1929 Chevrolet International tourer Stovebolt Special
In Australia, automotive rivalry was - up until a couple of years ago – defined by Ford versus Holden. In America, it’s pretty much always been Ford versus Chevrolet. The battle lines over there now aren’t as clearly defined as they used to be, but go back 90-odd years and the rivalry between Ford and Chevy was very, very real.
Fighting the Giant
It’s an automotive icon today, but for the first decade of its existence, Chevrolet was just another car brand in the US. Founded in late 1911, Chevrolet was outsold by the likes of Studebaker, Dodge, Buick and Willys-Overland in its early years, as well as now-forgotten marques like Maxwell and REO.
Chevrolet didn’t really gain traction until the 1920s, but even then, it was a long way behind Ford. The behemoth in the American market back then (and to a lesser extent globally) was the Ford Model T. For example, Ford produced more than 1.8 million vehicles in 1923, mostly Model Ts, while next-best Chevrolet built just over 320,000.
As the 1920s progressed, so too did the automotive industry, except at Ford. Other marques were exploring new mechanical innovations and adding conscious styling touches to their cars, but Henry Ford was dogged in producing the Model T that was mostly unchanged from when it debuted in 1908.
The trigger point came in 1927, when Ford finally yielded to the demands of those around him to introduce a new model. The Model T’s replacement, the Model A, would go on to become an automotive icon in its own right, but Ford’s decision to shut down production across all their factories so they could be tooled up for the new model gave his rivals an opportunity that wouldn’t appear again.
Chevrolet was best-placed to capitalise on this and duly did so, turning a production run of 547,000 in 1926 to more than a million in 1927. The good times continued into 1928 with another million-plus year but Ford was gaining and Chevrolet knew they would need to innovative to keep the Model A at bay. That innovation came in 1929.
Arrival of the Six
For much of its early history, Chevrolet had used a four-cylinder engine. Of course, sixes were around from several other brands, and Chev themselves had offered one up to 1915, but the decision to discontinue the four and make a six-cylinder engine standard on all Chevs for 1929 was something of a risk. Chevrolet had been burnt before with such decisions, namely their ‘copper-cooled’ engine of 1923 which was actually air-cooled and something of a disaster that damaged the brand’s perception in the minds of consumers.
The Chevrolet six-cylinder engine that debuted for 1929 was an overhead valve design of 194 cubic inches in capacity, with sold lifters, cast iron pistons, a cast iron block and three main bearings when most other sixes of the period used four or more. The latter feature, along with splash lubrication instead of a pressure system, kept the price down, which was the driving force in developing the engine.
Fed by a single-barrel carburettor, the engine produced 46hp, which was 11hp more than Chev’s four-cylinder of 1928. Chevrolet called it the “Cast Iron Wonder”, which made it sound more advanced than it actually was. Essentially, it was an advancement of their existing four, but the concept of a six in a low-priced car was virtually unheard of back then.
Previously, sixes had been the domain of middle- and upper-level automobiles, not the mass-market arena that Chevrolet occupied. The “Six for the price of a Four” advertising slogan used by Chevrolet at the time wasn’t hyperbole, either, as pricing increased only marginally with the introduction of the new engine. Crucially for Chevrolet and their aim to be number one, pricing for the new six-cylinder was also only fractionally more than the equivalent Ford Model A with its four-cylinder engine.
Cheap, with reasonable power and strong reliability, it didn’t take long for the Chevrolet six to gain favour. It also gained its own nickname, “Stovebolt Six”, due the resemblance of the slot-head bolts on the pushrod covers and oil pan to those used on kitchen cookers of the era.
And while the stovebolt name only really applies to engines built up to 1937, it’s been used to describe all Chevy sixes right up to the 1960s. As a sidenote to this, automotive legend has it that the Chevy six engine was so good, it led Henry Ford to rush development of the flathead V8 engine that was introduced in 1932.
Chevs Down Under
By the time the car featured here was built, Chevrolet had become one of Australia’s most popular cars, with a good presence in the market. After the Depression stunted sales, that presence would grow in the 1930s, but of course, the introduction of the Holden in 1948 would see Chevrolets slowly fade from the Australian new car market in the 1950s and ’60s.
This car, a 1929 Chevrolet AC Series International, to give it its full title, came to our attention when owner Stuart Bowes advertised it in JUST CARS last September. Stuart had purchased it almost a decade previously, and it was an unusual buy for the South Australia-based professional photographer, as his automotive history doesn’t include anything of this vintage.
