Chevrolet Delray

The Chevrolet Delray, named after Delray Beach, Florida, debuted in 1954 as an optional trim level on two-door models of Chevrolet's mid-range 210 series of full-size car. In 1958, it became a distinct series of its own at the bottom of Chevy's lineup (replacing the discontinued 150), and added a four-door sedan, and sedan delivery, but it only remained in production for that model year.

Chevrolet Delray
Overview
Manufacturer Chevrolet (General Motors)
Assembly Oakland Assembly, Oakland, California
North Tarrytown Assembly, Tarrytown, New York
Flint Assembly, Flint, Michigan
Norwood Assembly, Norwood, Ohio
St. Louis Assembly, St. Louis, Missouri
Arlington Assembly, Arlington, Texas
Oshawa Assembly, Oshawa, Ontario Canada
Body and chassis
Class Full-size
Layout FR layout

First generation (1954)

First generation

1954 Chevrolet 210 club coupe ad
Overview
Also called Chevrolet 210 Delray
Chevrolet Delray Club Coupe
210 club coupe
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door sedan
Platform GM A body
Powertrain
Engine 235.5 cu in (3.9 L) Blue Flame I6
Transmission 3-speed manual
2-speed powerglide auto
Dimensions
Wheelbase 115 in (2,900 mm)[1]
Length 197.5 in (5,020 mm) (1950–1952);[1][2] 196.5"(1954)[1]
Curb weight 3,345 lb (1,517 kg)[3]
Chronology
Predecessor 1953 Chevrolet 210 Deluxe club coupe[4]

The first year for Delray was the final year for the 1949-1954 style Chevys. For 1954 the 210 series was shortened considerably, losing its hardtop coupe and convertible but adding the Del Ray club coupe.

1954

The chassis and mechanical parts were common with the rest of the passenger car range, and the overall appearance was the same as the rest of the range. Front suspension was independent, named "knee-action".[2] This year marked the end of the "Blue Flame" straight-six engine as the top engine before the introduction of the small block V8 in 1955; and 1954 was also the last year for six-volt electrical systems in Chevrolet vehicles.

Engines

Two engines were used in the 1954 model year, with the more powerful Blue Flame unit used with the Powerglide automatic transmission. All 210s had a three-speed synchromesh manual transmission as standard, with two optional transmissions. All engines were of an overhead valve (OHV) design. They are commonly referred to as "stovebolt sixes" because of the large slotted-head screws used to fasten the valve cover and pushrod covers to the block.

Transmissions

1954 Chevrolet 210 Delray interior

Second generation (1955–1957)

Second generation

1955 Chevy Delray
Overview
Also called Chevrolet 210 Delray
Model years 1955–1957
Assembly Caracas, Venezuela[5]
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Arlington, Texas
Body and chassis
Class Full-size
Body style 2-door sedan
Layout FR layout
Platform GM A body
Related Chevrolet 210
Chevrolet 150
Chevrolet Nomad
Powertrain
Engine 215.5 cu in (3.5 L) I6
235.5 cu in (3.9 L) Blue Flame I6
265 cu in (4.3 L) V8
283 cu in (4.6 L) V8 (1957)
Transmission 3-speed manual[6]

2-speed Powerglide auto.
3-speed Turboglide auto.
Dimensions
Wheelbase 115 in (2,900 mm)[7]
Length 195.6 in (4,970 mm)

For the Tri-Five years the Delray was essentially an interior option package for the plain 210 sedan. It featured an upgraded vinyl upholstery with "waffle-like" pleating, color-keyed to the exterior, along with carpeting and other minor upgrades.

1955

The 1955 model year marked the introduction of a new chassis and the debut of the Chevrolet's well-received small block V8. The center door frame was strengthened for more safety.[8] Brakes were 11-inch (280 mm) drums.[9] A 210 buyer was free to choose any Chevy powertrain option. The ammeter and oil pressure gauges were changed to warning lights.

Engines

Transmissions

1956

Engine choices remained the same except for higher hp ratings. The 265³ V8 could now be had in three different configurations. The I6 had a new unified build no matter the transmission.

Engines

Transmissions

1957

New for 1957 was the 283 in³ small-block V8. Even the fuel injected version was available to 210 buyers. The 210, including the Delray, shared the wedge-shaped side trim with the Bel Air, but unlike the Bel Air (which had the wedge filled with an aluminum trim panel) the 210's wedge was painted either body color, or top color with the optional two-tone paint package. "Chevrolet" in script was mounted inside the wedge.

