Reproduction Parts for 1916-1964 Chevrolet Passenger Cars & 1918-1987 Chevrolet & GMC Trucks
SHOP ONLINE | ONLINE CATALOG | ABOUT US
I am new to this forum and not at all knowledgeable about Chevy vehicles from the 1930s, so I appreciate your patience with my newbie questions. I am researching a 1933 Chevy Coupe, five window, involved in a tragic and true story: three innocent people were riding in the car—two Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees and a local resident. This incident captured national headlines and has been depicted in multiple books and even a movie. It all unfolded during the infamous late-night failed raid and shootout at the Little Bohemia Lodge between the FBI, John Dillinger, and Baby Face Nelson in April 1934.
The FBI mistakenly believed that the 1933 Chevy Coupe leaving the lodge contained members of the Dillinger gang. Despite FBI agents intending to disable the car by "aiming for the tires," they fired machine guns and struck the vehicle 17–19 times. Tragically, one CCC enrollee was killed and the other two innocent occupants were seriously wounded.
It has been reported that Dillinger was actually driving a stolen 1933 Ford V-8 sedan at the time, which, I am reading especially in the darkness, reportedly resembled the Chevy Coupe. I have seen black and white newspaper and official photos of the heavily damaged Chevy Coupe, but it does not appear to have been black—instead, it looks dark gray, and it did not have two-toned bumpers. Fortune magazine ads from 1933 show the Chevy Coupe in red, with a basic price of $445. The car in the incident had a radio and heater, which I presume were upgrades. What color paint finishes were available for 1933 Chevy Coupes?
I am trying to gain a better understanding of what this car may have looked like, what it may have felt like to drive or ride in, and what factory features or options it might have had. The owner of the vehicle was a 21-year-old CCC forest service staff member working as a "machine operator." Given the economic realities of the Great Depression, I am not sure he could have afforded all the bells and whistles. I'm reading the vehicle featured a "healthy" side opening window for cigarette smoke.
Thank you in advance for any insights or historical resources you can offer and thank you for your patience with my lack of knowledge. Kathleen D.
PS - I realize I am not allowed to post photos but a quick online search for images of this 1933 Chevy Coupe can be found.
@k-d-2 Kathleen, A couple of things come to mind. If FBI agents mistook a Coupe for a Sedan or opened fire before noting the difference, they should have been charged for the crime of killing and injuring the people in the car. Three adults in any Coupe from that period would have been a tight fit.
You should be able to find many images of a 1933 Chevy Coupe by doing a Google Image search. There were both 3-window and 5-window models offered in the Master series and 3-window models available in the Standard series for 1933. Color info should be available online, as well.
I don't know how to describe the experience of driving or riding in a car from this period, even though I have driven my 1935 Chevy Coupe for more than 10,000 miles.
Mike
Many Miles of Happy Motoring
3469 Posts on Old VCCA Chat
Hello Mike and thank you. Yes, the federal agency took responsibility and learned from it. There is a video produced by the FBI online, they took full responsibility, Congress and Senate voted on compensation for the poor victims and family. Fascinating history. In the 1990's there was a FOIA request that resulted in a dump of all the FBI Dillinger files. Amazingly, in a special agents report to the Director it was recommended repairing the 1933 Chevy coupe and it even includes a bill for the repairs! Thank you, the research never ends. KD
Latest Post: 29 light switch issues and electrical gremlins Our newest member: victor mitosinka Recent Posts Unread Posts
