How2Day: 1928 Chevy Specifications

The 1928 Chevrolet came in some different styles, but all were part of the National Series AB car. It largely amounted to an updated copy of the 1927 car to compete with Ford, which had just introduced the Model A. The 1928 Chevy had a 4-inch longer wheelbase, a longer and straighter hood, longer lines and body panels. The engine also got a boost in power.

Though the four-cylinder, 171-cubic-inch engine had proven reliable for Chevrolet, it did not have a reputation for being powerful---hence its replacement with a six-cylinder model in 1929. It got a boost to 35 horsepower in 1928 with a compression ratio of 4.5 to 1. Chevy also changed the bore and stroke to 3 11/16 and 4 inches, respectively. The engine had a valve-in-head configuration. The longer wheelbase made the car heavier, canceling out the higher horsepower.

The engine had three main bearings. It used a single-barrel carburetor. A manual choke helped control the amount of fuel fed to the carburetor during starts. An electric starter ignited the engine.

The 1928 Chevy sat on a 107-inch wheelbase and had a manual three-speed transmission and a clutch with a single plate. The axle had a semi-floating operation with a spiral bevel.

Suspension came from semi-elliptical leaf springs. All four wheels had drum brakes---a fairly new innovation for automakers. The car rode on 4.5-by-30-inch tires. The cars' weights ranged from 2,030 to 2,400 lbs.

While the motor and overall size remained the same for all 1928 Chevrolets, some options existed as far as models and types of car. A two-door coach that held five passengers sold for $585. A two-door convertible sport Cabriolet with two doors for two to four passengers, new that year, sold for $695. A two-passenger, two-door coupe sold for $595. The Imperial, the most expensive car, with four doors and space for five passengers, sold for $715. A two-door, two-passenger roadster sold for $495. A four-door, five passenger touring car sold for $495, and a four-door sedan went for $675. Half of the Chevrolets sold that year were the coach model.

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