1952 Chevrolet Deluxe Styleline Series

Chevrolet built its first postwar automobile on October 3rd, 1945, and quickly established itself as America's number one producer of automobiles. They reorganized the lineup for 1949, rationalizing the range into two Series, the Special and Deluxe. The Special was the basic, entry-level model while the Deluxe had additional exterior brightwork and interior accouterments. Both offered the Styline and Fleetline body styles, with the former being a notchback and the latter a fastback. These distinctions lasted until the end of the 1952 season when the fastback was dropped altogether along with the 'Styleline' name. The only available powerplant at the time was the 'stovebolt,' 216.5 cubic-inch (3549cc) overhead-valve six delivering approximately 90 horsepower at 3,300 RPM. It had four main bearings, a cast-iron block, and a 6.5:1 compression ratio. This engine had continued unchanged for many years prior to the introduction of GM's Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission in 1951 when a 235.5ci (3.9-litre) version became available. The engines were offered with either a manual or PowerGlide transmission, and when equipped with the Powerglide, the cars received lettering stating 'Powerglide' on the rear deck lid. Although it was a very new feature, Chevrolet produced its one millionth Powerglide-equipped Chevrolet in October 1952. The 28th million Chevrolet (including cars and trucks, and those built in the U.S. and Canada) was built two months later, in December of 1952.

No fewer than six different body styles were offered on the Styline's Deluxe form in its final year, including the two-door sedan priced at $1,700 and the four-door version priced $50 higher. The Sport Coupe listed at $1,715, the two-door, six-passenger Bel Air at $1,990, the convertible at $2,115, and the eight-passenger station wagon at $2,280. The fastback Fleetline sedan came solely in Deluxe two-door trim this year.

All 1952 Chevrolet automobiles rested on a 115-inch wheelbase, and passenger cars had a length of 197.75 inches, while the station wagons were slightly longer at just over 198 inches. They used a box girder frame with semi-elliptic rear springs and a knee-action front suspension setup with direct double-acting shock absorbers.

Ford introduced all-new bodies in 1952, and it was the first year for the overhead valve six-cylinder engine, but it was not enough to knock Chevrolet off its perch as America's number one producer of automobiles with 827,317 sales during the model year. Of those, the Deluxe proved more popular than the more affordable Special, with approximately 82 percent being so equipped.

While Ford had all-new sheet-metal for 1952, the Chevrolet's received only minor updates with the most visual being five additional 'teeth' to its grille. There were brilliant colors, new wider parking lights, and the 'Chevrolet' name installed in a new nose emblem that housed a 'bow-tie' logo. The engine received a new carburetor, the shock absorbers were improved, and the 'Jumbo-Drum' brakes had 'Dubl-Life' linings with eleven-inch drums.

The Special Series was offered in nine exterior colors and four two-tone combinations, and the interiors were done in two-tone gray with checkered pattern cloth seats. The Deluxe line added chrome body molding, bright metal windshield and window reveals, open rear wheel housings, and rubber gravel deflectors. The Deluxe script logos was positioned above the rear fender gravel guards. The three-spoke Special-type steering wheel with a horn button was replaced by a two-spoke steering wheel with a full blowing ring. There were bright metal inserts, ivory plastic control knobs, two sun visors, foam rubber cushion seats, and dome lamps with automatic door switches. The upholstery was a dark gray chevron-pattern cloth with lighter upper trim.

The two-door, six-passenger Bel Air was offered in eleven two-tone combinations and four exterior paint colors. The convertibles were offered with five two-tone combinations and ten exterior colors. The station wagons had wood-grained trim panels and four types of paint colors.

The most popular 1952 Chevrolet was the four-door Deluxe sedan with 319,736 units built, followed by 215,417 of the two-door sedan. 74,634 examples were Bel Air two-door pillarless hardtop coupes, 36,954 were sport coupes, and nearly 12,000 were convertibles. 12,756 buyers selected the station wagon.

All-new series designations were introduced for 1953 along with all-new styling highlighted by a curved, one-piece windshield and more rounded body lines. Performance increased thanks to the two new overhead-valve, inline six-cylinder engines, and new 'Velvet-Pressure Jumbo-Drum' brakes and the new optional power steering.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2021