Harold’s 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aero

Harold’s first car was a 1948 Chevrolet and as is the case with many, the Chevy and Harold parted ways. Thirty years ago, Harold purchased this 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aero Sedan, simply for no other reason than it was the same model as his first car, and brought it home where it sat in the garage for thirty years.

Harold’s grandson, Corey recalls, “When he first started working on the car a little bit here and there in the garage, I was young. I remember seeing the car when I was little thinking it was the ugliest thing I had ever seen in my entire life. It was two or three different colors. I never really liked it but I always wondered if he was going to do something with it,” said Corey.

After thirty years that “something” started forming after a little inspiration.
“We went to the Goodguys show down in Charlotte a couple years ago and we saw one down there. We kept saying, you need to get that car done,” Corey explained. “He always worries about everybody else and never works on his own stuff. It became a love affair for him. Working on his car again, he’s acts like a little kid now, grinning ear to ear everywhere he goes,” Corey said with a smile as he looked at his Grandfather who was relaxing in the shade behind the Chevy.

Harold had as much help from his son Keith and his grandson Corey as they could offer over the eight-teen months it took to take this Fleetline to the beautiful condition it is in today.
“My father was up there every weekend and I got up there as often as I could and everything I could help with I did.” stated Corey.

“We got it painted; it was almost done,” Corey said. “We had just put all the chrome back on it. We were getting ready to detail it to go to York and my Grandfather was backing it out of the garage. His driveway is a big hook and when he backed it out he swung it too tight and almost ripped the front left fender off the car. We called the painter and told him that if we fix this fender can he paint it for us real quick, and he got it done, he came through for us.”

Harold participated in the National Street Rod Association 5th Richmond Nationals. Looking at the car today, there is no hint of that mis-hap or any other scars the sixty-one year old vehicle may have had. Corey is filled with pride for his grandfather and his accomplishment.

“It doesn’t even look like the same car and honestly it almost brings a tear to my eye.” Corey shares. “The first show we went to was the NSRA show at York. That was the goal to have the car done to go to that. The first time that it had been out of the garage into the sun was to go to that show and of course we had zero miles on it. We trailered it there because we didn’t know if it would break down or if anything would happen.”

After unloading the car at the show is when Corey started to realize the emotion involved with this car. “We got it there and we drove over to the fairgrounds and honestly, it was like chills. It’s one of the feelings you can’t really experience unless your a true car guy to know what that feels like.”

Corey is very proud of his grandfather Harold. “He taught my dad, and my dad taught me. Seeing the man, the myth, my Grandfather, and his car that he always wanted. He had one when he was a teenager, his first car was a ’48, and it’s almost the same color as his first car. It’s immaculate.”

Classics Feature – 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aero Sedan – Harold resides in Catlett, Virginia. Pictures were taken August 29, 2009 at Richmond Raceway Complex during the NSRA National Street Rod Association 5th Richmond Nationals in Richmond, Virginia.