Dale Fisher's 1931 Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster

Dale Fisher with his 1931 Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster, photographed in Sydney in the late 1950s. In a 2011 letter to Michael Ferguson, Fisher described the Moonlight as having “the most beautiful body,” praising its rear scuttle scoops, dickey seat with its own windscreen, and the distinctive ridge flowing between the seats, details that made a lasting impression on him as a young panel beater and future custom car pioneer. Photo from The Dale Fisher Collection.

1931 Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster owned by Dale Fisher of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was the first car Fisher fully restored and marked the beginning of his lifelong involvement with restoration, metalwork, and factory-correct detailing. Acquired in 1957 while Fisher was working as a panel beater in Sydney, the Speedster became his first serious restoration project and helped shape the careful, engineering-driven approach that later defined his custom car career.

Background

By 1957, Fisher had completed his apprenticeship with the NRMA and was working for a new employer in Alexandria. Although deeply involved in panel beating and repair work, he remained constantly alert to interesting cars, particularly early sports and coachbuilt designs that reflected his long-standing fascination with form and proportion.

In a letter written to Michael Ferguson in 2011, Fisher recalled that while driving to work along Victoria Road at Rozelle and approaching the Iron Cove Bridge, he spotted a Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster in a car yard.

Discovery and Purchase

Fisher wrote that the car was a 1931 Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster, finished in red and “in good original condition,” though notably missing its hubcaps. “I put £10 deposit on it and drove back to Beecroft to borrow the balance of £110 from my Aunt,” he recalled. “I caught a bus back and paid for it, and drove back to my Aunt’s to pick up my A40. I was late for work that day.”

The urgency of the purchase reflected Fisher’s instinctive response to the car. Unlike his earlier Speedster ownership, this time he intended not just to drive it, but to restore it properly.

Differences from the 1932 Model

In his letter, Fisher carefully outlined the differences between the 1931 Speedster and the 1932 version he had owned earlier. According to Fisher, the 1931 featured louvres in the bonnet sides rather than the opening bonnet doors used on the 1932. The bumpers had a different cross-section profile, the headlamps were shallower, and the park lamps were mounted on top of the guards. The grille area also differed, with the 1931 having a single cross bar between the headlamps rather than the twin bars found on the 1932. The car was additionally fitted with a chromed mesh grille guard.

Despite these mechanical and trim differences, Fisher noted that the body itself was identical to that of the 1932 Speedster.

Restoration Work

The 1931 Moonlight Speedster became the first of many restorations undertaken by Fisher. His new employer, Allan Berwick, allowed him to use the workshop after hours and on weekends, provided he reimbursed the business for any consumables used.

Over the following months, Fisher reworked the mechanical components that required attention, stripped the paint, and repaired several minor dents the car had accumulated. The repainting process became an important learning experience.

Charlie Carney, Allan Berwick’s partner and a long-time experienced painter, assisted and guided Fisher through repainting the Speedster in red deluxe, aiming to match the original factory color as closely as possible. Fisher noted that apart from the bumpers, the chrome on the car was in excellent condition. He had the bumpers rechromed to match the rest of the brightwork.

Wheels, Hubcaps, and Tyres

At the time of the restoration, Fisher lacked the contacts necessary to source correct hubcaps for the Speedster. The closest suitable substitutes he could find were hubcaps from a Renault Fregate. According to Fisher, they were of similar size and cross-section and did not carry any badge or emblem in the center. He purchased six hubcaps in total, including those required for the two side-mounted spare wheels.

Whitewall tyres in the correct size were unavailable, so Fisher improvised by painting whitewalls using a newly developed flexible white paint. He recalled that this solution worked well initially, although over time small hair-like cracks appeared in the paint on the road wheels, visible only up close and caused by tyre flex. Fisher also painted the wire wheels silver as part of the restoration.

Significance

The 1931 Chevrolet Moonlight Speedster represented Fisher’s first complete restoration project and marked a turning point in his automotive career. The experience reinforced his appreciation for originality, correct proportions, and thoughtful detailing—values that would later define his approach to custom car building and convertible engineering.

More than a restoration, the Moonlight Speedster was a hands-on education in materials, finishes, and mechanical sympathy, laying the groundwork for the meticulous standards Fisher would carry through decades of custom work.

Legacy

Although Fisher eventually sold the 1931 Moonlight Speedster to finance later projects, including his landmark FJ Holden custom, the car remained a personal milestone. It stood as the first clear expression of his philosophy: respect the original design, understand how it works, and improve it without compromising its character.

The 1931 Moonlight Speedster remains an essential chapter in understanding Dale Fisher’s evolution from apprentice panel beater to one of Australia’s most respected custom craftsmen.