1506 original miles. Yes, that’s correct not a typo. Runs and
drives like new, gorgeous original interior, PowerGlide
transmission, nice paint. Skeptical? Come see it and you’ll
believe.
Now, some guys will also demand paperwork, something to prove that
it’s got so few miles. What, exactly, might that be on a car with
just 1500 miles? There are no receipts showing various maintenance
items were performed because they weren’t performed, at least not
in-period because the car wasn’t driven. The car has been recently
serviced and quite extensively, because it runs superbly. I suspect
that the carburetor, fuel pump, gas tank, ignition system, and
other things like that have been taken care of properly. Turn the
key and it starts. There is no grumpy period while the choke sorts
itself out. Turn the key, it starts in 3 seconds, it idles
smoothly, and it’s ready to drive within 7 seconds. That’s probably
how it was when it was new, but restoring and tuning a car to make
it behave like that takes a lot of time and money. Did they spend
the money or is it still the way the factory set it?
It’s just lovely to look at, and yes, it has been repainted fairly
recently in its original code 477 Twilight Blue. I don’t know why
it needed a repaint but there it is. Maybe it was stored somewhere
that damaged the paint. Maybe age and time simply made it look
shabby compared to the rest of the trim. I don’t know, and while
I’m a fan of 100% original survivors, I can’t complain about how
this one looks. The color is exactly right, the shine is soft so it
looks right on 1950s bodywork, and they don’t appear to have done
any major disassembly, so the doors, hood, fenders, and trunk lid
are all just where the factory put them. Likewise, all the chrome
and stainless trim is in original condition. The emblems are bright
and crisp with only the most miniscule pits on the Chevrolet emblem
on the nose—again, if you’re restoring, why isn’t it perfect? The
glass appears to be original throughout and there’s not even any
delamination except for the vent windows which show some slight
yellowing around the edges.
The interior is unquestionably original, as the fabrics and
patterns are exact and they clearly have some age on them. The
two-tone gray and blue upholstery looks stylish but plain, just the
way Chevrolet buyers liked it. Matching two-tone door panels are
handsome and in excellent condition with the aforementioned handles
and cranks in excellent shape (the windows all wind up and down
effortlessly, by the way). The big black steering wheel, the horn
ring, and the Chevrolet emblem in the center are in excellent
condition and the paint on the dashboard is original with no cracks
or fading. All the gauges work properly, the shifter for the
2-speed PowerGlide automatic transmission snaps through detents
that are so sharply defined that it’s impossible to place it wrong,
and there’s even a visor card describing how the PowerGlide
operates (these are available as reproductions, which I believe
this to be). The chrome and stainless on the dash is in excellent
condition, the plastic knobs are uncracked with crisp markings, and
the clock reliably ticks away up in its own pod on top of the dash.
The heater also works, but there is no radio as this was a
bare-bones car back in the day. The headliner is discolored the way
old headliners get—a little blotchy—but no split seams or sagging,
so it, too, is undoubtedly original. The trunk is carpeted and
fitted with a complete jack assembly and what appears to be the
original spare tire that’s never been out of the car.
The engine is Chevy’s familiar 216 cubic inch inline-6, also known
as the “Blue Flame Six.” It has clearly been serviced, as the
belts, hoses, and plug wires are new, but things like the
manifolds, starter, generator, and carburetor look to be untouched
from 1952. The radiator was obviously out of the car, cleaned,
checked, and repainted, but if you look closely, all the little
fasteners, bolt heads, and screws around the engine are original
style and still covered in original paint. It has not been
disassembled. As I said, it runs superbly, starting with only a few
cranks and idling like you’d expect from a new 1952 Chevy.
The 2-speed PowerGlide automatic transmission was a relatively new
addition to the Chevy lineup and it must have been quite a
revolution for Chevy’s typical customers used to shifting for
themselves. There’s a newer exhaust system under it, but it has the
right 6-cylinder grumble that hushes to nothing at cruising speeds.
The steering is tight, the brakes are effective, and all the steel
lines are original and still in excellent condition. Obviously the
brakes have been serviced as there are signs of recent work, and
the suspension is lubricated, but those are factory-issued spiral
shocks out back and they’re not worn out. Original steel wheels
painted to match the bodywork are a nice choice and wear fresh
6.70-15 Firestone wide whites just to dress the little car up a
bit.
So you’ve read this far. Good. Can I guarantee the mileage? No. Do
I have papers to prove it? No. But I’m not new to this and it’s my
job to represent cars fairly and accurately, and I’ll be damned if
I can find any evidence of high mileage on this car. It’s been
fluffed, sure, but if you want the most authentic driving
experience I’ve ever felt, this 1952 Chevy delivers in a very big
way. If you’re interested in the car, please come see it in person
and make up your own mind. But don’t send me any messages saying it
just isn’t possible because everything I’ve learned over 40 years
of playing with cars says it is, because the proof is sitting in
our showroom right now.
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
