1950-1954 Chevs, which would you choose and why?

Which year out of the 1950-1954 Chev's would you choose to build a custom car out of and why? Just by looks or are there other advantages between the different years, like parts availabilities or better suited to modifications?

 

1954 as i was born that year, would be a traditional hot rod not a custom

 

50-52 cause the look better. Plus you might score a Fleetline. But the 53-54 grille is keen.

 

I've had both and I'd say aside from looks they are about equal in regards to parts availability and difficulty to modify.

I like the 54 grille and front bumper, nothing in those years comes close. My ideal car from this group would be a hybrid, 49-50 fleetline with 54 front end. Yeah.

Also, you are more likely to run into a 53-54 with a running 235 that you could drive around for a bit and still have a little resale value on the motor. The general consensus on the 216s (49-52) is that they are boat anchors due to the lack of an oil pump.

 

I found my 53 randomly but now after looking at all of them I think the 53 grille is the shit for kustomizing. I took the teeth out just to see how it looked a couple years ago and they might stay out. The kool part about the 53 is it has a natural "fishmouth" around the grille that most of us on here love or at least we've all seen done on early kustoms. But you can't beat 54 tail lights....mmmmmboyyyy.......I did put those on my 53. way prettier than the 53 light...

 

I scored my '51 after years of research and thought. Well, it was more like an hour. Okay, 15 minutes.

If I had done my research, I may not have bought it. This thing does NOT want to be built. Don't know why, it's just a slow slow road. LOTS of fabrication, not a lot of aftermarket stuff (like a 40's ford or a '55/6/7 chevy). Lots of scrounging. Lots of swap meets.

Still, I love the look. For a hotrod, or a very mild custom.

 

each has its pros. but I like the look of the 53 grills with extra teeth but using 54 taillights (lee lenses) if it is a hardtop. I like the 49-50 coupes if you plan to chop

 

I got a '51. Not quite the aftermarket I thought there was gonna be but that's half the fun of owning something isn't it? Finding that one part that's impossible to locate.

Also, my fiance freaking loves it. Lol.

 

53 or 54 . owned three53 s and one 54. like the 53 grille and 54 tailights with lee lenses.

 

If you''re doing a full on build, it's a matter of taste.
I would consider body style more important than year.

If you're keeping it relatively stock, there were some slight improvements over the years.
In 1951, the brakes were upgraded, from Huck style to Bendix.
In 1953, the 4:11 gears in straight drive cars were replaced with more highway friendly 3:70's gears.
Most importantly, as has been mentioned fully pressurized oiling systems were introduced to Powerglide equipped cars in 1953, and in all 1954's..

I own both a '49 Fleetline and a '50 coupe, both with souped up 216 motors.
Finding speed parts has been challenging, and that has made it fun. The '49, BTW, wears '53 grille teeth.

 

They did use the early oil slinger system on the 235 into 53 on the stick cars. That's what came with my 53. 54 motor lives there now..

 

If you are going to build a full custom, I think the 50-52 fastback would lend itself better to that genre. The 53-54s are too boxy unless you chop the top and lay it down pretty good in the back. If going custom, the aftermarket availability of parts is a moot point.
My 2¢

 

The 49-50 has it!!!

 

You forgot the '49.

Looks-wise, I agree. the '49/'52 has a smoother, less boxy look than the '53/'54, and the '49/'50 is even smoother looking than the '51/'52. It's mostly to do with the rear fenders. The rear portion of the '49/'50 rear fenders has more of a slope than the '51/'52...more french curve-like.

 

My vote is the 52... here is my 54 parked next to my 52. I like the 54, but I think the 52 has better lines. Just my 2 cents though.

 

53 because of the grill, but put 54 taillights on it with the red molded lens.

 

I have a '49 Coupe, in the past a '50 2-door, '51 2-door, (all Stylelines) and a 53 Hardtop - would choose a '54 Hardtop today, just like the looks...

 

Choose the one you can afford, they are all great cars to begin with. I chose the 54 because it was in our group of friends for years and I had always wanted it anyway. A deal was made and its almost drivable now.

 

Honestly love them all but would choose a '54 hardtop as a mild custom!

 

I wanted a car as old as me, and it had to be a Business Coupe of 1951 vintage. I bought it right here off the HAMB classifieds, but have since given the car to my nephew; along with the mild 350, beefed Powerglide transmission, 56 vintage, 4.88 Positraction rear end, the big and little Cragar S/S wheels, and the list goes on and on. It's got a Street Gasser look to it. We built it mostly with what I had on hand, the nephew bought the new bucket seats from Amazon.Com, and the chrome engine dress-up kit from PEP Boys. I don't have a son, and my nephew's always been close to his "favorite uncle" (can't figure why on that one???); that's why I gave him the project. Needs body work-paint, and the interior finished, but mechanically, everything is new or rebuilt. So, definitely a hot rod-drag car 1951 Chevrolet Business Coupe, AKA, The Chicken Coupe. Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

How about a 51 Coupe with a 53 grill shell, 54 Vette teeth, and 54 rear quarters. The best of all.

 

1954, when I started rodding again after retiring I had 54 Chev sedan delivery. I got it for a great price and all the work was done. It was bright yellow, chopped 6" & windows were 7" high, made wife very claustrophobic. 59 Plymouth tailights mounted vertically, Buick Grand Nat'l turbo V6 drivetrain. 79 Monte Carlo instrument cluster. Sadly it caught fire & got totaled but that allowed me to buy a 40 Ford like the one I had in 1972.

 

I like them all

 

I gotta say a 52 coupe. The coupes look reeaaly good chopped and slammed And I like the rear quarters for the 51-52 cars if its going to be bagged. But I'm happy with my 49 moor door c-Dan

 

Man that chopped 4 door looks sharp.. Tempting..

 

All a matter of taste...I've seen 'em done a hundred different ways and whatever floats your boat is the best way...'54 is my favorite

 

I like the 49 because it was the first all new model since the end of WWII

 

51 chevy delux because it looks kool with a chopped top all the 49 50 51 mercs have every idea done to them those old chevys have endless potensHAL AND MY 51 ONLY COST 150 DOLLARS LOVE THE TRUNK AND HOOD

 

54 Chevy 210.

 

My '50 Sedan Delivery found me through Craigslist. It was a deal I couldn't pass up. It was a one owner in need of a drive train and I had a nailhead and sp400 that needed a home.