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]
The 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.
The 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.
The 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.
The 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]
All 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) |
The 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 |
The 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 |
The 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 |
The 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) |
This 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]
