The Chevrolet Superior was Chevrolet’s only car from 1923 to 1926, sold under a different series letter each year. It was the first Chevrolet without a larger companion model, and its wide choice of Fisher bodies made it a sales success in the early 1920s.
Chevrolet Superior at a glance
| Production | 1923–1926 |
|---|---|
| Series letters | B for 1923, F for 1924, K for 1925, V for 1926 |
| Replaced by | Series AA Capitol in 1927 |
| Engine | 171 cu in four-cylinder, 26 hp at 2,000 rpm |
| Wheelbase | 103 inches |
| Body supplier | Fisher Body |
| Cheapest model | Superior Roadster, 510 dollars in 1926 |
| Most expensive | Superior Sedan, 825 dollars |
| Chassis only | 425 dollars commercial, 525 dollars Express Truck |
| Wheels | 30-inch with hickory wood spokes, or pressed steel discs |
History of the Chevrolet Superior
The Superior Series F was made from 1923 to 1926, with a new series letter every year: Series B for 1923, Series F for 1924, Series K for 1925 and Series V for the 1926 Superior. It was replaced in 1927 by the Series AA Capitol and was the first Chevrolet that did not have a larger companion model, as well as the only car Chevrolet sold in several body configurations, all supplied by Fisher Body.
Every Superior used the same 171 cu in four-cylinder engine with 26 hp at 2,000 rpm and the same 103-inch wheelbase. Body styles were divided into open cars and closed cars with retractable glass in the doors and glass around the rear seat passengers. Standard equipment included tools, a jack, a speedometer, outside lockable door handles, an ammeter, an oil pressure gauge, a dashboard light, a choke pull knob, an electric horn, an ignition theft lock and a two-piece vertical ventilating windscreen. The wheels were 30-inch items with hickory wood spokes as standard and pressed steel discs as an option. For 1925 bumpers, outside side mirrors, a passenger compartment heater and a clock became available as options.
Prices started at 510 dollars for the Superior Roadster in 1926 and reached 825 dollars for the Superior Sedan. Buyers could also order a chassis alone: 425 dollars for the commercial chassis and 525 dollars for the Express Truck chassis. Chevrolet also used DuPont’s Duco lacquer, the first quick-drying multi-colour nitrocellulose paint made for the car industry, which allowed the brighter colours and two-tone schemes of the period.
Design and features
- Annual series letters: a new letter every year, from B to V.
- Fisher bodies: every body style came from Fisher, from roadster to sedan.
- Simple mechanicals: one 171 cu in four and a 103-inch wheelbase throughout.
- Duco paint: early use of quick-drying multi-colour lacquer.
Chevrolet Superior versions
- Superior Roadster: the cheapest complete car at 510 dollars.
- Superior Sedan: the most expensive at 825 dollars.
- Commercial chassis: 425 dollars, for a buyer’s own bodywork.
- Express Truck chassis: 525 dollars, for light commercial use.
The Superior was replaced for 1927 by the Series AA Capitol, and it belongs with the early cars in the Chevrolet collection.
Video: Chevrolet Superior 1923
Video by Reitstallhubertus on YouTube.
Sources
- Chevrolet Superior, English Wikipedia: series, engine, equipment, prices
