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Chevrolet Capitol (1927) – Romance and nostalgia for Jelle the Veteran
When it comes to classic car ownership, the word "passion" almost automatically comes to mind. According to the dictionary, it's an irresistible urge. We must possess that enthusiasm; it's inspiring to be so involved in the car hobby. Jelle the Veteran possesses such an inner engine that drives everything. And so, with the Chevrolet Capitol featured in this article, things turned out well.
A survivor's story
The Chevrolet Capitol – model year 1927 from the GM series AA, a true interwar model – was once imported from America to Germany. There, the car was completely disassembled for a full restoration. Due to a lack of time, it never came to that. All the parts, bodywork, and interior were neatly packed away in crates, as if waiting for better times. Those better times didn't come for the German owner, but they did for a director of a large Dutch transport company. He bought the entire set of crates and had them delivered to his home. After years of hard work, the Capitol was gleaming again. With one drawback: the engine was broken.
American classic cars
The director was a true enthusiast. Not just a collector, but above all an appreciation: design, craftsmanship, history—and ultimately, the sheer joy of driving. But fate struck. After his death, the Chevrolet ended up in his son's possession, where another long period of inactivity followed.
Who owns the lottery ticket for the car?
The original 1927 instruction manual is surprisingly direct: “An instruction manual can tell you what to do and what not to do. It can tell you how to do it, and it can tell you when to do it. But it cannot ensure that all these things are done properly and at the right time. Whichever way you look at it, the owner or driver of the automobile, not the manufacturer, controls the car’s destiny.” (The language of those years alone is a bit of a treat.)
Jelle the Veteran in pictures
When his son lacked the knowledge or time to get the Chevrolet Capitol roadworthy again due to engine problems, Jelle, through his connections in the classic car world, came into contact. He acquired the Capitol and prepared it for a new life in his museum in Metslawier, Friesland.
Jelle: "For me, this is a beautiful vintage car. The wood-clad roof, that unique black sun visor above the windshield, the long three-speed gear lever... The glossy paint in a typical late-twenties color, the interior once perfectly renovated by the director's wife. And those authentic details, like the temperature gauge on top of the radiator; in short: a beauty."
Professional team
Because a thorough overhaul was necessary, specialists Leeuwarden Motoren Revisie (LMR) were called in. They were skilled craftsmen with forty years of experience. Quality is paramount in this industry; their specialized work ensured a healthy, reliable engine.
Guarantee for a lasting existence
The museum now guarantees the continued existence of the Chevrolet Capitol. A place of honor for a General Motors product from an era when GM built cars for every budget and purpose. Think Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC trucks. Each with an honorable and successful past; and thanks to Jelle the Veteran, this Capitol now has a successful future as well.
(Below are some more pictures.)
It's a shame there aren't photos of the interior and under the hood included. Otherwise, a great article!
This nearly 100-year-old Chevrolet is a truly delightful sight. You almost wish these cars could talk and tell stories about their lives.
This example has been very lucky; there are quite a few unfinished, incomplete restorations for sale here and there, which unfortunately end up in the trash because people no longer want to do it. My respect for this result.
In such a car you should really only be driving in appropriate costume: man in suit with bowler hat and woman in roaring twenties costume, that makes the picture complete.