1952 Ford Crestline Sunliner Convertible
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 lower cushion, 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 new single exhaust system with a glasspack muffler is on for spent fossil removal that splits to dual tailpipes that terminate aft of 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.