“I have a Mercedes 450SLC rally car, an ex-works TTE Group A Celica GT-Four rally car that was driven by Freddy Loix, another ex-works Ralliart Group A Mitsubishi Galant VR4 previously used by Ross Dunkerton, an ST185 Toyota Celica GT4 Group A ‘Carlos Sainz’ edition, an ST205 Toyota Celica GT-Four Group A and a Mitsubishi Galant VR4,” Stuart said.
The obvious rally fan laughed when we pointed out this back catalogue doesn’t exactly match up with a vintage Chev: “With its white body, black guards and wooden wheels, it looked like the quintessential vintage car that I was searching for at the time. That’s why I bought it.”
Stuart added that his search had been going on for more than 12 months before he spotted this Chev, advertised with Rainsford’s Classic Cars, back in August, 2009
“I had bid for a Model A Ford at a Shannon’s auction in Sydney and missed out,” Stuart explained. “But that car was in concours condition and I would probably have never driven it.”
The ideal “driving car” Stuart was looking for, the Chev was in good nick as bought, but a few features on it were odd, mainly the white-over-black paint, which is unusual for Chevrolets of this era and certainly wasn’t a colour option available when the ’29 Chev was released locally.
Garry Rainsford recalled the car when we spoke to him about it and said it came to his showroom as an ex-hire car that had been used for weddings in the 1990s. This explains the white body and the car’s very good appearance overall – white is the default bridal colour and no bride wants to be in a manky classic!
Given the quantity of stock that’s passed through Rainsford’s Classic Cars in the past decade, Garry understandably couldn’t remember much more about the car, but we’d be intrigued to find out its history. Research by JUST CARS couldn’t identify any South Australian hire firms using the car in the ’90s, so it’s possible it came to SA from interstate. If any readers recall this car and can fill in the blanks of its story prior to 2009, we’d love to hear from you.
While we don’t know all the facts of this car’s past, we can speculate that it may have been a South Australian car for much of its life, as vintage and veteran cars seem to survive there for longer and in greater quantities than other states.
The tourer body would have most likely been locally-produced by Holden’s Motor Body Builders, who had an exclusive contract with General Motors Australia from 1926, but the absence of the signature Holden builders plate anywhere on the body makes this impossible to verify.
Of course, there’s the possibility that this car has been reskinned, or even completely rebodied during a restoration, maybe to prepare it for that wedding hire use. A restoration, or at least a comprehensive refurbishment, is one thing we are sure of in this car’s back story, as it’s in too good a condition not to have had major work done at some point in its past.
Rebuild and a Birdwood Farewell
As mentioned, Stuart brought the Chev in very good condition, but he treated it to a number of repairs and refurbishments in the years that followed. “During my ownership, the car’s had a full engine rebuild, the radiator’s been reconditioned, a new sealed bearing water pump fitted and new steel outer rims for the wheels, along with new tyres and wheel studs,” Stuart explained.
The body has needed no work, but a few years of bridal tulle and tuxedoed backsides left the interior looking a little tired, so Stuart had a complete new interior fitted by Spencer Motor Trimmers, whom he describes as Adelaide’s premier vintage motor trimmers. Spencer Motor Trimmers also fabricated an all-new hood and side curtains, while Stuart sourced a new windscreen.
The Chev was already sweet to drive, but Stuart said the engine rebuild made it even better. “It easily cruises along at 60-80kph, with loads of torque from the 6 cylinder engine, while the 6 volt starting is better than you’d think, as are the 4 wheel mechanical brakes.
“It’s lovely to drive and reminds you just how simple the world once was - with no central locking, no cruise control, no radio and no Bluetooth phone connection to drive you crazy!” Stuart laughed.
But, as lovely as the car was to drive, Stuart confessed he simply hasn’t had enough time to drive and properly enjoy the car as it deserves, hence his decision to sell. But before he did, Stuart took the Chev on last year’s Bay to Birdwood Run; a drive that should be on the bucket list for every classic and vintage car owner.
The Bay to Birdwood was something I said I would never do - too many old guys in old cars, but almost 10 years later I’m one of those old guys!” Stuart laughed. “So I thought ‘Why not?’ and it turned out to be a wonderful morning. We easily kept ahead of the pack with a good starting position and had a nice clean run.”
With no adjustment in the Chev’s seat, Stuart said the hour’s run out to Birdwood is about all he could manage without needing a break and a stretch, but on short hops it’s a delight to drive.
Given the Chev’s outstanding condition, it’s little wonder he sold it soon after listing it for sale with JUST CARS. And while this car’s past is unknown, it’s future could be just as intriguing, as Stuart said the purchaser was an Aussie living in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Whether the car will be heading north is uncertain, but if it does, were sure it’ll make just as good an impression there as it’s done here.
Words: Mike Ryan Photos: Stuart Bowes
