Bright, bold color is the theme in this factory promotional clip for the 1952 Chevrolet line.
Chevrolet entered the 1952 new-car season with only minimal changes from the previous year. Up front, five vertical teeth were added to the grille, and there was a new deck lid medallion at the rear. Otherwise, the revisions were almost too trivial to mention. And really, why tamper with overwhelming success? Chevrolet was the Motor City’s volume leader in 1951, and production quotas imposed by the Truman administration’s Korean War effort effectively guaranteed that GM’s bow-tie brand would retain the top spot for ’52.
With little else new to talk about, color became the story for ’52 in this fine little factory promotional clip. Nine bold, bright exterior colors and four two-tone combinations were offered, “a rainbow of personalized selection,” says the announcer. With impressive efficiency, nine of the 11 models in the ’52 lineup are featured in turn, from the unadorned Styline Business Coupe to the snazzy Bel Air two-door hardtop. As things turned out, this would be the last year for the fastback Fleetline body style and the Styleline-Fleetline-Special-Deluxe model designations, so in that regard, ’52 marked the end of an era for Chevrolet. Video below.
Every car in this video wears black tires – nice post. Thank you.
Whitewall shortage due to Korean War strategic materials limits. The chrome plating was also notoriously weak that year. Hmm, I probably should have mentioned.
These are great cars and value for the money. Using a great body style ( Flow Through fender style ) first pioneered by all 1948 Cadillac and 1948 Oldsmobile 98 that by 1950 had abandoned that style for another. 1953 & 1954 would still carry “flow through styling” on a newer body for Chevrolet and Pontiac. Pontiac would loose that fastback in mid year 1951.
Note; Chevrolet is still using that “Blue Flame Six”