Engines

Transmissions

Third generation (1958)

Third generation

1958 Chevrolet Delray 4-door sedan
Overview
Model years 1958[10]
Body and chassis
Class Full-size
Body style 2-door sedan
4-door sedan
2-door sedan delivery
Layout FR layout
Platform GM B platform
Related 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne
1958 Chevrolet Bel Air
1958 Chevrolet Yeoman
1958 Chevrolet Brookwood
1958 Chevrolet Nomad
Powertrain
Engine 235 cu in (3.9 L) Blue Flame I6
283 cu in (4.6 L) Turbo Fire V8
348 cu in (5.7 L) W-series Turbo Thrust V8
Transmission 3-speed (close-ratio) manual
3-speed overdrive manual
Turboglide auto.
2-speed Powerglide auto.
(Corvette-type)
Dimensions
Wheelbase 120.5 in (3,060 mm)
Length 209.1 in (5,310 mm)[1]
Width 77.7 in (1,970 mm)
Height 57 in (1,400 mm)[1]
Chronology
Predecessor Chevrolet 150

In 1958, the Delray became a distinct series of its own, taking the place of the 150. The Delray was Chevrolet's price-leading, no-frills model, with the more expensive models being the Biscayne, Bel Air and Impala (the last being a sub-model of the Bel Air for 1958). It now had GM's X-frame.[11] It came in a utility coupe, a two-door coupe, a four-door sedan. The Delray's 1958 only four-door or two-door station wagon counterpart was the Chevrolet Yeoman.[11]

1958

For 1958, Chevrolet models were redesigned longer, lower, and heavier than their 1957 predecessors. The first production Chevrolet big block V8, the 348 cu in (5,700 cc), was now an option. Chevrolet's design for the year fared better than its other GM offerings, and lacked the abundance of chrome found on Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, Buicks and Cadillacs. Complementing Chevrolet's front design was a broad grille and quad headlights that helped portray a 'baby Cadillac'; the wagon's tail received a fan-shaped alcove on both side panels, similar to the sedan's, but wagons housed single tail lights instead of dual (triple on Impalas) to accommodate the tailgate. Despite being a recession year, consumers made Chevrolet the top make of automobile (beating Ford, which held the title in 1957) and the Bel Air was at the core of Chevrolet's popularity. With its wide variety of body styles and models, Bel Airs could be optioned with almost every conceivable luxury within the Chevrolet line. The Nomad station wagon name also reappeared in 1958 when the vehicle bowed as the premium four-door Chevrolet station wagon, lacking the unique styling of the 1955-1957 Nomads. Most Chevrolet station wagon models had two tail lights housed in abbreviated alcoves, which were made smaller to accommodate the rear gate. A new dash was used.[12] The value of a drag coefficient for 1958 Chevy wagons as estimated by a-c, is 0.6.[13]

1958 Chevrolet Delray 2-door sedan
with custom wheels
1958 Chevrolet Delray 2-door sedan delivery

Befitting its bottom-end status, the Delray had minimal interior and exterior trim and limited options. As such, this model was popular with fleet buyers such as police departments and businesses. However, private customers could also buy a Delray if low price, economy and basic all-around transportation with the convenience of a full-size automobile were the primary goals.

Engines

Buyers could order any engine and transmission choice, including the new 348 V8 (1958 was the first year for Chevrolet's "big block" V8) and the fuel-injected 283 V8 engines.

Transmissions

Safety

Like the rest of Chevrolet's 1958 full size car line up, the Yeoman featured Chevrolet's new "Safety-Girder" cruciform frame. Similar in layout to the frame adopted for the 1957 Cadillac, it featured box-section side rails and a boxed front cross member that bowed under the engine, these "x-frames" were used on other 1958 to 1964 Chevys, as well as Cadillac. The rear was tied together by a channel-section cross member.[14] This design was later criticized as providing less protection in the event of a side impact collision, but would persevere until 1965.[15]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Flory, Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946–1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
  2. 1 2 "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1951_Chevrolet/1951_Chevrolet_Foldout". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  3. ↑ "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1952_Chevrolet/1952_Chevrolet_Specs". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  4. ↑ The "Two-Ten" Club Coupe
  5. ↑ "Gm En Venezuela Y El Mundo - Historia". Gm.com.ve. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  6. ↑ "1956 Chevrolet (U.S.) Bel Air 2-Door Sedan performance data, specs & photo". Automobile-catalog.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  7. ↑ Gunnell, John A. (ed.). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975. krause publications. ISBN 0-87341-027-0.
  8. ↑ "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1955_Chevrolet/1955_Chevrolet_Prestige_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  9. ↑ "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1955_Chevrolet/1955_Chevrolet_Prestige_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  10. ↑ Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr. American Cars 1960–1972 (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy, 2004)
  11. 1 2 "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1958_Chevrolet/1958_Chevrolet_Foldout". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  12. ↑ "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1958_Chevrolet/1958_Chevrolet_Owners_Manual". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  13. ↑ http://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/chevrolet_usa/full-size_chevrolet_5gen/full-size_del_ray_wagon/1958.html
  14. ↑ "Directory Index: Chevrolet/1958_Chevrolet/1958_Chevrolet_Wagons". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  15. ↑ http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1958-chevrolet.htm

Further reading

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