Fleetline

In 1942, Chevrolet introduced a new model that would profoundly affect the make's product range for the rest of the decade. We're referring to the strikingly-trimmed fastback Fleetline Aerosedan, companion to the notchback Fleetline Sportmaster sedan. The Sportmaster, a "four window" sedan, was a more decorated version of 1941's Fleetline sedan, a mid-year introduction to complement the "six window" Sport Sedan.

The fastback coupes were not new at General Motors. Pontiac, Buick, Oldsmobile, even Cadillac had them in 1941. But at Chevrolet something remarkable happened. The Aerosedan quickly became the best-selling 1942 style, even in the war-shortened model year. Pontiac had similar decorative streaks on the Sedan Coupe and four-door sedan, the latter a fastback, but sales volumes were not nearly as high.

With success like that, of course the Fleetlines returned for 1946, but, perhaps because of construction constraints, the Stylemaster Sport Sedan took the sales lead. But in 1947, the Aerosedan was back on top, selling nearly 160,000 cars, almost twice the level of the second place style. In 1948, the Fleetline Aerosedan reached over 211,000 units.

And then Chevy did an odd thing. The Fleetline series was enlarged to include four models, all fastbacks. There were both two- and four-door sedans in upscale Deluxe trim, and a matching pair of stripped Special models. The Fleetline Deluxe two-door remained popular, at 180,251 units, but it was eclipsed by the notchback Styleline Deluxe Sport Sedan, which sold over 191,000. The 1950s models were a modest re-trim of the '49s, and the Fleetline Deluxe two-door again sold well, nearly 190,000, but the notchback four-door surpassed 300,000. This trend continued into 1951, where the Fleetline Deluxe two-door fell to 131,000, the Special four-door barely 3,000, while the Styleline Deluxe four-door nearly hit 400,000. Management sized this up in a hurry, and when the warmed-over '52s arrived there was but one Fleetline, the Deluxe two-door. It sold a paltry 37,164 cars.

Fastback body styles were becoming passe, and all the GM brands had ditched them by 1953. In fact, Chevy had held on the longest. There's no denying, though, that the Fleetline Aerosedans were among the classiest Chevrolets of the 1940s. You don't see them very often, but every once in a while they turn up, sometimes even as a matched pair.