Chevrolet 1934 Car Model Identification U.S. ONLY

Revised December 1 2004
FOR CANADIAN: 1933 to 1942 CANADIAN CHEVROLET MODEL CODES

ASSEMBLY PLANTS

1 = FLINT,Michigan; 2 = TARRYTOWN [-ON- HUDSON],New York; 3 = ST. LOUIS,Missouri; 5 = KANSAS CITY,Missouri; 6 = OAKLAND,California; 8 = ATLANTA, Georgia; 9 = NORWOOD,Ohio; 12 = BUFFALO,New York; 14= BALTIMORE,MARYLAND; 21 = JANESVILLE,Wisconsin. Walkerville and Oshawa Plants, Ontario, Canada did not have plant codes and identification of Plants was by serial number.

1934 Models have the month code after the Model Code indicating the month of assembly.
U.S. FISHER BODY JOB NUMBERS
[Note only closed bodies had "Bodies by Fisher"]

PART 1: EARLY STYLES

BODY	1934 MASTER SERIES DA	1934 STANDARD SERIES DC
2-DOOR ROADSTER WITH RUMBLE-SEAT	34???
2-DOOR SPORT ROADSTER WITH RUMBLE-SEAT		34???
2-DOOR STANDARD COUPE		34607
2-DOOR BUSINESS COUPE	34567B
SPORT COUPE [RUMBLE-SEAT]	34578
2-DOOR CABRIOLET WITH RUMBLE-SEAT	34568
2-DOOR COACH	34551	34601
4-DOOR STANDARD SEDAN	34559
2-DOOR TOWN SEDAN	34581
4-DOOR SPORT SEDAN	34569
4-DOOR PHAETON		34???
SEDAN DELIVERY	34570 [to mid-year] thence>>>>>	NONE

Gene Schneider has added:

‘Also listed in the 1934 Engineering Features book for DA: "As special equipment, which may be installed at the factory at extra cost. The [body side] advertising panels may be replaced by glass with a regulator arrangement (to permit lowering of glass). This is not mentioned in the 1935 Standard sedan delivery info. Both the DA and DC sedan deliveries consisted of a modified coach body with a door in the rear so adding the window would have been no problem’. This version would now be described as a ‘Windowed Delivery’.

PART 2: LATE STYLES [BY OCTOBER 1934]

BODY	1934 STANDARD SERIES DC [WITH 1935 STYLE BODIES]
PHAETON	35-1256
2-DOOR SPORT ROADSTER WITH RUMBLE-SEAT	35-1246
2-DOOR STANDARD COUPE	35-1207
2-DOOR BUSINESS COUPE	35-1207B
2-DOOR COACH	35-1201
4-DOOR STANDARD SEDAN	35-1009
SEDAN DELIVERY	>>>>35-1271

There is confusion as to these two sets of "1934" Models. The Master Series DA ran to mid-December 1934, the last 1934 Master Series motor being built in December. The last 1934 Calendar Year Standard Series DC motor was also built in December 1934 as well. The first 1935 Model Year EA/ED Master Series motor was in theory built in January 1935, though no date is known: it must have been around January 1. The first Standard Series EC motor was built on January 5th 1935, though. It APPEARS as though 1934 C.Y.-assembled Standard Series used the same motors throughout, even in the 1935 M.Y. cars built in 1934. The new 1935 C.Y. motors were in the same sequence but the Master/commercial motor had 6 more b.h.p. than the Standard version. 

It has been suggested that there is therefore no apparent justification for the allegation of 1934-titled 1935 Models. Mr Gene Schneider states however:

‘The late cars used a 1935 Fisher body only. All other parts were the same as the early 1934 Standard. The engine, chassis frame, brakes, and many other mechanical parts were new for 1935 and not used on the late ’34 cars. As per description in the body section of the parts book: “The 351201 Coach, 351207 Coupe, 351209 Sedan and 351271 Sedan Delivery are 1935 style bodies on a 1934 DC chassis”. In all respects they were titles as and considered 1934 model cars’. Further:

The 1935 body was first used on a 1934 Standard chassis but remained a 1934 Standard and was still a DC model. The first 1935 Standard had a 1935 chassis and body and was a EC. The coupe bodies appeared to be the same. The main difference was the cowl vent opened from the front rather than from the rear and the front seat was adjustable. All outer body parts were the same.  

The coach  had these changes plus the body was extended 3 1/4" at the very rear. The rear body panel was more vertical and the back panel was in one piece. The early body had a separate lower panel. The rear quarter window was the same but the area behind it extended farther back so roof was longer. Overall length of the car with the bumpers was the same. There was no early 4- door sedan and the new 4-door sedan body was of the same dimensions as the coach. Same for the Sedan  Delivery. There were also minor interior upgrades.

The bodies used on the sport roadster and phaeton were made by Chevrolet. The Fisher body parts are listed by body style number (and year) in the parts book. The Chevrolet body open cars listed on as for "open" or roadster or phaeton. The cabriolet had a Fisher body and considered a closed car.

The 1935 roadster body is listed in the engineering features book as being the same as 1934 except provision is made for removal of the battery thru the seat.(could no longer be removed thru the front floor due to the X type frame for all 1935 Standards)-(all 1934 Standards with late body still had the battery under the floor due to the more open frame).

The phaeton body change along with the battery was the floor was ¾-inch lower and the back seat was recessed (for more leg room).

The Sedan Delivery is quoted (in 1935) as taking place of the former Sedan Delivery furnished in the Master model.....I guess they didn't consider the late 1934 Standard Sedan Delivery with a 1935 body as doing that.

There is no mention of the 1935 body models in the 1934 engineering book due to the late announcement’.

For convenience, these hyperlinks will take you to more relevant files:
1934 MOTORS
1935 MOTORS

In Canada, ‘Late Series’ 1934 Standard Series Models were available from November 1934, and the 1935 Standard Series Models were available from January 1935. However, Master Series Models were available from February 1935.

The reason for this running-on, or rather the ability to run-on? The 1934 and 1935 Standard Series were very similar, though the 1935 cars had painted headlight shells and centre-of-dash gauges. The Master Series, however, had completely different designs between the two Model Years.