This 1952 Ford Ranch Wagon isn’t everyone’s cup of oolong, but I would think that almost everyone can appreciate a car like this. It can be found here on eBay in a sleepy little non-descript town named Las Vegas, Nevada and the seller is rolling the dice on this, big time. They have it listed as a no-reserve auction and there are only two days left and a $6,300 bid price.
The Want-O-Meter is nearing the red zone for me on this one, what a great looking car in a great body style in great, mostly original condition. The seller says that it’s original other than having one repaint and it has been owned by the same family since new! That’s 68 years for those of you who are keeping track.
The 1952 Fords came to market before Chevrolet’s new 1953 models did a full year later. 1953 – 1952 = 1 year, for those of you who are keeping track. (crickets) The Country Squire was still available with woodgrain accents but for Ford’s other station wagon customers, they offered two other options: the Country Sedan was a mid-trim level four-door and the Ranch Wagon as seen here had two side doors. Who doesn’t love a two-door wagon?! Come on.
The interior looks great for the most part, especially if it’s original or mostly original. Could those woodgrain door panels be original? Whether they are or not, I like the look. One thing that turns me off a bit is when a car is repainted and the door strikes are painted rather than at least taping them off, unless they came from the factory that way. The rest of the interior looks good, especially if it’s original as they say it is. The underside looks solid and they say that it has an all-original steel body and floors with no rot or holes, just a few bubbles here and there.
The engine should be Ford’s 239 cubic-inch flathead V8 with 110 hp and it sure looks good. Whether those are original colors or not… yeah, probably not. It looks clean and there are no knocks or leaks and it starts right up and runs great, according to the seller. This could end up being a flipper’s delight or at least a screaming bargain if the bid price doesn’t rise significantly over the next two days. Are there any two-door wagon fans out there?
Man Scotty I am with you on the Want-O-Meter! Love the blinkers and those head rests. A roof rack would be nice, but I sure would not add one at this point. Great find! Stay safe, Mike.
Great old wagon. Color doesn’t do a thing for me but when’s the last time you saw one of these or one of these in this condition?
In a black and white sci-fi movie.
Don’t know why automakers felt the need to go to the ridiculous lengths to get the designs we have now…simple and clean is the way to go.
Great car. Would love to have it.
GLWTS
You can actually find more `34 Fords these days than `52 models. This one has had decades of TLC to stay this original, and with a solid rust-free body no less? I love it; Fords 2dr. Ranch wagon demonstrates it’s utility value, and makes a great collector vehicle. You’d be hard-pressed to find another `52 THIS nice!
That’s probably because they’re still making ‘34s, and deuces, and Model As…
Whoever buys this beautiful and rare wagon please keep it stock.
I’m a big fan of tasteful mods and this wagon would look/sound killer by adding some torq-thrust 5-spoke rims, an offenhauser 2 or 3 carb intake, and a true dual exhaust straight out the back – all of which can be taken off and the car returned to 100% stock at any time.
Driver side head has unpainted bolts, passenger side head bolts are painted red like the head. Has the driver side head been pulled at some point for gasket replacement or other…? Regardless, this is sweet deal right now, hope it goes for a price that’s fair to both buyer and seller.
In the late 1960s my boss had one just like this but three on the tree . At the point they owned it, it was only good for field use around the kennels where we raised basset hounds. Probably could have bought it from them for $15. It was pink
Your standard Ford that Broderick Crawford would pull over. Many of these were used by plumbers and electricians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUkkmUxowiY
Not many cars cause me to break out into haiku.
This one does.
My heart beats so fast.
I love you, two-door wagon.
Angels sing to me.
One more.
Fly, two-door wagon.
Pretty but impractical.
You tug my heartstrings.
Still 6 volt, as God intended.
Fantastic comments, guys! You’re all on your A-game for sure, nice work.
I agree with SourPwr;
The only reason they went to 12 volts was to save money on copper. 12 V cables are much thinner.
Rex
Am I seeing three different colors on this original car? And is that a wasp nest or body rot in the first under side photo? It’s now up to $7850 so bargain hunters may be disappointed.
