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1952 Ford Mainline Ranch Wagon / Photos, Specs, Model History

The 1952 Ford Mainline Ranch Wagon featured here is a true 1950’s classic. The two tone paint scheme on this model adds a lot to its outstanding appearance.

While Ford’s new postwar styling came out in 1949, the 1952 models did receive a refresh but still retained some of the basic appearance as the postwar models before them with some added trim. Ford’s Ranch Wagon was a two door, six passenger wagon. It has the same trim level as the entry level base Mainline and was considered the lowest price wagon on the market in 1952.

The Increased Popularity of the Wagon

The term “Station Wagon” were given these vehicles because the original purpose was to transport people and/or luggage/merchandise from train stations to their homes. These vehicles, also first called Depot Hacks, have been around for a long time but it was after World War Two that they became mainstream.

The early 1950’s were part of family growth with the Baby Boomer generation. More suburbs were coming into being as well as shopping malls and shopping centers far away from the central city. The demand for vehicles to transport children and merchandise was growing along with everything else. All indications were that wagons would be in demand and, for 1952, Ford Motor Company offered three models of their all steel body station wagon. These were the Mainline models as already mentioned, the Country Sedan Customline mid priced models, and the Country Squire top trim level of the Customline series.

Two Door Wagons

Several other automakers than Ford produced two door station wagons at various times. The first two door wagon was said to be the 1946 Willys Jeep Station Wagon. Another story has Crosley with the first two door wagon prior to World War Two. In 1951 it was Nash, in 1954 it was Studebaker and in 1955 and 1964 it was Chevrolet. The two door styling gave the Ford Ranch Wagon both a sportier appearance versus four door wagons and also some added room for cargo.

Ford’s Ranch Wagon was known to have a smooth ride, similar to a sedan which is quite positive for a hauler.

Ford’s 1952 Mainline Vehicles

Ford introduced all new models for 1952. This beat new Chevrolet models by a full model year. The Mainline became Ford’s entry level model, but it did present a more modern style than the basic Deluxe model it replaced. New styling included a wrap around windshield, curved rear glass, a modified grille, and more trim and ornaments to break away from the earlier “Shoebox” Ford’s slab sides. These new 1952 Ford’s gave the new entry level Mainline a clean fresh look.

1952 Ford Mainline Ranch Wagon Specifications

The 1952 Ford Mainline came standard with a six cylinder 215 cubic inch that delivered 101 hp. Optional was a 239 cubic inch L-head with a two-barrel carburetor putting out 110 hp.

A three-speed manual transmission was standard and a Ford-O-Matic three speed automatic was optional. The automatic could be used with either engine.

Brakes are four wheel hydraulic drums.

Sales of Ford wagons increased from around 29,000 in 1951 to over 53, 000 in 1952. Two Door Ford Ranch Wagon production for 1952 totaled 32,560 vehicles. Ranch Wagon production for the 1953 model year totaled just short of 67,000 vehicles, a big step up from the previous year.

Related Auto Museum Online articles are on the links below..

1958 Ford Ranch Wagon

1955 Chevy Nomad Wagon

Reference material for this article includes..Ford Station Wagons 1929-1991 by author Paul G. McLaughlin..Ford Motor Cars 1945-1964 by Robert Berry and Alan Earnshaw…Fords of the Fifties by Michael Parris.

Ford Ranch Wagon Collector Vehicles

It’s not easy to find an excellent example of the 1952 Ford Ranch Wagon such as the example featured here.

At this time 1952 Ranch Wagons in good condition might be found in the $19,000 to $23,000 range. An original example in excellent restored condition sold at auction recently for $42,000.

(Article and photos copyright Auto Museum Online)

The 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville Brougham / Photos, Model History, Specifications

Featured is a true classic, the 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville Brougham Convertible. The Pontiac Grand Ville was a luxury car offering and was advertised by Pontiac as such.

The Pontiac Grand Ville was produced from 1971 to 1975 as the top trim full sized model Pontiac offered. The Pontiac Grand Ville distinguished itself with luxurious interior trim along with distinctive chrome up front and taillight trim at the rear. The Bonneville was also a top model for Pontiac and compared with the Grand Ville Brugham, the Grand Ville was one step up from the Bonnevile during it’s five year production run. The essential difference was that the Grand Ville Brougham offered a bit more trim and power options.

