Art Jones' 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan

1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan originally owned and restyled by Ramblers of Portland member Jerry Campbell of Portland, Oregon in the early 1950s. Known for its distinctive blend of elegance and power, Campbell's meticulous customization earned national recognition, with the car being featured in Hot Rod Magazine March 1955. Later, the Aerosedan was purchased by Art Jones of the Aristocrats of Portland, who commissioned a more radical rebuild. This second iteration, showcasing bold and unique styling, was featured in Car Craft October 1959, continuing to capture attention and admiration. Photo courtesy of Pete Sukalac.

After two years of hard work, Jerry completed the build, taking home the Sweepstakes with the car in Portland. It was also featured in Hot Rod Magazine March 1955, in a story written by Peter Sukalac. Titled "Red and White-Hot," the story highlighted its craftsmanship and the award-winning work of Jerry Campbell.

According to Peter Sukalac's featured story in Hot Rod Magazine March 1955, Campbell purchased the Aerosedan as a stocker a couple of years before it first made it into print. Instead of building a street job and a dragster, Jerry decided to go all out for performance and looks in one package. He told Sukalac that if he completed the engine first, he could run the drags while still working on the body and upholstery. Photo courtesy of Pete Sukalac.

The exterior of Campbell's Fleetline underwent several mild changes to achieve a smooth and sleek appearance, popular in the early to mid 1950s. The trunk lid was shaved for its handle and emblems before the corners were rounded. The gravel pans were rolled and leaded in, and the taillights were mounted 4 inches lower than stock, adding to the car's streamlined look. Photo courtesy of Pete Sukalac.

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Chuck Blanchard of Beaverton, Oregon meticulously customized the interior of the Fleetline in white DuPont leather to match the exterior's sophistication. Upholstered in white material with pleated patterns and chromed garnish moldings, the interior exuded a luxurious feel. Jerry also had the steering column and the clutch and brake pedal stalks chromed. The carpet was black with white trim. Photo courtesy of Pete Sukalac.

The dashboard was finished in an orange-copper gold before he had Von Dutch pinstripe it during a trip to Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Pete Sukalac.

A second iteration of Campbell's Fleetline appeared in Car Craft October 1959. By then, it had been sold to Aristocrats of Portland member Art Jones, who had Gene Cargail of Gene's Custom Shop in Portland, Oregon rebuild it. Photo courtesy of Pete Sukalac.

Once the bodywork was completed, the car was given a scallop paint job that made it stand out. Photo courtesy of Pete Sukalac.

The car also featured a bumperless design with custom "S-shaped" nerf bars. 1953 Mercury rings were used on the frenched headlights, giving it a distinctive front-end appearance. Photo courtesy of Pete Sukalac.

The seams at the front and rear were filled, and the fenders were rounded off to eliminate any traces of their original configuration. The taillights were particularly noteworthy, utilizing four 1957 Chevrolet Corvette blinker units, which added a modern and unique touch to the vehicle's rear aesthetics. Photo courtesy of Pete Sukalac.

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Lost and Found - 1948 Chevrolet

1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan originally owned and restyled by Ramblers of Portland member Jerry Campbell of Portland, Oregon in the early 1950s. Known for its distinctive blend of elegance and power, Campbell's meticulous customization earned national recognition, with the car being featured in Hot Rod Magazine March 1955. Later, the Aerosedan was purchased by Art Jones of the Aristocrats of Portland, who commissioned a more radical rebuild. This second iteration, showcasing bold and unique styling, was featured in Car Craft October 1959, continuing to capture attention and admiration.

Go Before Show

According to Peter Sukalac's featured story in Hot Rod Magazine March 1955, Campbell purchased the Aerosedan as a stocker a couple of years before it first made it into print. Instead of building a street job and a dragster, Jerry decided to go all out for performance and looks in one package. He told Sukalac that if he completed the engine first, he could run the drags while still working on the body and upholstery.

