Special Deluxe
The 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe belongs to series JA; Chevrolet’s official 1939 material does not identify it as a “Special Deluxe.” General Motors listed the upscale passenger-car line as the Master Deluxe, while the less expensive series was called the Master 85. The car used a 112 1/4-inch wheelbase and Chevrolet’s 216.5-cubic-inch inline six, rated at 85 horsepower. Its appearance is marked by a longer hood, headlamps mounted on the front fenders, and a horizontally barred grille. Several closed body styles were offered, along with a convertible body. The label “1939 Special Deluxe” should therefore be treated cautiously in cataloguing: it most likely reflects confusion with Chevrolet Special Deluxe models from later model years. For 1939, the historically supported name is Chevrolet Master Deluxe.
Variants by year
1939
Model summary
Data from the ScanRacer library, organized to compare versions quickly.
Model introduction
The 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe belongs to series JA; Chevrolet’s official 1939 material does not identify it as a “Special Deluxe.” General Motors listed the upscale passenger-car line as the Master Deluxe, while the less expensive series was called the Master 85. The car used a 112 1/4-inch wheelbase and Chevrolet’s 216.5-cubic-inch inline six, rated at 85 horsepower. Its appearance is marked by a longer hood, headlamps mounted on the front fenders, and a horizontally barred grille. Several closed body styles were offered, along with a convertible body. The label “1939 Special Deluxe” should therefore be treated cautiously in cataloguing: it most likely reflects confusion with Chevrolet Special Deluxe models from later model years. For 1939, the historically supported name is Chevrolet Master Deluxe.
History
For the 1939 model year, Chevrolet organized its passenger-car range around the Master 85 and Master Deluxe series. General Motors technical material identifies the Master Deluxe with the JA series code, while the Master 85 carries the JB designation. This was a genuine model-line distinction rather than simply a trim-level description. The 1939 Master Deluxe retained Chevrolet’s overhead-valve 216.5-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine, rated at 85 horsepower at 3,200 rpm. Its chassis used a 112 1/4-inch wheelbase, and the Master Deluxe employed Chevrolet’s Knee-Action independent front suspension. Exterior styling was revised from 1938, with a visually longer hood, reshaped front fenders, and headlamps positioned on the fenders rather than beside the grille. Chevrolet offered the series in several body configurations, including sedans, coupes, and a convertible. The name “Special Deluxe” should not be applied retrospectively to the 1939 series without model-specific documentation, because Chevrolet’s supported 1939 designation was Master Deluxe.
Generations
The 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe is not a separate modern-style generation. It represents a single model year and a single series, identified by Chevrolet’s JA series code. Its place in Chevrolet history is better understood as part of the continuing Master family that preceded 1939. For this model year, Chevrolet separated the Master Deluxe from the more affordable Master 85. Both lines shared important mechanical foundations, including the 216.5-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine and the 112 1/4-inch wheelbase, but they should not be merged in a catalogue. The Master Deluxe received the more upscale presentation and equipment. It also predates the Chevrolet Special Deluxe name used in later model years, which is why “1939 Special Deluxe” is potentially misleading. No evidence supports dividing the 1939 Master Deluxe into multiple generations or major technical phases. The meaningful distinctions within the year are body-style and equipment differences: sedan, coupe, and convertible forms could alter the roofline, passenger access, and luggage arrangement while retaining the same basic series identity.
Key differences
The clearest differences within the 1939 line are body-style differences. The sedan provides a fully enclosed body suited to regular family transportation. The coupe has a shorter, more formal profile and a lower passenger capacity; period Chevrolet material distinguishes between two-passenger and four-passenger coupe configurations. The convertible, called either Convertible or Cabriolet in period and collector references, is identified by its folding top and open passenger compartment. These body styles should not be treated as separate generations. Compared with the Master 85, the Master Deluxe was the better-equipped and more elaborately presented series, although both used Chevrolet’s 216.5-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine and the same basic wheelbase. Exact equipment could vary according to body style, factory options, and market. A reliable identification should therefore combine the series designation, body construction, exterior details, and surviving factory identification numbers rather than relying on the “Special Deluxe” name alone.
Photo recognition
A 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe is first recognized by its front-end design. The headlamps sit on top of the front fenders, an important feature when separating the car from earlier Chevrolet models. The hood appears long, and the grille uses a horizontal-bar treatment. Separate front and rear fenders and a rounded late-1930s body shape complete the main visual profile. Master Deluxe cars were presented and equipped above the Master 85, although later restorations and replacement parts can make the distinction less obvious. Confirmation should come from the body plate, serial number, body markings, and documentation for the JA series. A folding top identifies the convertible body, while a fixed roof points toward a sedan or coupe. The word “Special Deluxe” in a modern sales listing is not sufficient proof of a 1939 identity. A correct appraisal should also check whether the visible trim and body configuration match Chevrolet’s period terminology.
Important versions
The variants associated with this reference are Convertible, Coupe, and Sedan. In Chevrolet’s 1939 terminology, those broad labels can conceal more specific body descriptions: the convertible was often called a Cabriolet, while coupes were available in two-passenger and four-passenger forms. Sedan terminology could also distinguish a standard sedan from a Sport Sedan, depending on the body configuration and interior arrangement. These names describe body styles, not separate engines or generations. The historically supported series remains the JA Master Deluxe. Any individual vehicle should therefore be identified by its actual body construction and factory markings, rather than by the “Special Deluxe” label alone. That wording may reflect a modern database classification or confusion with a later Chevrolet model year.
References
Frequently asked questions
- What years was the Chevrolet Special Deluxe produced?
- ScanRacer's referenced versions cover 1939.
- How many Chevrolet Special Deluxe examples are documented on ScanRacer?
- 1 published scan from 1 member, with the latest photo added in August 2026.