The Grand Ville was built with a stretched wheelbase version of the GM “B” platform, which was similar with the Cadillac Eldorado.

The 1970’s

The 1970’s was a time of significant change, especially coming on the heels of the 1960’s muscle car wars. During the late 1960’s the name of the game was horsepower.

Pontiac pretty much established their brand as a luxury car offering coupled with plenty of power and performance and excellent styling. Federal emission and safety regulations introduced in the early 1970’s had forced automakers to not only tune down engine output but also became a design issue mostly due to bumper impact regulations.

At this time, Pontiac was building full size performance cars but when 1976 arrived the full size muscle car was being phased out. The new federal emission regulations along with the 1973 oil crises and rising insurance premiums made owning and driving a muscle car less affordable. A full size high performance automobile even more so.

Pontiac Grand Ville Styling

The 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville was produced there were new roof lines put in place throughout the entire Pontiac line. This included the Bonneville and Grand Ville Brougham (a new name) coupes. The automobiles came with large fixed quarter windows and B-posts that stretched all the way to the door glass. Four door hardtops added small “opera windows” in the rear pillars. Add to that a fixed-position vent window that added more glass area.and a new grille and tail lights that wrapped around the fender edges.

New to the Grand Ville were rectangular quad headlamps which General Motors designed for upper-level cars. These were found on the Bonnevilles and Grand Villes. , which also shared a revised grille and taillamps that newly wrapped around the fender edges.

1975 Pontiac Grand Ville Specifications

Engines included a standard 400 cubic inch V-8 with 185 HP. Also available was a 455 cubic inch V-8 with 200 HP.

Transmission is a three speed GM Turbo Hydramatic THM-400. This transmission first came out in 1964 and had a great reputation as being sturdy and reliable.

Dimensions include a 123.4 inch wheelbase, 226.0 inch overall outside length, 79.6 inch width and a 54.3 inch height. Curb weight is listed at 4,660 lbs.

1955 total Pontiac production came to 531,900 vehicles. From that amount there were 27,650 Grand Ville models produced. The Two door hardtop was the biggest seller at about 15,680 vehicles. Convertibles accounted for only 4,500 units and the Grand Ville Brougham was the only 1975 Pontiac built as a convertible.

Related Auto Museum Online articles on the links below..

1970 Pontiac GTO

1954 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible

1953 Pontiac Chieftain Convertible

Reference material for this article includes..Pontiac Classics : By the Editors of Consumer Guide…Pontiac : The Performance Years by Martyn L. Schorr…Pontiac Muscle Cars by Mike Mueller.

The Pontiac Grand Ville Collector Car

The Pontiac Grand Ville is a fine representation of the luxury and performance this nameplate was noted for. At the time, Pontiac’s sweeping lines and prominent grille made their cars head turners. The Grand Ville’s were also noted to have as standard a 400 cubic inch V-8 with an option for an even larger engine. The Pontiac Grand Ville represented a time in automotive history where bigger was considered better.

The Pontiac Grand Ville Convertible was not widely produced at only about 5,000 units per year. In 1975, the final year for the model, the Grand Ville was the only full size convertible offering from Pontiac.

The Pontiac Grand Ville is an excellent and relatively low cost way to start a collection. While price varies widely depending on overall condition and mileage, it appears that excellent condition original unmodified examples of the 1975 Grand Ville Brougham have sold in the $29,000 to $49,000 range.

(Article and photos copyright Auto Museum Online)

1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer / Photos, Model History, Specifications

Featured is a beautiful, stylish 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer. This was the first year for this top of the line Dodge. The car’s styling is unique and several automotive writers called it the most beautiful car of the 1950’s.

The 1955 Dodge Lineup

Dodge produced three models for 1955 and these were the entry level Coronet, followed by the Royal and the Custom Royal. Buyers were in for a pleasant surprise with each model showing an entirely new modern look. It’s important to note that the 1955 model year was Dodge automobiles third year with it’s V-8 engine. The newness of this V-8 power was made part of the advertisements Dodge ran for the Custom Royal Lancer where the Red Ram V-8 was highlighted. This was a big departure from years earlier advertising where Dodge cars offered only an inline six engine.

