Sedan







    A "Sedan Chair" in the 1800s was considered the posh ride for those aristocrats with many slaves (or poorly paid servants).  The Coach was considered a rough ride for common folk.  In the teens there were low priced Roadsters which had the luxury of doors and windshield not available on runabouts of a decade earlier.  The touring car offered seating for 4 to 5 at a price slightly higher than the Roadster.  A fabric top was available to shield occupants from the sun.  With side curtains, it afforded minor protection from the rain but you still got  wet.  In 1916, Chevrolet offered a ridged top touring car called the "All-Season Car".   It did not have roll up windows.
    In 1918 Chevrolet offered a 2 door sedan for the 490 and FA (pictured).  It had the left door in front for the driver and the front opening (suicide) right door in the center.

    In 1919 the FA was available in 4 door sedan.     On the 490  in 1921 both doors were in the center.  In 1922 the 490 had 4 doors like the FB.
    The touring out sold the sedans by a wide margin for 2 reasons.  The sedans cost twice as much as a Touring,  and with plate glass in all the windows on bumpy roads with rough suspension, glass shards would break off and pierce the occupants occasionally.
    Enter the Essex in the mid 20s with a Coach for the price of a Touring.  The other auto makers quickly followed Hudson's lead. With a roof as a structural member on metal cars and no top mechanism to manufacture, the closed cars became cheaper than the open in the early 30s.  Mid 30s saw the invention of safety glass and by 39 Fisher bodied Chevrolets made in USA did not offer an open car.  1939 only, all GM Fisher bodied cars were available with a sun roof option.
    This was the most popular model in all it's variations.  Below are some production figures:

                  Sedan (flat back)                   Sport Sedan (bustle back)
. 
Deluxe:        #1009 = 2221, 3055 lbs., $660;    #1019 = 144110, 3080 lbs., $685;
Standard:      #1209 = 2755, 2965 lbs., $595;     #1219 = 43240, 3005 lbs., $620;

  
Holden Sedan:  Dlx = 2690, Std = 5762

    The Holden Sedan body was used on Buicks and other cars so it was a bit up class from the Sloper.  Most notable difference from the Fisher sedan is the split rear window.   It was still the best selling 37 Chevrolet in Australia.
 
 

Vanity

      In 1938 my father bought a new 37 Deluxe sedan.  Being a good Scotchman, last years model was less expensive.  He opted for the Deluxe with Knee Action which gave a much smoother ride than the straight axle model on the rough roads of that day.  Here's a photo of it today in his garage.


 

Sorry, Still under construction!!
 
 

Please look at Coach
   and Touring sections for more information about Sedans.
Taxis and limousines are different than sedans
 


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