1930 Chevrolet Series AD Roadster (RHD)

Description

Marketed as ?A Six for the Price of a Four?, Chevrolet's all-new overhead-valve ?stovebolt? motor was introduced in 1929 and would go on to power the majority of the company's cars until the 1950s. Developed in response to the threat posed by Ford's latest Model A, the new Chevrolet's engine displaced 194-cid, developed 46 horsepower at 2600 rpm in its initial form and was fed through a Carter single-barrel carburettor. The 107-inch wheelbase chassis had four-wheel mechanical brakes and a banjo-type back axle, while drive was taken to the rear wheels via a three-speed gear change. The 1929 Chevrolet model line was named the International, with attractive styling shaped under the direction of Harley Earl's Art and Colour Department featuring a revised radiator cowling, bullet-shaped headlamps, wider single-belt mouldings and one-piece crown fenders. Renamed the Universal for 1930, the major change that year was a switch to a non-glare slanting windscreen, while a revised dash featured circular instruments (including an electric fuel gauge in place of the previous tank-mounted float gauge) along with a redesigned triple-spoke steering wheel. Chevrolet offered a more diverse range of bodywork than ever before, with buyers able to choose between roadster, phaeton, coupe, cabriolet or sedan models. Horsepower rose to 50 in 1930, with mechanical changes limited to a new type of manifold and the adoption of hydraulic shock absorbers. The brakes were also improved, with a new internal expanding shoe design, while 19-inch wheels also new. Options included front and rear bumpers, side mounts, a luggage rack and wooden-spoke wheels. As a result of the Stock Market Crash and the first full year of the Great Depression, sales of the 1930 models fell drastically - a total of 864,243 Chevrolets were built, of which around 39,773 came out of Canada and a number of these were earmarked for Australia.