dr Town Sedan, 2dr Business Coupe, 2dr Cabriolet-4p
Master Deluxe: 4dr Sedan, 4dr Sport Sedan, 2dr Coach, 2dr Town Sedan, 2dr Business Coupe, 2dr Sport Coupe-4p, |
| Powertrain | Engine: Valve in head, 85 hp, Six Cylinders, 3.5" bore x 3.75" Stroke, Carter single down-draft carburettor
Transmission: 3 speed manual, Syncro-Mesh, floor-shifted, Silent second speed. |
| Dimensions | Wheelbase: 112.25 in |
1938 (series HA and HB)
editThe Master (HB) and Master Deluxe (HA) sold well, with 162,430 and 302,728 respectively.[8]
| Body Styles[9] | Master: 4dr Sedan, 4dr Sport Sedan, 2dr Coach, 2dr Town Sedan, 2dr Business Coupe, 2dr Cabriolet-4p
Master Deluxe: 4dr Sedan, 4dr Sport Sedan, 2dr Coach, 2dr Town Sedan, 2dr Business Coupe, 2dr Sport Coupe-4p, |
| Powertrain | Engine: Valve in head, 85 hp, Six Cylinders, 3.5" bore x 3.75" Stroke, Carter single down-draft carburettor
Transmission: 3 speed manual, Syncro-Mesh, floor-shifted, Silent second speed. |
| Dimensions | Wheelbase: 112.25 in |
1939 (series JA and JB)
editThe Master returned for 1939. The Master Deluxe was now the JA, while the base model was renamed the Master 85 (JB). A station wagon was first offered, though its construction had been contracted to Mid States Body Corp.[10]
| Body Styles[11] | Master 85: 4dr Sport Sedan, 2dr Coach, 2dr Business Coupe, Station Wagon
Master Deluxe: 4dr Sport Sedan, 2dr Coach, 2dr Business Coupe, 2dr Four-Passenger Coupe, Station Wagon |
| Powertrain | Engine: Valve in head, 85 hp, Six Cylinders, 3.5" bore x 3.75" Stroke, Carter single down-draft carburettor
Transmission: 3 speed manual, Syncro-Mesh, floor-shifted, vacuum-assisted column-shift optional |
| Dimensions | Wheelbase: 112.25 in |
1940 (series KA and KB)
editThe Master continued to be available in Master 85 (KB) as well as the more upscale "Master Deluxe" model (KA). The even better equipped "Special Deluxe" also appeared for the 1940 model year.
| Body Styles[12] | Master 85: 4dr Sport Sedan, 2dr Town Sedan, 2dr Business Coupe, Station Wagon
Master Deluxe: 4dr Sport Sedan, 2dr Town Sedan, 2dr Business Coupe, 2dr Four-Passenger Coupe Special Deluxe: 4dr Sport Sedan, 2dr Town Sedan, 2dr Business Coupe, 2dr Four-Passenger Coupe, Cabriolet, Station Wagon |
| Powertrain | Engine: Valve in head, 84.5 hp, Six Cylinders, 3.5" bore x 3.75" Stroke, Carter single down-draft carburettor
Transmission: 3 speed manual, Syncro-Mesh, column-shifted |
| Dimensions | Wheelbase: 113 in
Overall Length: 192.25 in (including bumpers) |
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1933 Chevrolet CA sedan
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1934 Master Sedan
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1935 Master Sedan
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1936 Chevrolet sedan
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1937 Master Deluxe
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1938 Chevrolet Master Deluxe sedan
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1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Town Sedan
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1941 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Coupe
Trucks and buses
editThis was the last series of trucks and medium-duty vehicles that shared an appearance with Chevrolet passenger coupes and sedans, and were replaced with the AK Series trucks. The first truck body style was introduced in 1918 as the Chevrolet Series 490 using the same approach used by the Ford Model TT. Each year a Chevrolet Series was introduced, the chassis was also available with a cargo bed body style.[13]
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1937 Chevrolet CG chassis-cowl with third-party van body.
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1940 GMC Truck with factory cab.
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1930s Chevrolet Commercial truck with third-party cab.
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Chevrolet Carryall Suburban
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1939 Chevrolet bus
See also
edit- 1937 Cadillac Series 70
- 1937 LaSalle Series 37-50
- 1937 Oldsmobile L-Series
- 1937 Buick Series 80
- 1937 Pontiac
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Kimes, Beverly (1996). Standard catalog of American Cars 1805–1942 (third ed.). Krause publications. pp. 283–302. ISBN 0-87341-478-0.
- ^ Sapienza, James Derek (2017-03-20). "Toyota AA: Meet the World's Oldest Toyota". Autos Cheat Sheet. Archived from the original on 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
- ^ Mason, Mark (September 2, 1992). American Multinationals and Japan: The Political Economy of Japanese Capital Controls, 1899-1980. Harvard Univ Asia Center. ISBN 9780674026308. Retrieved September 2, 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ Gunnell, John (18 November 2011). Standard Catalog of Chevrolet, 1912-2003: 90 Years of History. Krause Publications. ISBN 9781440230516.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "The Old Car Manual Project Brochure Collection". oldcarbrochures.org. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ "The Old Car Manual Project Brochure Collection". oldcarbrochures.org. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ "The Old Car Manual Project Brochure Collection". oldcarbrochures.org. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ "1938 Chevrolet Master and Master DeLuxe". How Stuff Works. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ "The Old Car Manual Project Brochure Collection". oldcarbrochures.org. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ Odin, L.C. World in Motion 1939, The whole of the year's automobile production. Belvedere Publishing, 2015. ASIN: B00ZLN91ZG.
- ^ "Hot Cars". www.lov2xlr8.no. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "1940 Chevrolet". www.lov2xlr8.no.
- ^ "The first Chevrolet Truck". Live About.com. Dotdash. Retrieved 18 May 2021.