1955 Dodge Custom Royal Styling

With the 1955 model year Dodge made automotive history. Noted Chrysler designer Virgil Exner unveiled the new “Forward Look” styling for the 1955 Dodge. The Forward Look embodied sleek and sharp styling and a hint of jet age flair which more than one automaker employed during the mid to late 1950’s. Every 1955 Dodge automobile was now four inches lower than the tall 1954 models.

A new top-of-the-line Dodge Custom Royal entered the lineup with a more powerful standard V-8 and additional trim. The car also carried small “fins on top of fins.” Both Royal and Custom Royal models could be ordered as two-door Lancer hardtops and four-door sedans, while the Royal also had a station wagon and the Custom Royal had a convertible and hardtop sedan. Tri-color paint schemes were popular and eye-catching for both models.

The top of the line Custom Royal was only sold as a two door hardtop, four door sedan, or two door convertible. All hardtop coupe and Custom Royal only convertible’s were called “Custom Royal Lancer”. Early cars had Royal Lancer nameplates, later gaining the word Custom as well. The four-door went from Royal and Custom nameplates to Royal Lancer and Custom nameplates; and, at some point in production, gained fender fins and “spear” side trim. Custom buyers not only got upgraded interiors, but special rear light bezels and, for the Lancer, chromed rear fins.

The 1955 Dodge Custom Royal had a new split grille plus flashy side trim and metal trim around the windows.

Popular accessories included power steering and brakes. Buyers could also get a four-way power seat (up, down, forward, backward), spinner or normal wheel covers, a foot-pumped windshield washer, wire wheels, air conditioning, rear seat speaker, spotlight or mirror on either or both sides, various lights — backup lights were only standard on the Custom Royal — day/night mirror, radio (AM, station-seeking or manual tune or pushbutton), and turn signals (standard on all but Coronet).

The 1955 Dodge Custom Lancer La Femme

Introduced in the spring of 1955 was a special version of the Custom Royal Lancer named “La Femme.” This special model, targeted at female buyers, came as a two door hardtop and had a two tone paint scheme of Sapphire White and Heather Rose. Also included was gold La Femme script which replaced the Custom Royal Lancer script. The model’s interior also used shades of pink and purple along with lavender white. Along with it came a purse that matched the interior color scheme.

This special model was produced for only two model years with an estimated total of less than 2,500 models built. This makes the La Femme Dodge models relatively rare today.

1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer Specifications

Several engines and power levels were available with the 1955 Dodge automobiles. Engines included a 230 cubic inch straight six, a 270 cubic inch Red Ram V-8, 325 cubic inch V-8, a 350 cubic inch V-8 and a 361 cubic inch V-8.

Standard with both the Dodge Royal and Custom Royal was the 270 cubic inch Red Ram V-8 delivering 183 to 193 HP configurations.

Transmission was a Chrysler PowerFlite two speed automatic.

Dimensions include a 120 inch wheelbase, 212.1 inch overall length, 74.5 inch width, 60.6 inch height. curb weight 3,675 lbs.

Total 1955 Dodge production totaled 313,000 vehicles. Total Custom Royal production was 89,250 vehicles.

Related Auto Museum Online articles include…

1956 Dodge DeSoto Firedome Seville

1955 Chrysler 300

Reference material for this article includes…Dodge 100 Years by Matt Delorenzo…Dodge Dynasty : The Car and the Family That Rocked Detroit by Caroline Latham…Complete Book of Collectible Cars by the Editors of Consumer Guide.

The 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer Collector Car

Today, the 1955 and 1956 Dodge Royal and Custom Royal are terrific cars from mid-1950s Americana. The high-horsepower cars are particular fun to drive, and all of the models have a more subdued look than the next generation Dodges, which some buyers prefer.

Auction sales for the 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer in showroom condition can reach over six figures. Those in excellent condition can generally fetch $60,000 to $80,000.