Under the hood, Jerry's Chevy boasted a powerful and meticulously tuned engine that was hopped up with a triple Corvette manifold setup and Carter 4H side drafts. The stock cam was reground to Iskenderian's Bigelow Track specs, and the engine enhancements also featured a Bendix electric fuel pump, Mallory Magspark ignition system, and a 9.5:1 compression ratio. The crankshaft was balanced and equipped with Federal Mogul insert rods and Jahns pistons. The engine block had been bored 1/8 inches oversize, increasing displacement and performance. A 1941 Chevrolet head was milled .145", filled, ported, and polished, while 1937 Chevrolet valve gear was obtained, lightened and polished. A set of Wayne valve springs put the desired resistance on the valves. The engine compartment was dressed up with an Offenhauser valve cover along with several chromed parts and pieces. The engine was hooked to a stock transmission and a 3.73 rear end. It rolled on 7.10x15 tires in the back, developing 160 hp at 4200 rpm on gas.

Originally Restyled by Jerry Campbell

The exterior of Campbell's Fleetline underwent several mild changes to achieve a smooth and sleek appearance, popular in the early to mid 1950s. The trunk lid was shaved for its handle and emblems before the corners were rounded. The gravel pans were rolled and leaded in, and the taillights were mounted 4 inches lower than stock, adding to the car's streamlined look. A new rear fender gas door from a 1946 Ford was also installed, further enhancing its distinctive style. The front of the car featured frenched headlights, creating a seamless and integrated appearance. Once the bodywork was completed, Jerry painted the car in a vibrant Titian Red color, which added to its visual appeal and made it stand out on the road. The front of the car was lowered by adding spacers between the A-frame spring seat and the A-frame—no chopped coils. The rear was lowered by de-arching the rear springs 4 1/2 inches, using 2-inch lowering blocks. It was dressed up with 1954 Chrysler hubcaps, a pair of Appleton spots and Gates whitewalls.

Custom Upholstery by Chuck Blanchard

Chuck Blanchard of Beaverton, Oregon meticulously customized the interior of the Fleetline in white DuPont leather to match the exterior's sophistication. Upholstered in white material with pleated patterns and chromed garnish moldings, the interior exuded a luxurious feel. Jerry also had the steering column and the clutch and brake pedal stalks chromed. The carpet was black with white trim. The dashboard was finished in an orange-copper gold before he had Von Dutch pinstripe it during a trip to Los Angeles. Campbell's Fleetline incorporated several unique and high-end features. The white leather interior includes chromed auxiliary speakers in the rear, adding both style and functionality. The windshield and windings were also tinted, and the stock speedometer and clock were exchanged for 1941 Chevrolet instruments.

The Titan Torpedo From Portland

After two years of hard work, Jerry completed the build, taking home the Sweepstakes with the car in Portland. It was also featured in Hot Rod Magazine March 1955, in a story written by Peter Sukalac. Titled "Red and White-Hot," the story highlighted its craftsmanship and the award-winning work of Jerry Campbell.

Sold and Redone by Art Jones

A second iteration of Campbell's Fleetline appeared in Car Craft October 1959. By then, it had been sold to Aristocrats of Portland member Art Jones, who had Gene Cargail of Gene's Custom Shop in Portland, Oregon rebuild it. Gene and Art removed the center post, converting the original sedan body to resemble a hardtop, showcasing a sleek and seamless appearance. Key modifications included filled, peaked, and painted hood dips. The car also featured a bumperless design with custom "S-shaped" nerf bars. 1953 Mercury rings were used on the frenched headlights, giving it a distinctive front-end appearance. The seams at the front and rear were filled, and the fenders were rounded off to eliminate any traces of their original configuration. The taillights were particularly noteworthy, utilizing four 1957 Chevrolet Corvette blinker units, which added a modern and unique touch to the vehicle's rear aesthetics. Once the bodywork was completed, the car was given a scallop paint job that made it stand out. The second iteration of the car continued winning awards, reflecting its appeal and craftsmanship. Once again, it gained national recognition when another featured story by Pete Sukalac was featured in Car Craft October 1959.

Where is it Now?

In July of 2024, Randy Latuska, Art Jones' grandson, was looking for his grandfather's old Fleetline. Art had told Randy that he sold the car to someone "back east," but he didn't remember exactly where. The family is keen to trace the whereabouts of this iconic custom car and uncover more of its history. If you have any information on the car and what might have happened to it, please reach out to Kustomrama at mail@kustomrama.com.

Magazine Features and Appearances

Hot Rod Magazine March 1955
Trend Book 122 Custom Cars 1956 Annual
Car Craft October 1959