Vehicle Description
From the 1940s through the early 1950s, the Chevrolet Custom Deluxe
was one of the top-selling models on the market. It wasn't thought
of as a performance vehicle. Neither was it considered a luxury
automobile. The Custom Deluxe wasn't overly fast or fancy by any
means. It was a sturdy, dependable car that provided reliable and
affordable transportation to the common man. And as such, it has
quietly emerged as one of the great sleepers of the classic car
culture. This cool-looking 1952 Chevrolet Custom Deluxe shows how
far a little ingenuity can carry one of these machines. This is
definitely not your grandmother's grocery-getter.
The rich burgundy color that adorns this car lends itself very well
to the sharply curved body lines of the '52 Chevy. It is an older
paint job, a base coat/clear coat application from back in the
1990s. It still has an ample amount of luster, but it is beginning
to show its age a bit with a few imperfections apparent. Both
bumpers are a little pitted and have some surface rust. For all
intents and purposes, the automobile looks basically stock on the
outside, save for a nice set of 15" Eagle alloy wheels. The body
appears solid and very straight. It is a worthy candidate for an in
depth makeover at some point. This has all the makings of a really
sharp automobile!
A quick inspection of the interior reveals that the paint and
upholstery closely match the exterior color. The inside may be a
bit dated, but it's in nice condition overall. You'll notice such
amenities as a Hurst shifter, Corvette steering wheel, ample
instrumentation, power windows, and an AM/FM 8-track in the glove
box. There are a couple of areas that may need some attention, most
notably the wipers, factory gauges and the rear window mechanisms.
A little Saturday afternoon tinkering would more than likely remedy
most interior issues.
If you're familiar with GM power plants, you already know the
reputation of the 327 Chevrolet. A dependable, high-revving little
screamer, it was the Chevy lover's choice for off-the-shelf high
performance during the 1960s. The original motor in this Custom
Deluxe was swapped out in favor of a 327 Corvette engine. This
particular 327 received a full slate of bolt-on enhancements: a
polished aluminum intake, Holley double-pumper four barrel,
electronic ignition, and headers. Add an automatic transmission to
the mix and you've got the kind of running gear that will make this
little Chevy hunt the highway! The engine is due for some routine
maintenance, so a good tune-up and a little tweaking of the
ignition timing would make this car ready to rumble.
A lot of work has already been put into this car. The essentials
are all there. A little more effort would take it to the next
level. You already have a big head start toward making this a show
quality classic. Take that next step and watch heads turn the next
time you cruise the boulevard.