Styleline Six Trivia Question of the Week: 1. What was the first year for a V-8 engine in a Chevrolet automobile? 2. On February 6, 1952, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth mourned the passing of what King of the UK? 3. The Diary of _____ _______ was published on June 15, 1952. 4. Who defeated who for the United States presidential election of November 4, 1952 (and what party did each belong to) and what was the name of the computer which correctly predicted the outcome? 5. Give Me a Kiss to Build a Dream On was a big hit in the year 1952 for what popular jazz singer/trumpeter? What was his nickname? 6. Born on June 11, 1952, American rock vocalist and guitarist Donnie Van Zant, younger brother of the late Ronnie Van Zant (founder and lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd) and older brother of Johnny Van Zant (also of Lynyrd Skynyrd fame), was himself the founder of what seventies rock group?

Answers to this week’s trivia questions, plus more images of the 1952 Chevrolet lineup, may be found on my web site at http://thefinman.com.

Odds are you’re a least a bit familiar with the 1952 Chevrolet shown in the accompanying photo. Even if you didn’t know the exact model year, if you saw this picture, without any text or caption, it’s likely you could still identify the photo as that of an early fifties Chevrolet. Depending on your own personal vintage, you may remember having bought a similar ‘Chevy’ as a young man... perhaps it was your first car. Maybe you remember your parents owning a Chevrolet like this when you were but a wee ‘curtain climber.’ If you’re young enough, maybe it was your grandpa who owned a Chevrolet from the early fifties. Then again... if you’re a ‘Gen-Xer’ (or later) like my kids, you’ve probably never seen such an old car unless it was when you were tagging along with an old guy (like The FIN MAN) to a car show. It was what my daughter Sabrina always referred to as the ‘olden days’... but those were the ‘good old days’ when Chevy was number one– and so was the United States when it came to automobile production. About the only ‘foreign cars’ you saw back in those days was the occasional Mercedes, usually owned by a doctor or Clayton lawyer, and a random VW ‘bug’ which most people considered an oddity more than a car to take seriously.

Chevrolet was rightfully proud of their new models for 1952, calling them ‘the biggest value in the low priced field.’ Outstanding features prevailed including ‘new Royal Tone Styling’... a marketing buzz phrase which basically stood for ‘radiant car colors and distinctive color-matched interiors. The company promised that their entry for the 1952 model year was ‘brighter, and more beautiful than ever, both inside and out.’ In keeping with the ‘Royal Tone Styling’ theme, the color palette for fifty-two featured the "widest choice ever!"... a generous selection of twenty-six solid and two-tone color combinations including the Saddle Brown Poly and Sahara Beige shown on the feature car in this story plus, Birch Gray; Cherry; Spring Green; Bittersweet; Admiral Blue Poly; Emerald Green Poly; Regal Maroon Poly; Twilight Blue; Honeydew; Dusk Gray Poly; Beach White and Onyx Black. ‘Romancing’ Chevy’s color palette for 1952, the marketing department said that the colors ‘lent sparkle to the overall beauty of Royal Tone Styling. (That’s why they got paid the big bucks!)

This would be the third year of the new, first-generation Bel Air models... a name that would become synonymous with sporty, open air ‘hardtops’ or ‘pillar less hardtops’... Chevrolet coupes and convertibles in top-of-the-line trim. And what better way to celebrate than with the new, harmonizing color-matched interiors in two-tone blue, green or gray. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could see colorful hues like that in today’s automobiles, rather than the dull choice of tan or gray that is so often the only choice? Wouldn’t a dose of ‘Royal-Tone Styling’ be refreshing today?

The new fifty-twos weren’t just about looks either. Comfort was improved with a new ‘Knee-Action ride with Quick-Reflex shock absorbers providing continuous and immediate control of shock absorber action, treating back-seat and front-seat passengers to a new level of comfort. And, the comfort didn’t stop with suspension and interior furnishings. A smoother driving experience was delivered through ‘Centerpoise Power’ designed to screen out and isolate engine vibration and power impulses by mounting the in-line, six cylinder ‘Blue Flame’ engine on high, side-mounted engine mounts... centered, poised and cushioned in rubber. The standard power train included a 216.5 cubic inch engine producing 92 horsepower while loping along at just 3,400 RPM. This power plant was hitched to a manual transmission controlled by a column-mounted shift lever, a.k.a. ‘Three-on-the-tree.’ Those wishing to relinquish control of the shifting, chose the venerable 2-speed ‘Powerglide’ automatic transmission for an additional $178.00. When this option was checked on the order sheet, a larger, 235.5 cubic inch version of the ‘stove bolt’ six cylinder engine was included. This engine produced 105 horsepower. Both engines were fuelled by single barrel carburetors manufactured by either Stromberg or Rochester.

All Chevrolets for 1952 rode a 115 inch wheelbase and had an overall length of 198 inches.

The Korean War was taking a toll on American auto makers and the whitewall tire option was available only in limited quantities for the year and limitations placed on metal manufacturing resulted in poor quality chrome plating processes. That said, customers could still choose from a fairly large menu of convenience and appearance options including manual or Deluxe, push-button AM radio; under dash heater/defroster; a thirty-nine hour, stem-wind clock; tissue dispenser; back up lamps; under hood lamp; glovebox and luggage compartment lamps; a rubber heel protector; license plate frame, Vacuumatic ash tray and E-Z Eye (tinted) Glass.

As you can see, our featured car this week is all dressed up with the full list of Chevrolet offered dress up items for 1952 including full wheel discs; whitewall tires; fender skirts; No-mar fuel guard; external sun visor; left and right side outside rear view mirrors; front and rear bumper ‘wing tips’, stainless steel gravel shields just behind the front wheels; and door handle shields... the shiny metal protective plates that keep aunt Dorothy’s finger nails from scratching the fragile paint when grabbing hold of those outside door handles. And my personal favorite is the ‘Impala’ style hood ornament appearing six years before the Impala name would be used on a car model.

The changes and improvements for ‘52 represented a refinement in mechanicals and appointments unlike any the Chevrolet automobile had seen in decades. Aunt Dorothy was well pleased with the automotive investment that the fifty-two Chevrolet Bel Air represented. Priced just under $2,000.00 (about $16,500.00 in ‘08 dollars), it was an entry level marque that American motorists could be proud to own... one that would provide smoothness in ride and a new look, along with great value for the money, something for which Chevrolet has always been, and still is known.

So what can you expect to shell out if owning a 1952 Bel Air is your goal? According to the Old Cars Price Guide, around twenty-five Gs for a show quality Bel Air. If you’re willing to settle for a good ‘twenty footer’, you might save yourself a cool five or six grand. So get out there and get shopping. The 2009 Chuck-A-Burger cruise night season will be here before you know it!

The FIN MAN is available for your group’s special occasion and is currently booking dates for November-December, 2008 and all of 2009. During his appearances, he presents an overview of the collector car hobby plus a detailed look at American cars from the fifties and sixties. His program includes a fascinating Power Point presentation with images of collectible automobiles and various associated nostalgia and Americana. Guests also have the opportunity to play "FINS for FUN," the video game he produced in 1987 which inspired his nickname, in which players compete to identify the year, make and model of cars from tightly cropped photos of fins and taillights. Those who score the highest win auto-related prizes donated by supporting Fin Man sponsors. For more information, click on this link: http://groups.msn.com/the-fin-man/seminaragenda.msnw.

Bruce Kunz is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians, the St. Louis Chapter of the Buick Club of America and the Monte Carlo Owners Association of America. He welcomes your comments and suggestions. To e-mail him, click here > mailto:the_fin_man@msn.com.