Vehicle Description
1952 Ford Crestline Sunliner Convertible
The Ford line of cars was again refreshed for 1952, although
remaining similar to the all new 1949 Fords. This time, curved one
piece windshield glass joined a new "Mileage Maker" straight 6
engine with 101hp. The 226ci L-head straight 6 was replaced by an
overhead valve 215ci Mileage Maker with 101 hp, while the old 239ci
flathead V8 remained with 110 hp. This design would continue
through the 1954 model year, with an updated design offered in
1955. The model lines were again reshuffled, with the base model
now called "Mainline" and mid level called "Customline". The top
"Crestline" included the "Sunliner" convertible, and the "Victoria"
hardtop, a tradition going back to 1932 with the Ford Victoria 2
door coupe. The station wagon continued with the "Country Squire".
Inside was a "flight style" control panel and new pedals suspended
from below the dashboard. A voltmeter, gas gauge, temp, gauge, and
oil pressure were standard. The clock and radio were in the center
of the dash. The grille sported a single center "bullet" surrounded
by a chrome ring as well as "jet intake" corner markers. New trunk
hinges were used that would not crush the contents of the
Here at Classic Auto Mall and for consignment is a pre-fin, pre jet
age, post excessive chrome era automobile. Simplistic design almost
seems boring from what is to come, but it was very effective.
Suburbia was expanding at leaps and bounds, and this car was the
perfect grocery getter or night out for the folks kinda car for the
everyday man and his wife. Affordable enough to have more than 1
car, the 2 car family was born in this era, mainly due to cost. We
proudly offer to you this 1952 Ford Crestline Sunliner, with a top
that goes down and 51,955 non-verifiable miles as the title reads
Mileage Exempt. This older restoration is still looking good today
thanks to meticulous care, and the wide whites, wire wheels, 12
volt conversion and Continental kit certainly won't get this skate
kicked out of bed for eating crackers.
Exterior
A near perfect application of a color change from the factory
applied Shannon Green to deep dark Raven Black covers the straight
steel panels of the lower sections of this car that have well
minded gaps, and a mirror-like shine. A correct white canvas
convertible top is reserved for the roof and like the rest of the
car, shows as near flawless with a clear plastic rear window. From
its neatly designed big 1950's front grille with reflections so
deep I could shave my 5 o'clock shadow with ease, to the big side
trim spear that starts at the headlights and goes to the back of
the forward door, then gets picked up again on the back at the
fender bump out with an angled ribbed larger panel that leads to
way to a metal bump out in the body that perfectly highlights the
small fender skirts. This literally looks like you're looking
skyward at the underside of a flying jet complete with chrome
contrail. Plenty of chrome trimmings for the window surrounds and a
single round tail light with a wide chrome bezel and small chromed
center rest on the end of the fender which has rounded tops to meet
the tail lights. A Continental kit in Raven Black and chrome graces
the area between these lights and down low is another ultra shiny
rear bumper with twin upright guards. Refections abound on the
15-inch chrome wire wheels with FORD badged polished spinner caps,
all wrapped in wide whitewall tires on all 4 corners. The flowing
lines and chrome overload is what truly sets the whole package off
in this writer's humble opinion.
Interior
The door panels utilize a myriad of materials from smooth white
vinyl to smooth black vinyl to blingy chrome which all work
together to form the door panels. Lest we forget the padded armrest
dressing these doors along with the driver's side spot light which
add to the early 50's charm. Wide long benches, with the front
being a split, are the passengers seating front and rear, and are
covered with wide tuck and roll white inserts, smooth black vinyl
uppers all within a black tub. Some light wrinkling of the vinyl is
noted on white of the lowercushion, but these do not detract from
the charming warmth these seats provide. A Raven Black steel full
metal jacket dash and original instrumentation are seen inside. The
horseshoe speedometer and gauge cluster are in front of the large
black Ford badged original steering wheel with its full chrome ring
horn actuator. A chrome trimmed radio and temp controls are noted
on this dash and a centrally located clock in a small circular bump
up is in the top dead center of this dash. A controller for the
trunk mounted CD changer hangs under the dash and black carpeting,
cleaner than clean, floats this interior and now I am in true early
50's heaven.
Drivetrain
Powered by the 239ci flathead V8 and 3-speed Ford-O-Matic automatic
column mounted shifter, this combo provides 110hp. There is a
2-barrel carburetor atop, and way in the back is the rear axle
weighing in with a 3.31 ratio. Overall condition of the engine bay
can best be described as factory fresh with the copper painted
block, heads, and intake providing the perfect contrast to the
black bay. We note some chrome dress up to add to the allure and
appeal.
Undercarriage
With some light patina, glossy black paint and very few flaws for
the bottom side of this show winner we are back in 1952 all over
again. A strong black frame provides the backbone for the
undercoated black floors and rockers. More black is covering the
suspension which has independent coil springs for the front and
leaf springs for the rear, and we note drum brakes on all 4
corners. A like newsingle exhaust system with a glasspack muffler
is on for spent fossil removal that splits to dual tailpipes that
terminate aftof the Continental kit with straight cut chrome tips.
Just a flawlessly executed restoration down below.
Drive-Ability
A quick starter, and good driver with a smooth acceleration and the
transmission shifted nicely. A real trip back in time with a good
overall ride that has me harking back to a simpler time in history.
Daydreams aside, my time behind the wheel was wonderfully spent
with only the clock not keeping time, but all else functioning as
it should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions
were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee
these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
A great opportunity to own a truly stunning 50's classic. A
definite highlight must see, you will want to check out early
1950's Ford, this car exudes, and shouts style. From the chromed
wire wheels to the wide whites, and the miles deep black paint,
snappy interior and electrical upgrades, and a plethora of perfect
chrome, (but not too much to be ostentatious), this car is a shower
and a smooth running, smooth shifting goer...like buttah! as they
say.
B2SR113373
B-239ci Flathead V8
2-1952
S-Somerville, MA Assy Plant
R-Crestline
113373-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY PLATE
BODY 76B-Crestline Sunliner
COLOR E-Shannon Green
TRIM J-Unknown
PRODUCTION CODE 26E3405-May 26th
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collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-h...for more information please contact the
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