Wow I just dig this old Ford. I can’t imagine that the seat with the headrests is original or the 2 colors. I was moving a bunch of saddles for a friend yesterday so I got to thinking, wouldn’t the seats look cool done up like an ornate leather saddle?
Headrests weren’t mandated until ’65 or so.
68 was when headrest were mandated.
Wonder what he paid for the car. It is the same guy that has the Cougar.
Nice find! Boring color, but an exciting rare car. Would love to own it.
This car is quite an eye catcher. However, I think a stick shift would be better suited with the flathead.
I want. This is a great looking vintage wagon. It’s right up my wagon loving alley.
nice wagon. contracter building house next door to my parents house had one – same color – approx. 1953.
Beautiful car, and beautiful memories for me as my family had 2 of these–one 1952 2 door green/tan (when it was just the 4 kids), and one 1954 4 door all tan like this one after me and my little brother came along. Dad had a 49 Merc convertible when he and mom married, he would have never guessed that these cars were in his immediate future! I am jealous of the family that has enjoyed this great car for so long, and the new owner-to-be as well.
Back in the day we had a green 52 2 door and a 54 4 door 8 passenger, (had 6 kids) same tan color and body style as this one. That flathead towed a heavy camp trailer and all of us up to calaverous big trees st park and many others for years. What a work horse. Don’t remember the motor in the 52 but dad had a set of dual exhaust on the 54. What a great sound it had. Ahh, the good ol days.
Nice looking wagon, and a flathead too. I’m pretty sure those door panels are original. 1st one I saw years age had these and I thought it was done with house paneling, but I’ve seen others since.
Beautiful car good price keep stock and it will continue to appreciate in value. Love to own this one credit to the people who owned and cared for it.
It was a “family air loom” before this seller got it, The striker for the passenger door is not painted like the drivers side one, but a real nice car anyway. A friend had one in high school it was the bland looking green when he bought it so he decided to get it painted red, a friend was doing him a favor and said he had most of a gallon of red paint left over from a previous job. The more he looked at it the more he thought he didnt have near enough paint so he decided to add in some left over white to make a full gallon, after it dried the next morning he opened the shop door and it was PINK, Bobby says to Ed, “Its pink Ed” Ed says to Bobby “Yeah it is Bobby, its Titty pink” Bobby was shocked but took it anyway and had a sign painter paint “Noble Surfer” on the front fenders in black. It stood out in the parking lot of Tappan Zee High School in 1964. Thanks for bringing that memory back.
Love me the dumpy old wagons. And one like this, with zero trim, painted “Desert Blah”, with matching wheels and dog dishies and blackwalls is top notch authentic for the real, working class 50’s that are totally dismissed, in favor of a fantasy world of only teens driving over-chromed glamour barges they never could have afforded in the day.
Fords were horribly underpowered, had terrible suspension/handling, and brakes more suited to a stopping a bicycle. But they sold by the bazillions and were an iconic part of the 50’s American streetscape ! I hope this falls into the hands of someone who celebrates its dumpy, utilitarian character and what its place was in the REAL 1950’s America. A really neat car !
Hmm, sorry. Looks like high school quality re-pop. Too many non matching paint areas, ie; trunk well, underhood cowl suggest this car may have been yellow and white. Also trunk/tire well has been replaced. Drilled out and re weld replacement…too many weld spots! Then there is lack of detailing…and rust staining above resprayed door striker, driver side. Also, dr side front fender to body gap, along with both front and rear bumpers not sitting level to body. Etc. I’ll easily pass on lipstick on a pig…too many too muches. Buyer beware!!
Owning this would be like having a time machine I would not change a thing and the color is ok by me.
Timing is everything. Bid is over 8K now. Still a bargain. If circumstances were different, I would be bidding even if the current number doubled. This car has things I don’t even remember, such as the door and side panels. Of course the accessory head rests need to go. I am just finishing a 53 Ford F-100 , if it were finished,it would be gone and replaced by this wagon .
Auction update: this Ranch Wagon sold for $15,250!
A bargain no more