Vehicle Description
Wow, what a rare sight this is. Usually, 'budget vintage' cars like
this 1952 Ford Customline Club Coupe are full-blown survivors, or
lightly restored examples meant to be driven only on the rarest of
occasions. Whereas this example has been so beautifully and
professionally attended to, so expertly restored, it's as if it
drove straight out of a time machine. The result is a clean,
dialed-in Ford Coupe that's got a new lease on life, and we're very
excited about it.
Those stock colors are Desert Tan and Moroccan Brown, and they work
rather well on this neat Ford coupe. Redesigned in 1952, the Fords
had a very modern, sleek look and the club coupe with its
wrap-around rear window was a sporting choice that still looks
great today. The restoration on this little beauty is about 3 years
old, and we can vouch for its re-doing because we actually sold it
back 2014 before it got a new lease on life. Back then, it was just
a solid old survivor with great bones, but now it's a tidy
youngster ready to make some new memories. The
sophisticated-looking two-tone paint was done well, not overly
restored but rather finished to a strong driver-quality level that
pretty much matches how the car looked when it was new. Except this
time the materials used were modern and will therefore wear like
iron, and even though there a couple minor signs of use here and
there, this is a still a great-looking car. Bodywork is factory
straight, and you'll note that the crease in the quarter panel
above the fender is sharp, the gaps are precise, and the panel
alignment is quite good overall, typical of a car that didn't need
major reconstructive surgery. Last we saw this car the bumpers were
painted, so obviously they've been to the chrome shop since, and
they shine up brightly to match the profile trim and brightwork
around all the brand new glass. Aviation styling comes through on
the front grille and hood ornament, making this Club Coupe much
more exciting than many of its contemporaries, and the blue dot
taillights out back are period-correct and will make all the
old-school guys smile when they see them.
The restored tan polyester interior has a very jaunty 1950s appeal
to it, with striped seat covers and simple patterns throughout.
Simplicity is a big part of the appeal inside, but the upholstery
feels a lot more upscale than one might think, and when coupled
with the mohair headliner and beautifully finished door panels,
this car Ford feels a lot more expensive than it is. The steel dash
and window moldings were painted Moroccan Brown to match the
exterior, and the matching carpets that line the floors have a cut,
pile, and loop to them that's closer to those that came later
during the Tri-5 area, but a welcomed upgrade inside the tidy cabin
nevertheless. A handsome steering wheel complete with a chrome horn
ring and vintage spinner knob anchor the cockpit, with an orderly
instrument panel featuring an arched speedometer housing that would
set Ford's styling trends for the rest of the '50s.
Three-on-the-tree shifting makes it fun to drive and the original
AM radio, clock, and heater/defrost assembly all still live in the
dash. There's a good-sized back seat, which was why it was called a
"club coupe" and a spacious trunk with rubber mat and full-sized
spare and jack-set make it a good choice for your next old car
tour.
Most '52 Fords you see have a flathead V8, but in 1952, Ford
introduced a thoroughly modern overhead-valve inline-six that
displaced 215 cubic inches and made a robust 101 horsepower. That
was nine fewer than the V8, but where the six excelled was in
torque production and smoothness and this car doesn't give up
anything to its 8-cylinder siblings. The engine was fully attended
to during the restoration and the beautifully detailed with orange
engine enamel, a gray valve cover, and large oil bath air cleaner,
which is also fitted with a reproduction decal that completes the
look. Parts are still easy to find and there's no question that
this is a reliable powerplant, going about its business without
complaint ever since it was restored back to an original 6-volt
system and Holley 1-Barrel carburetor set-up. The steering is
tight, the brakes feel great and were upgraded to a dual-reservoir
master cylinder for added safety, and the 3-speed manual
transmission was completely overhauled at the time of the
restoration. A newer gas tank and exhaust system was fitted, and
the undercarriage was neatly covered in thick undercoating material
to protect it from any future harm. Steel wheels were painted a
lovely butternut yellow and adorned with chrome beauty rings and
Baby Moon hubcaps, and they're all wrapped in 215/75/15 whitewall
radials that look fantastic.
Fully restored and ready for the road right now, this Customline
Club Coupe is a very rare find that's easy to fall in love with.
Maybe you could see yourself behind the wheel? Call today!
