1931 Chevrolet Independence

This 1931 Chevrolet AE Independence two-door coupe received an eight-year restoration treatment complete with a fresh two-tone repaint, a replacement LeBaron-Bonney interior, wide whitewall tires, lighting upgrades, and more. Powered by a numbers-matching 194ci inline-6 paired with a 3-speed manual transmission, this Independence has a newer wiring harness and has received annual oil changes and lubrications over the seller’s ten-year ownership. Finished in two-tone maroon and black over a gray cloth interior, this Independence is now offered with the original jack and tools, paint, spare parts, a book of documentation, show awards, and a clear Pennsylvania title in the seller’s name.

The AE Independence launched as a one-year-only model in 1931 replacing the Series AD Universal, riding on the General Motors A-platform with body configurations styled in two-door roadster, coupe, four-door sedan, and tourer layouts. This two-door coupe was owned for over 50 years by the prior owner and has an all-steel body that was stripped and repainted in a two-tone maroon and black color scheme as part of a comprehensive restoration effort over the course of eight years. The car has been garage kept but driven on a regular basis per the seller, having been shown at various events in recent years and receiving a national first prize in 2013 from the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) among various other awards. Features include a radiator rock guard, a quail hood ornament, turn signals, dual-bar bright bumpers, A-pillar-mounted sideview mirrors, a windshield visor, running board step plates, LED taillights, and an added brake lamp in the rear window. A full-sized spare tire is wrapped in a bowtie-branded cover and mounted at the rear.

Steel wire-spoked wheels in light yellow are wrapped in wide whitewall tires with good tread remaining. Braking is handled by four-wheel mechanical drums.

The five-passenger interior is furnished with replacement LeBaron-Bonney gray cloth seating throughout, matched to the door panels with elastic map pockets. The flooring material is black rubber, and the windows and windshield move as designed per the seller.

Instrumentation is housed within an engine-turned bezel on the dash and includes an 80-mph speedometer, a fuel gauge, and a factory coolant temperature gauge which has been disconnected. An aftermarket temperature gauge has been added. The five-digit mechanical odometer reads 39k miles, although true mileage on the chassis is unknown.

The numbers-matching 194ci OHV inline-6 is set up to run on unleaded fuel and features a newer wiring harness connected to the original six-volt electrical system. The powertrain has received annual oil changes and chassis lubrications over the years, and power is fed to the rear wheels via a floor-shifted 3-speed manual transmission.

Photos showing the underside are available in the carousel.

The sale includes the original jack and tools, a book of documentation and reference material, a service manual, extra paint, new chrome door handles, an alemite zerk fitting, AACA awards, Junior, Senior, and second-place Grand National awards, and a second-place Chevy National award. The serial number bears identifiers from the Flint, Michigan assembly facility with chassis number 6766.