Fateful Fleetlineline – Good Timing and a Little Luck brought Joshua James a 1947 Chevy Fleetline Aerosedan
Life is full of happenstances that many people regard as flukes, yet to some might consider fate. The terms are similar, yet their definitions are quite different. A fluke is more of a random act, such as missing a phone call, that might alter a choice or decision, while fate is a defining moment that might feel more predetermined.
In the world of hot rodding, it seems like we have both. You trip over the very bumper you’ve been searching for at a swap meet, or the car you missed buying two years ago pops up on your social media feed and is for sale again. Another case would be that of Joshua James and his cool 1947 Chevy Fleetline Aerosedan.
As a lifelong car guy, Joshua has been through muscle cars, classic trucks, and has a ’53 Chrysler New Yorker lowrider, but the last couple years he’s been itching for a 1946-48 Chevy – a “bomb” to those in the lowriding community. After selling a couple cars, Joshua had the cash to go looking for the right Chevy. On a whim he called his buddy Ronnie to see if he knew of any good cars for sale, and he ended up with this fine ’47 Fleetline. Whether it was a fluke or fate is difficult to say, but for Joshua it was certainly a fortunate outcome.
The tale behind this Aerosedan in its current form began about 10 years ago when Bobby “Tribal” Ruiz dropped it off at Louie’s Garage for a complete makeover. You SoCal folks out there might recognize Bobby’s name as the man behind Tribal Streetwear. He’s also a big-time car guy. The plan was to create a custom lowrider that would stand out with subtle style. It didn’t take long for the crew at Louie’s to tear the Chevy down to its bare frame and form a plan of attack.
The chassis was first on the list and the goal of course was to get the car low, but not just when parked. Bobby wanted it low while cruising, too. The crew modified the original frame with a Mustang II-style front suspension with rack-and-pinion steering, then grafted in the leaf spring suspension from an S10 pickup. The structure is supported by air springs, but to get the perfect cruising stance, the body was also channeled over the chassis.
The classic styling of the Aerosedan looks pretty sleek in stock form, so the crew at Louie’s focused on tightening the gaps and perfecting the original sheet metal. The rear fenders were molded into the body and the bumpers were smoothed to match all the lower chrome work on the sides, which gives the illusion of movement even when the car is parked. Speaking of illusions, with the new lower stance and the abundance of horizontal lines, you almost wonder if the top has been chopped. For the record, it hasn’t.
Bobby wanted something different for the paint color to make people stop and look a little longer. Somewhere along the way, greens came up and a Nissan hue was brought in as a basis. The mint green was mixed with a touch of yellow metallic, then laid on by Louie and his crew. The volume of chrome on the car, all completed by Sherm’s Plating, provides plenty of shine along with a few subtle pinstripes. And check out the integrated fog lights in the grille.
For power, a trusted Chevy 350c.i. small-block V8 was assembled with an Edelbrock intake and carb and a hot MSD ignition and detailed with custom valve covers, Hooker headers, and of course a set of glasspacks for just the right exhaust note. A TH400 transmission transfers the power to the 15-inch artillery wheels wrapped in wide whitewall Goodyear treads.
Open the door and you’re treated to a lush green interior stitched by California Upholstery. They worked their way up, down, and all around with leather and plush materials over modified ’65 T-bird buckets with incredible machined details on the back and a custom rear seat. A console was also fabricated to house switches, cup holders, and lighting, while the dash was smoothed and filled with Dakota Digital instrumentation that is viewed through a cut-down ’57 Chevy steering wheel that’s been treated to a pearl finish.
Sharp eyes, and those who are fashion conscious, may have noticed the Tribal Streetwear pentagon icon under the hood, on the seatbacks, and in the fully finished trunk. What you won’t see is the custom Rockford Fosgate stereo system that would rather be heard than seen.
The Fleetline build took a lot longer than planned but was worth the wait. Bobby was pleased with the car but, like many artists, he’s drawn more to the creative process than the end result. After enjoying the Chevy for a number a years, he sold it to Ronnie, who just happened to answer his phone when Joshua called asking for a lead on a cool bomb Chevy.
You can guess Joshua’s reply. “I thought, ‘no way, you don’t mean Bobby Tribal’s car, do you?’” Joshua said. “I had just sold two cars so I was ready to buy, and to have this car come up, I was amazed. It was a fluke – or maybe destiny!”
Whether you consider it a fluke or fate, it’s a good thing Joshua called Ronnie when he did, as the fortuitous timing allowed him to roll this attractive Aerosedan into his garage. He’s added a few personal touches to the car along the way and has named it the Lowkey ’47 after his parents, Dean and Lillian Lokey. For the most part though, Joshua is simply soaking in his good fortune as he cruises to events and enjoys his time behind the wheel of this fateful Fleetline.
