1952 Ford Mainline

Ford offered a completely redesigned body for its cars in 1952, its first since 1949. The new body featured a one-piece curved windshield, protruding round parking lights, a full-width rear window, and a round three-bladed spinner in the center of the grille bar. The Mainline was Ford's entry model; its spartan interior included only one sun-visor and an armrest only on the driver's door.

The Mainline came standard with an overhead valve six-cylinder engine displacing 215 cubic-inches. It had four main bearings, a Holley one-barrel carburetor, 7.0:1 compression, and delivered 101 horsepower at 3,500 RPM. A three-speed manual-type transmission was standard with a three-speed manual with automatic overdrive optional. The Ford-O-Matic was a $170 option. An optional L-head, 239 cubic-inch V8 was available, and with a Ford two-barrel carburetor and three main bearings, the engine offered 110 horsepower at 3,800 RPM.

Body styles on the Mainline included a two- and four-door sedan, business coupe, and a two-door station wagon with seating for six. Prices ranged from $1,390 to $1,830 for the Mainline Six and $1,460 to $1,900 for the Mainline Eight. The two-door sedan was the most popular with 79,931 examples produced, followed by 41,277 of the four-door sedan, 32,566 of the station wagon, and 10,137 of the business coupe.

Above the Mainline was the Customline, fitted with additional standard amenities and extra chrome trim. Bodystyles included a two- and four-door sedan, and a club coupe. Both six- and eight-cylinder engines were offered on the Customline, and when equipped with the V-8, a four-door station wagon was added to the list of available body styles. Prices ranged from $1,570 to $2,060.

Above the Mainline and Customline was the Crestline, the top-of-the-line model for 1952 and exclusively offered with V-8 engines. Body styles included a Country Squire station wagon, Sun Convertible, and Victoria Hardtop.

All 1952 Ford models rested on a 115-inch wheelbase platform and measured 197.8-inches in length.