This 1939 Chevrolet Master 85 business coupe was refurbished and modified between 2000 and 2005 after the body was reportedly located at a storage facility in the late 1990s. The build incorporated a 350ci Chevrolet V8, a three-speed automatic transmission, a 1970s Camaro front subframe, an S10 rear axle, power steering, power-assisted front disc brakes, fiberglass rear fenders and running boards, and 14″ Chevrolet Rally wheels. Finished in gray over a gray interior, the car is further equipped with power windows, a Kenwood stereo, a tilt column, an aftermarket heater, and a trunk-mounted battery. Inherited by the seller in 2024, this Master 85 business coupe is now offered with refurbishment photos, receipts, and a New Mexico title in the seller’s name.
According to the seller, the body was stripped to bare metal and refinished in gray during the refurbishment. Fiberglass rear fenders and running boards have been fitted, and the trunk has been smoothed and the hood ornament was removed. Fluted bumpers have been fitted front and rear, and paint imperfections are noted.
A 1970s Camaro front subframe was welded to the original frame during the build and incorporates an independent short/long-arm suspension with coil springs, upper and lower control arms, shock absorbers, and a front anti-roll bar. The rear retains a leaf-spring arrangement. The car is equipped with power steering as well as power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes.
Chevrolet Rally wheels measure 14″ and are mounted with Big O Legacy Tour Plus tires measuring 185/70 up front and 215/70 at the rear.
The cabin features gray cloth bucket seats along with a custom center console with cupholders. Additional appointments include power windows, seatbelts, a Kenwood stereo, an aftermarket heater, a glovebox, and a painted metal dashboard. The door panels are acrylic, and a headliner has not been installed. The seller notes that the vent windows do not open, and the battery and its enclosure are mounted in the trunk.
A three-spoke aluminum steering wheel is mounted to a Flaming River steering column and fronts a 100-mph speedometer and aftermarket instrumentation. A Super Pro 8k-rpm tachometer is also fitted. The five-digit odometer shows 14k miles, thought total mileage is unknown.
The 350ci Chevrolet small-block V8 is equipped with a polished aluminum four-barrel intake manifold, a Holley 650-cfm four-barrel carburetor, Cal Custom finned aluminum valve covers, Hooker Super Competition headers, and an aluminum radiator with an electric cooling fan. A custom firewall was incorporated during the build. The seller states that oil changes have been performed approximately every 3k miles since the car was returned to the road in 2005, although records for the oil changes are not available. The seller also notes that the carburetor is not currently jetted for operation at high elevation.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission and a Chevrolet S10 rear axle.
Printed photographs documenting the car from the time it was located through completion of the refurbishment are included in the sale along with a binder of receipts.
The car is titled as a 1939 Chevrolet using VIN SJA0420816. The VIN stamping is shown above, and an Affidavit of VIN is pictured below. A replacement, unstamped VIN plate is included but not mounted. The title lists the odometer reading as 0 and Exempt.